Oh what a feeling!

Corolla is Australia's most iconic small car nameplate. Down Under, it revolutionised the small car segment. It made motoring more affordable, and introduced buyers to a level of reliability that would earn Corolla a place in owners’ driveways from one generation to the next.

People grew up with the Corolla. It was the first car for hundreds of thousands of Aussies, and the second car of many more. In fact, since 1967 Aussies have purchased nearly 1.2 million Corollas, a car that has grown not only in size, but maturity across its 46 years and 11 generations.

Globally, more than 39 million Corollas have been sold across 140 countries. Body styles, equipment and driveline technology, too, is almost tailor-made to match Corolla to its sale environment. Circa 2012, the car is built in 19 locations across the globe.

Now, with the new model making its local debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, we take a look back at the history of Corolla through the years. And road test the new one on home soil for the first time…

The first-gen (E10) Corolla went on sale in Japan in 1966. It was a small, rear-wheel drive offered in coupe, sedan and wagon body styles. Initially, power came from a 1077cc (44kW) four-cylinder engine which was uprated later to 1166cc (48kW).

Both engine choices were available with the choice of a four-speed manual or two-speed automatic transmission. The Corolla featured a MacPherson strut (front) / leaf (rear) suspension set-up.

Australia was the Corolla’s very first export market. It won Bathurst in its class in 1968 and 1969.

Measure Up:
3848mm (L) x 1491mm (W) x 1379mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: SECOND GENERATION (1970)

Arriving in April 1970, the second-gen (E20) Corolla was more sophisticated than its predecessor. Suspension improvements, a longer wheelbase and bigger engines grew the model’s popularity, as did a greater range of body styles.

Engine choices expanded to 1166cc (50kW), 1407cc (63kW) and 1588cc (77kW) base four-cylinder petrol variants with higher output twin-carburettor versions also available. All were renowned for their reliability.

In its launch year, the Corolla was the world’s second-best selling car behind the Volkswagen Beetle.

Measure Up:
3945mm (L) x 1506mm (W) x 1346mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: THIRD GENERATION (1974)

With the world in the grips of a fuel crisis, the economical Corolla became even more popular. The third-generation (E30/50) introduced more modern engines and transmissions, and major body changes to the range.

Petrol four-cylinder engines now arrived in five sizes between 1166cc (41kW) and 1588cc (92kW) with transmission choices expanding to four and five-speed manual and two and three-speed ‘Toyoglide’ automatics.

Locally, the model was the third to be produced in Port Melbourne and survived largely unchanged until July 1981 - two years after the rest of the Corolla world had moved on.

Measure Up:
3995mm (L) x 1570mm (W) x 1375mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: FOURTH GENERATION (1979)

The larger, squarer fourth-generation (E70) Corolla was the last generation available in rear-wheel drive. One of the most popular models yet, global daily production reached a peak of 2346 units by 1980.

Engine selection saw low-capacity four-cylinder petrol engines ditched, the range now spread from 1290cc (55kW) to 1770cc (56kW) versions. Highlights included an aluminium head SOHC fuel-injected 1587cc (86kW) unit and Corolla’s first turbo-diesel.

Five-link coil (rear) suspension now featured on all models (excluding wagon variants) while design parameters moved to accept aerodynamic considerations, greater interior space and increased carrying capacity.

Measure Up:
4050mm (L) x 1610mm (W) x 1385mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: FIFTH GENERATION (1983)

In 1983 the new front-wheel drive fifth-gen (E80) Corolla arrived in hatch, sedan and liftback bodystyles. Wagon models were carried over from the rear-drive predecessor, which also underpinned Corolla Levin (AE85) and Sprinter Trueno (AE86) variants.

Depending on the market, three petrol and a solitary diesel engine were offered, starting with the aging, carburettor-fed 1290cc (56kW) four-cylinder petrol.

Locally, Corolla was more advanced and offered the option of a 1.6-litre (86kW) DOHC fuel-injected engine with multi-valve technology. The Corolla won 24 consecutive class wins in the Australian Touring Car Championship between 1985 and 1986.

Measure Up:
4255mm (L) x 1645mm (W) x 1328mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: SIXTH GENERATION (1987)

Launched in 1987, the sixth-gen (E90) Corollas improved upon the design of its predecessor. All-wheel drive wagon variants joined the range, though engine and transmission choices remained largely familiar.

This saw 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6-litre petrol variants carried over while a 2.0-litre diesel was also offered in some markets. In Japan, Levin and Trueno models were further improved by a supercharged and intercooled version of the 1587cc 4A-GE engine.

Holden sold Corolla under the ‘Nova’ badge for a time, and local engine variants included a 100kW version of the 1.6-litre 4A-GE in high-spec SX and GTi grades.

Measure Up:
4374mm (L) x 1666mm (W) x 1260mm (H)

        "PEOPLE GREW UP WITH THE COROLLA. IT WAS THE FIRST CAR FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AUSSIES…"

TOYOTA COROLLA: SEVENTH GENERATION (1991)

By the early 1990s Corolla had adopted a shape its design chief referred to as “mini Lexus”. Larger and heavier, the Corolla arrived in hatch, coupe, sedan and wagon body styles.

Its engine line-up was again quite familiar with 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder units outputting between 54kW and 125kW. Diesel mills offered 54kW and 58kW depending on market.

In 1994, Corolla became the first Toyota model to be produced at the new Altona plant in Melbourne. The 13-strong local model line-up also saw Corolla offer the option of anti-lock brakes and a driver’s SRS airbag for the first time.

Measure Up:
4369mm (L) x 1684mm (W) x 1359mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: EIGHTH GENERATION (1995)

Sharing the same platform (and even the same doors on some models) as its predecessor, the E110 series Corolla is best thought of as a mid-life makeover. The carry-over engineering was a result of the recession in Japan, but thankfully, there were some improvements, mainly visual.

Engine choices were carried over with 1.3, 1.5 and 1.6-litre petrol engines (all fuel injected) topped by 2.0 and 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinders. Transmission offerings too were unchanged with three and four-speed auto transmissions available optionally alongside five and six-speed (JDM models only) manual boxes.

Locally, the ‘European-styled’ Corolla did not arrive until 1998. Highlights of the day included a Corolla-first passenger airbag.

Measure Up:
4340mm (L) x 1690mm (W) x 1445mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: NINTH GENERATION (2000)

Officially production ceased in 2008, but the ninth generation (E120) Corolla is still built in China to this day. With edgy styling and a longer wheelbase, the model saw the demise of the 1.3-litre petrol engine.

Engine choices now saw Corolla offered with 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder units with a new 2ZZ-GE 1.8-litre offering deployed for the first time. The diesel line-up also changed with a smaller 1.4-litre unit offered for the first time, alongside its 2.0-litre stalwart.

In Australia, side airbags were offered for the first time while variable valve timing also marked the model that went on to mark a milestone 750,000 cumulative units for the nameplate Down Under.

Measure Up:
4529mm (L) x 1705mm (W) x 1466mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: TENTH GENERATION (2006)

The E140 series Corolla was produced in and for more markets than ever before. It also offered an extensive range of engines and transmissions which included (independently of one another) a 2.4-litre petrol and seven-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Technology and equipment took a huge leap forward for Corolla which saw high-grade models offer kit including radar cruise control, bi-xenon headlamps, climate control and seven airbags.

Locally, the tenth-gen Corolla was launched to coincide with the nameplate’s 40th anniversary. It offered a 1.8-litre four-cylinder (100kW) with dual-variable valve timing and introduced a driver’s knee airbag to the range.

Measure Up:
4572mm (L) x 1760mm (W)x 1515mm (H)

TOYOTA COROLLA: ELEVENTH GENERATION (2012)

The current E160 series Corolla went on sale in its home market of Japan in May this year. Redesigned to be slightly smaller than its predecessor – the first time Corolla has shrunk between generations – it is available with 1.3, 1.5 and 1.8-litre petrol engines or a 1.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, depending on market.

Front and all-wheel drive models are offered (again, depending on market) with hatch and sedan body types currently on offer. Transmission choices extend to five and six-speed manual or CVT self-shifters.

In Australia, the eleventh generation Corolla is launched with grades Toyota say exhibit a bolder, more confident design. Intelligent packaging also liberates more interior space.

Measure Up:
4540mm (L) x 1760mm (W) x 1465mm (H)

Full review of all-new Toyota Corolla