THE ninth generation Corolla has made a discernible leap over its predecessor in just about every area we could care to name. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the range-topping Ultima, which is more luxurious and more abundantly specified inside than we had imagined and features some notable flow-downs from the prestige Lexus brand. But we must stress that this is still some distance off being a prestige car and improved performance is still not enough to set a cracking pace. We also suspect its target audience won't mind a bit. Safe, dependable and uncomplicated motoring is what the Ultima is all about.

Corolla Ultima sedan
Released: November 99
Ended: December 01
Family Tree: CorollaTHE current, ninth generation Corolla (model code ZZE122R) follows the eighth generation model that first appeared in hatch form in Australia in October, 1998. The sedan version of the AE112R model soon followed in November 1999, including the Ultima (pictured), making Toyota's popular Corolla range a fully imported affair. Before that, the seventh generation Corolla, codenamed AE102X, appeared in September, 1994.
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