Fun to Drive. Fun To Save Money. 2009 Toyota Corolla

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Summary

Toyota has a long standing reputation for making inexpensive cars that do not appear inexpensive. This is certainly apparent with the 2009 model year Corolla. It saves money overall in the gas efficiency department getting somewhere between 30 and 38 mpg city/highway. It is fun to drive. It is reliable. It is a Toyota. Test Drive one today.

Full Review 2009

All new for 2009, the Toyota Corolla is the 10th generation of the world's most popular passenger car. Toyota had grand hopes of making an inexpensive car without appearing cheap, they have succeeded with the new Corolla. Younger and older buyers alike appreciate low purchase and operating costs, and previously Corollas have proven reliable while being an inexpensive insurance proposition. First-time drivers will do well with straightforward controls, minimal distractions, and standard passive safety equipment and many older drivers will appreciate the same things for different reasons.

For the ultimate low-budget wheels you turn to the Corolla base model, but it has manual, wind-up windows and manual door locks. Upgrading to the Corolla LE includes power windows and door locks. If you fancy a fancier interior, the wood grain trim in the Corolla XLE goes in that direction, although you can't get leather. Finally, there are two sportier models, the Corolla S which looks the part and has some seat and chassis upgrades, and the Corolla XRS which brings a bigger engine, brakes, and tires to the party.

No matter the model, the Toyota Corolla is a hop-in-and-go kind of car.

Options and Trim Styling

XLE is the lux-like Corolla, and builds on LE with 16-inch steel wheels and covers, wood grain trim, Optitron instruments, variable intermittent wipers, sliding lid center console, keyless entry, seatback pockets and better radio. The S is the economy sporting model, with color-matched spoilers, fog lamps, black headlight housings, leather-trimmed steering wheel, and sport front seats the upgrades from the base model. Options are extensive and include everything mentioned for Standard, LE, XLE, and leather upholstery.

The S is the economy sporting model, with color-matched spoilers, fog lamps, black headlight housings, leather-trimmed steering wheel, and sport front seats the upgrades from the base model. Options are extensive and include everything mentioned for Standard, LE, XLE, and leather upholstery.
XRS is the top of the line. It's upgraded with the 2.4-liter engine, wider, 17-inch tires on alloy wheels, electronic stability control, trunk spoiler, rear disc brakes, strut tower brace, Optitron gauges, cruise, leather shifter and steering wheel, and chrome interior accents. Heated mirrors, two radio upgrades, navigation, power locks/windows, moonroof, and leather upholstery are among the options.

Safety features that come standard on all Corolla models include six airbags: dual frontal, front side-impact (for torso protection), and side curtain airbags (for head protection).ABS comes standard. Electronic stability control and traction control are optional and we recommend getting them. You can add an upgrade package (LE spec without painted mirrors), six-speaker/six-CD changer, cruise control, heated mirrors, lighter, and stability/traction control. The 2009 Toyota Corolla comes in five derivatives. The standard model, simply called Corolla, is the least expensive yet includes fabric upholstery, air conditioning, CD/WMA/MP3 XM-ready radio, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, six-way manual driver seat, 60/40 split folding rear seat, outside temperature gauge, power mirrors, and engine immobilizer. Six airbags and ABS are standard.

Exterior Design

Toyota is not immune to humans getting bigger and desiring more space, so the new Corolla is bigger than the outgoing version, and from a distance with no size reference handy, you're forgiven if you think it's a Camry. Messing with success is difficult, so after selling more than 30 million Corollas around the world Toyota kept the update conservative. Others will appreciate the simple lines. Those same simple lines help keep collision repair prices from extremes, which means lower insurance rates.

It's a look that works better on the XRS by virtue of its larger wheels. The basis for the Corolla also forms the base of the Matrix, and the all-new 2009 Pontiac Vibe. The Corolla is within a few inches of most of its competitors, the Mistubishi Lancer being among the longer and the Honda Civic amongst the shorter. Nissan Sentra is noticeably taller and bigger, but the Nissan Versa is as likely to face off against lesser-priced Corolla models.

Seating and Interior

We're surprised that the leather upholstery option, available on the S and XRS models with their sport seats, is not offered on the XLE, especially since some competitors like Honda's Civic do. A conventional dash frames speed and engine revs with fuel and ancillary data, the XLE and XRS employing electroluminescent Optitron gauges popularized by Lexus for utmost clarity. Basic three-ring climate controls bring the desired temperature and you can add a high-capacity heater with rear-seat ducts if you live north of the 49th parallel.

On cars so equipped, especially with a manual transmission, the sliding top console will be appreciated on long drives.

Front seats mix comfort and ease of entry and egress nicely, though the sporting models' heavier bolsters will be appreciated by anyone not shopping at the big 'n tall store. Outward visibility from the driver's seat is quite good, the narrow pillars paying dividends in lane-change over-the-shoulder glances. A remote trunk release opens trunk lid, which springs from the top of the bumper and bisects the taillights for a wider loading space.

First Drive 2009

All 2009 Toyota Corolla models except the XRS use a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that's been redesigned this year and generates 132 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. It delivers low emissions, the same 27/35 mpg fuel economy ratings with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, and uses a timing chain rather than a belt which usually saves on service costs.

The 132-hp XRS engine has less power than Honda's 140-hp Civic but more than the Nissan Versa's; however, Versa makes its torque earlier in the rev band than the Corolla, so where the Versa feels relatively stout even with an automatic, the Corolla feels it needs to be revved to get much out of it.

 The Corolla XRS model's 2.4-liter engine is also found in the Toyota Camry so its added midrange power moves the smaller Corolla quite well at the cost of fuel economy, which is down by 5 mpg compared with the other Corolla models; like the other models, the XRS runs fine on regular unleaded gasoline. Only in highway cruising with the automatic do you gain anything back, as the extra gear in the XRS model's five-speed automatic contributes to quieter cruising. Although the Corolla XRS five-speed automatic has sequential shifting on the console lever, it would benefit from wheel-mounted paddles like those on the $16,000 Honda Fit Sport.

Antilock brakes (ABS) are standard, and the XRS upgrades to rear discs. New to the Corolla this year is electric power steering system which matches effort to speed but does not telegraph information from tire to steering wheel as well as some systems like the Honda Civic or Mazda3.In low-speed driving where you expect the wheel to return to straight ahead on its own as it unwinds out of the turn, you will be doing more of the work.

Conclusions

Redesigned for 2009, the Toyota Corolla is a practical sedan that by way of its myriad configurations can be used for virtually any application."I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Corolla -- it's comfortable, smartly trimmed, adequately powerful and commendably fuel-efficient. The 2009 Corolla may not suit everyone's tastes, but it is a brilliant car from stem to stern." says About.com "It just might be a baby Camry. ... the 2009 Corolla comes to showrooms with the exterior styling of a Camry, many of the Camry's amenities, a Camry-like interior and, best of all, fuel mileage that's better than the Camry." adds Associated Press  It keeps up with urban traffic, offers good maneuverability, delivers decent fuel economy, and makes a strong argument in any non-emotional automotive purchase. This is a vehicle that is definitely worth looking into for 2009.