Toyota kicked off a new generation of Corolla last year with a redesigned hatchback version of the popular compact. We’d argue the 12th generation comes into its own for 2020, however, with the introduction of the sedan variant.

While the hatchback amps up the Corolla’s attitude, the sedan is where the bulk of this car’s sales happen. That’s down to a lower starting price, more straightforward styling, a simplified list of standard equipment and a smaller base engine.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan adopts the company’s TNGA (Toyota new generation architecture) platform, along with styling inspired by the hatchback. It also includes a hybrid powertrain for the first time in this model’s long history.

Base Corolla spec includes a 1.8L four-cylinder engine making 139 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque in L, LE and XLE trims. SE and XSE trade that for a 2.0L good for 169 hp and 151 lb-ft. Corolla Hybrid pairs the 1.8L with an electric motor for combined output of 121 hp and an unspecified amount of torque.

Both gas engines can be mated to either a six-speed manual or continuously variable automatic (CVT) transmission; the hybrid comes exclusively with a CVT.

That the Corolla has remained as popular as it is seems quite a feat in this age of small crossovers and SUVs. We’d argue this well-known car is a bigger deal in Canada than the U.S., as the latter’s citizens tend to prefer utility vehicles and larger cars to thrifty compacts.