The 1990 Toyota Corolla saw a few small changes. The All-Trac sedan, introduced only the year before, was discontinued. The base engine got more power, as did that of the GT-S. Toyota also introduced an entry-level sedan, which had smaller tires and only came as a manual or three-speed automatic.

The 1990 Toyota Corolla came in many body styles with several trim levels. The sedan came as a base, DX or LE. The wagon was available as a DX or SR5. The coupe came as a SR5 or GT-S. All Corollas came equipped with a DOHC, 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine. The sedans, wagons, and SR5 coupe had a 102-horsepower engine and the GT-S had a signifigant upgrade to 130 horsepower. Fuel economy is about 22 to 33 mpg, depending on the engine.

Drivers describe their 1990 Corollas as "no nonsense" and admit that while they aren't flashy, they are reliable and perform well in all kinds of conditions. Some drivers have had problems with rust, and others complain about the bare-bones options packages that Toyota had offered with this car. It does not come with a lot of frills.