Toyota made a few changes between the 2008 and 2009 models, but effectively made no changes between the 2009 and 2010 models. And why should they? The Corolla has a reputation for reliability and dependability that’s hard to beat in this day and age. In fact, with these factors in mind, it’s easy to see that the 2010 Toyota Corolla will remain one of the best selling cars in these challenging financial times. And as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?

The Corolla has no pretentiousness about trying to be anything other than what it is. It isn’t trying to provide the ultimate driving experience – instead, it’s trying to command the niche market of people who, quite frankly, drive because they have to get somewhere, rather than those who drive for the experience. These people just want dependable transportation from Point A to Point B, and the Corolla does an excellent job of providing just that.

The front wheel drive Corolla is available in the standard basic model, as well as the Corolla LE and Corolla XRS, although the differences among them are minimal, at best. Mechanically, they are essentially the same car and the price differences reflect this, with only a few thousand dollars separating the bottom of the line offering from the top. The base price of the Toyota Corolla is $16,070, while the base price for the LE model is $17,470 and the XRS starts at $19,580.

The top of the line Corolla XRS comes with anti-lock 4 wheel disc brakes and alloy wheels. It also includes a navigation system, an MP3 audio jack, and Bluetooth connectivity, none of which are options that significantly affect the mechanics of the car itself.

But although the Corolla isn’t a luxury car; it is a nice car. The ride is smooth, though not luxury car smooth. The interior is comfortable, though not luxury car comfortable. Fortunately, though, the Corolla doesn’t come with a luxury car price tag either – making it very attractive to most buyers.

In addition, fuel economy is one of the Corolla’s best traits. Crash test ratings aren’t the highest in the industry, but they’re certainly nothing to sneeze at, with a rating of 4 stars out of 5 for front impact crashes, a maximum 5 out of 5 for side impact, and 4 out of 5 for rear side impact.

Simplicity is the hallmark of the Corolla’s interior. There’s nothing inventive about the arrangement of controls on the dash, or the placement of the turn signals and wiper controls. The audio and climate controls are well marked, large, and easy to understand and use. Even the navigation system is easy to master, and within one or two uses, you’ll know everything you need to in order to operate it effectively. Even the biggest criticism of the Corolla is that the interior could be made from higher quality materials, but there’s nothing really wrong with how it’s currently set up.

However, one caveat – the Corolla isn’t a car for very tall people. Though it sports plenty of leg room in the front and back, if you are 5′8” or taller, you may find your head bumping the interior roof if you have to sit in the back.

In short, if you want affordable transportation that’s dependable, reliable, comfortable and fuel efficient, the Toyota Corolla for 2010 is a good choice.