I'm 5' 9" and I drive a 2006 Corolla. I raise up the driver's seat to it's highest position and I like it that way because I get a FANTASTIC view of the road out in front of me ! It's almost like riding a motorcycle; you get to see the pavement zipping underneath you. Plus, in parking lots, you can see the cars so well, you can easily judge distances and not bang into anything.
That high-view out of a car is something that is lost these days with the modern designs. All they want to do is 'LOOK COOL', but the driver's don't have as great a view of the pavement as they once did.
Today I went to a Hyundai dealership (Guelph, Ontario) and sat in a Elantra GT. I raised the seats up to the top of it's adjustment and while it was okay, it was nowhere near as good as my old 2006 Corolla ! However, it wasn't that much worse and I was okay with it. If i had to drive an Elantra I would add 2 inch spacers under the seat and then i'd have the same great view as my 2006 Corolla. I know I could do that because there was LOTS of headroom even with the seat up to it's upper-most setting.
Next; I went to the next-door Toyota dealership (Guelph) and sat in a 2014 Corolla. The plastic interior smelled funny, a very strong plastic's smell (the Hyundai didn't smell at all, it was normal). I liked the interior design of the Corolla more, but the dash was way too high, couldn't see much of the floor of the showroom ahead of the car ! I raised the seat up higher, right up to the top of the adjustments, and I could see the top of the hood of the car, but my head was almost brushing up against the roof of the car. In that position, I had a view of the road that was NOT as good as the Elantra, and there was NOT enough extra headroom to be able to add 2" spacers to the seat of the car for a great view. I know for sure that when it comes time to buy my next car, I'm NOT buying another Corolla, it will probably be an Elantra, or another used 2006, 7, or 8 Corolla instead.
Next; I sat in a Scion tC and it was even worse than the Corolla. Now I can see where they are getting the design cues for the Corolla from;, its from the tC. The hood and dash of the tC is even higher, and the roof of the tC is even lower. I raised the seat of the tC up to the top and my head was right up against the roof of the car, and yet the view of the road ahead of the car was downright awful. It's a nice looking car, but just awful to drive and park anywhere. No thanks, not my sort of ride.
After that, I went to the nearby Toyota Yaris and was expecting another disappointment yet was pleasantly surprised. The seat in the Yaris rises quite high and there was quite a nice view of the road out in front of that little thing. The interior was also nice and black, sporty like and no beige in sight (unlike the Corolla). So if I had to get a new Toyota and my budget was unlimited, I would pick the cheapest car they have; they Yaris, since it offers the best view of any of the cars. However, the Elantra is much nicer in every way, and I'm going with Elantra instead.
Don't even get me going on the Mazda3 and the fact that those designers FORGOT to include an analog speedometer on that thing !!! What a HUGE MISTAKE !!
My lady-friend's 2006 Mazda3 has the same type of great view of the road as my old 2006 Corolla; she has her driver's seat raised to the maximum height and you can see the pavement about 5 feet ahead of the bumper. With the new 2014 Corolla you can see the pavement of the road about 25 feet ahead of the car's front bumper. That might not seem like much but it can mean all the difference in the world in a crowded mall parking lot. ( bashed bumper corners of other cars, or not bashed.)