As automakers vehicle lineups continue to swell and diversify, a simple fact remains: Consumers will always need commuter vehicles.

The sedan market continues to diminish in 2026, but Toyota seems determined to claim the biggest piece of the pie.

This week, we present the 2026 Corolla SE, Toyota’s entry-level, stripped-down commuter fit for any driveway and city street in the U.S. The Corolla did one thing and did it well: commuted!

Powering our weeklong Corolla SE test drive was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine, with sport suspension and sport drive mode. Along with a CVT transmission, we saw 33 miles per gallon for over 400 miles. The five-seat sedan sat low to the ground, offered sport fabric cloth-trimmed seats and an 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia with a six-speaker system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The no-thrills, no-frills Corolla SE delivered 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque and can achieve more than 40 mpg on the highway.

In terms of aesthetics, Our Ruby Flare Pearl was certainly a looker with its 18-inch graphite-colored alloy wheels and sport mesh black front grille.

Adding typical Toyota safety features is just another great reason why commuters continue to love the Corolla. It makes a great first vehicle, perfect for college students who need ample space while being easy to park. You can count on great durability over years of ownership while the vehicle maintains impressive resale value.

As Toyota continues to expand its fleet, the Corolla pushes on, doing exactly what it has done for many successful years.

2026 Toyota Corolla SE

MSRP: $25,165

MPG: 31 city / 40 highway / 33.0 as tested

As Tested: $28,109

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