2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is a welcome addition

With good looks, driving demeanor and tech, the Corolla Hatchback eschews the model's stereotypical blandness. 

The Corolla Hatchback tackles bad roads with ease, it looks pretty slick and safety tech comes standard.

That being said, it's a little tight in the back, any sporty semblance is in looks alone and Android Auto is nowhere to be seen.

But if you're not looking for a "driver's car," and instead a sensible car with a dash of style, the Corolla Hatchback is mighty appealing.

It's not exactly ready for Initial D, but the new Corolla Hatchback proves Toyota's designers are capable of making a good-looking car now and then. 

My XSE tester, the sportier trim of the two, has upsized 18-inch alloy wheels a surprisingly large (but not annoying) wing atop the hatch.

Both continuously variable transmission and six-speed manual variants get a number of standard safety systems, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

Toyota's new 2.0-liter I4 puts out 168 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. 

While that seems fine on paper, it's a naturally aspirated engine and peak torque is all the way up at 4,800 rpm, which means you'll be jamming the gas for even the slightest improvement in forward motion, especially at highway speeds.

Keep on scrolling to check out even more pictures of the 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback!