Though it's literally the best-selling passenger car in the world (with over 30 million sold in the last 40 years), the 2009 Toyota Corolla enters its tenth generation with an overhaul of its design, engines, and trim offerings. This is perhaps an attempt to keep up with the sportier-looking Honda Civic and appeal to an even broader age-range of customers.

The platform and overall length remains relatively the same, though the four-door budget compact loses an inch in ground clearance and moves the bottom of its A and C pillars out for a more aggressive sloping profile and a more expansive interior feel. Trims have been boosted to five. The Standard, LE, and XLE don't look much different than last year's Corolla, but come with a tweaked 1.8-liter I4 that now gets 132-hp and 27/35 mpg. A 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual are the transmission choices. The same powertrain sits in the sportier S trim, but the automatic gets an extra gear. The "sportiness" in the S comes in its appearance and extra features, such as sports seats, foglights, front and rear chin spoilers, rocker moldings, larger 16-inch wheels and a leather steering wheel. For increased performance, the XRS adds the 2.4-liter, 158-hp I4 from the Scion tC, paired with a 5-speed manual or automatic. Building on the S trim, it adds a rear deck spoiler, 17-inch wheels, more chrome trim, cruise control, and scuff plates.

All 2009 Corolla trims now come standard with ABS brakes, along with dual front-side and side curtain airbags for all rows. Traction and stability control are optional, but standard in the XRS. Base models start plainly with air conditioning, a CD player, and tilt steering, while power features and cruise control get added up the line. Rear seats split-fold 60/40. While the less-equipped, but more affordable trims will appeal to first-time buyers, Toyota's lineup features something for every price range, and available options include a new navigation system, satellite radio, a sunroof, and Bluetooth.

Early drivers of the new 2009 Corolla report not much difference in terms of performance, and certainly nothing comparable to the sportier Mazda3 and Honda Civic Si. But the interior ergonomics, dependability, and quiet ride earn top marks, and it's likely that loyal Toyota drivers will be perfectly happy with the minor changes to its favorite car.