Best of all, the Corolla’s rear floor has only the most minor of tunnel humps, so foot room is unfettered for all three occupants, and this is especially important as my wife often finds herself between the kiddos in the back seat when we transport the mother-in-law.

Our oldest is in a booster seat, but our younger is still in a full car seat, and the Corolla, thanks to the preserved roofline, is easy to lean into, the headrests can be raised or removed, the LATCH anchors are okay and top tether only mildly frustrating, so it’s a decent car if you tend to install and remove child seats on a regular basis.

For adults, the middle seat my wife is so often consigned to is merely tolerable, but the outboard seats are a little better, with flat seat bottoms but slightly scooped out backrests and height adjustable headrests.

Cabin storage space is also well-thought-out for everyday life. A small open tray ahead of the shifter is great for a phone (with the USB and aux plugs right above it), two cupholders (one deeper for the spouse that carries the extra tall travel mug), door pockets with bottle holder front and back and a centre console armrest with a shallow tray and deeper bin beneath it. Trunk space, at 369 L, is ahead of Civic and Mazda3, but behind the Jetta’s 444 L. The seats split 60/40 to fold and allow transport of longer items, but no pass through and a restricted space means it doesn’t really compare with your average hatchback practicality.

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