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2009 Toyota Corolla Bottom Line

November 7, 2008

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty Padgett, Executive EditorMarty Padgett

The car experts at TheCarConnection.com studied the latest road tests of the new 2009 Toyota Corolla to write this conclusive review. TheCarConnection.com's editors also drove the 2009 Toyota Corolla to give you more details about the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and to help you make the right decision.

Likes:

  • Quieter than before
  • More comfortable than outgoing version
  • XRS edition is reasonably sporty
  • High assembly quality
  • Enviable reputation for reliability

Dislikes:

  • Cheap interior on base models
  • Cabin very tight for five adults
  • Dull-looking
  • Four-speed automatic on most models

Buying Tips:


The new 2009 Toyota Corolla will take some time trickling into dealer lots. The base cars will be better bargains from the get-go, but manual-transmission XRS models might not be the hit that Toyota hopes, since the Corolla nameplate is more about transportation than entertainment. TheCarConnection.com's editors strongly recommend the XRS if you have to have a Corolla, but be ready for a price tag that's more than that of some true mid-size imports or even the Ford Fusion's.

The tale of the 2009 Toyota Corolla is almost the tale of two cars: There's the base edition, which doesn't do as good a job keeping up with the latest Honda Civic in performance or styling, and the sporty Corolla XRS, which has better power and handling but also a price tag that trips over some mid-size cars.

The base 2009 Toyota Corolla and the better-equipped LE and XLE editions come with a standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. That's less than the Honda Civic and the Chevrolet Cobalt. With a five-speed manual or a not-so-advanced four-speed automatic, the Corolla manages good 27/35 mpg fuel economy, versus the Civic's 26/34 mpg, but acceleration is tepid.

The upmarket XRS edition, meanwhile, gets a 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It's a freer-revving powerplant that pushes the Corolla through a five-speed manual or a more modern five-speed automatic. With the manual gearbox, the Corolla XRS musters 0-60 mph acceleration times in the mid-8 second range--not class-leading performance, but pleasant enough through the snicky gearshift and the nicely mechanical engine note. The Corolla XRS's fuel economy does suffer, though, at 22/30 mpg.

The new 2009 Corolla is far more attractive than the near-invisible car it replaces, but still dull-looking. It sits on the same wheelbase as before, but is slightly longer and nearly three inches wider. Thus, it has more room across the front seats--but less room across in back, where two adults will fit fine for short trips, but three adults will be seriously unhappy. The cabin on the base car looks cheap, but moving up to the LE adds features such as power windows, while the XLE gets wood grain trim, and the XRS adds some leather trim and nicely shaped sports seats.

An independent suspension keeps the base Corolla moving along fine for a commuter car, but Honda seems to weave more handling magic in even the base Civic. Moving up to the Corolla XRS adds rear disc brakes and tighter feel, but the electric power steering is still too light and vague. There's plenty of tire squeal in the base cars, but the XRS seems far happier and more buttoned-down in cornering.

Safety equipment on even the base Corolla is extensive. Anti-lock brakes are standard, as are tire-pressure monitors. Active headrests and front, side, and curtain airbags also come with every 2009 Toyota Corolla, but only the XRS has standard stability control.

Air conditioning, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and a CD player are standard on all 2009 Corollas. Options include a navigation system and XM Satellite Radio, rare features in this class.

Other Choices:

If you like the 2009 Toyota Corolla, also consider:

Reason Why:

The Honda Civic emerged in 2006 from a redesign with a spacey interior and less backseat room, but with a better sense of style and road feel than the new Corolla. The Hyundai Elantra's a big bargain compared to the Toyota, as is Hyundai's larger Sonata compared to the $22,000 Corolla XRS. The Nissan Sentra has jazzier style and a better backseat, while the Mazda3 is the zippiest of all, and it can be tweaked out in turbocharged Mazdaspeed3 form.

The Bottom Line:

The 2009 Toyota Corolla has a split personality: the utilitarian base car and the slightly edgy, expensive Corolla XRS.

The car experts at TheCarConnection.com studied the latest road tests of the new 2009 Toyota Corolla to write this conclusive review. TheCarConnection.com's editors also drove the 2009 Toyota Corolla to give you more details about the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and to help you make the right decision. Likes:Quieter than beforeMore comfortable than outgoing versionXRS edition is reasonably sportyHigh assembly qualityEnviable reputation for reliabilityDislikes:Cheap interior on base modelsCabin very tight for five adultsDull-lookingFour-speed automatic on most modelsBuying Tips: The new 2009 Toyota Corolla will take some time trickling into dealer lots. The base cars will be better bargains from the get-go, but manual-transmission XRS models might not be the hit that Toyota hopes, since the Corolla nameplate is more about transportation than entertainment. TheCarConnection.com's editors strongly recommend the XRS if you have to have a Corolla, but be ready for a price tag that's more than that of some true mid-size imports or even the Ford Fusion's. The tale of the 2009 Toyota Corolla is almost the tale of two cars: There's the base edition, which doesn't do as good a job keeping up with the latest Honda Civic in performance or styling, and the sporty Corolla XRS, which has better power and handling but also a price tag that trips over some mid-size cars. The base 2009 Toyota Corolla and the better-equipped LE and XLE editions come with a standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. That's less than the Honda Civic and the Chevrolet Cobalt. With a five-speed manual or a not-so-advanced four-speed automatic, the Corolla manages good 27/35 mpg fuel economy, versus the Civic's 26/34 mpg, but acceleration is tepid. The upmarket XRS edition, meanwhile, gets a 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. It's a freer-revving powerplant that pushes the Corolla through a five-speed manual or a more modern five-speed automatic. With the manual gearbox, the Corolla XRS musters 0-60 mph acceleration times in the mid-8 second range--not class-leading performance, but pleasant enough through the snicky gearshift and the nicely mechanical engine note. The Corolla XRS's fuel economy does suffer, though, at 22/30 mpg. The new 2009 Corolla is far more attractive than the near-invisible car it replaces, but still dull-looking. It sits on the same wheelbase as before, but is slightly longer and nearly three inches wider. Thus, it has more room across the front seats--but less room across in back, where two adults will fit fine for short trips, but three adults will be seriously unhappy. The cabin on the base car looks cheap, but moving up to the LE adds features such as power windows, while the XLE gets wood grain trim, and the XRS adds some leather trim and nicely shaped sports seats. An independent suspension keeps the base Corolla moving along fine for a commuter car, but Honda seems to weave more handling magic in even the base Civic. Moving up to the Corolla XRS adds rear disc brakes and tighter feel, but the electric power steering is still too light and vague. There's plenty of tire squeal in the base cars, but the XRS seems far happier and more buttoned-down in cornering. Safety equipment on even the base Corolla is extensive. Anti-lock brakes are standard, as are tire-pressure monitors. Active headrests and front, side, and curtain airbags also come with every 2009 Toyota Corolla, but only the XRS has standard stability control. Air conditioning, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and a CD player are standard on all 2009 Corollas. Options include a navigation system and XM Satellite Radio, rare features in this class. Other Choices:If you like the 2009 Toyota Corolla, also consider:Honda CivicHyundai ElantraNissan SentraMazda3Reason Why:The Honda Civic emerged in 2006 from a redesign with a spacey interior and less backseat room, but with a better sense of style and road feel than the new Corolla. The Hyundai Elantra's a big bargain compared to the Toyota, as is Hyundai's larger Sonata compared to the $22,000 Corolla XRS. The Nissan Sentra has jazzier style and a better backseat, while the Mazda3 is the zippiest of all, and it can be tweaked out in turbocharged Mazdaspeed3 form. The Bottom Line:The 2009 Toyota Corolla has a split personality: the utilitarian base car and the slightly edgy, expensive Corolla XRS. The car experts at TheCarConnection.com studied the latest road tests of the new 2009 Toyota Corolla to write this conclusive review. TheCarConnection.com's editors also drove the 2009 Toyota Corolla to give you more details about the car, to compare it with other cars in the class, and to ...

Other Choices:

The Honda Civic emerged in 2006 from a redesign with a spacey interior and less backseat room, but with a better sense of style and road feel than the new Corolla. The Hyundai Elantra's a big bargain compared to the Toyota, as is Hyundai's larger Sonata compared to the $22,000 Corolla XRS. The Nissan Sentra has jazzier style and a better backseat, while the Mazda3 is the zippiest of all, and it can be tweaked out in turbocharged Mazdaspeed3 form.

Next Steps:

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for a 2009 Toyota Corolla near you

See the Toyota Corolla in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

Comments (12 total)

  1. By Ayman #1, Posted: 6/25/2008

    Mr

    complete exterior and interior photos and specs

  2. By lerone #2, Posted: 12/27/2008

    gregg

    wana buy ah corolla cause day look real good

  3. By William Hudgens #4, Posted: 2/2/2009

    MIS Operations

    I love the car but not the "Digital Clock" in the dashboard. Now my kids can't see the clock. In the brochure shows the Clock as a separate device and not included with the multi information display.

  4. By Gumero Austin #5, Posted: 2/11/2009

    Long Distance Driver

    Electronic Power steering dangers -
    On a few cars they didn't calibrate the new steering. Some will notice that it will not track straight. It will seem to pull to the left or right. But this should be a recall but I am just one person.

  5. By Lisa Davis #6, Posted: 2/15/2009

    Wheel is all over the road

    I am having a little issue. It's like driving a shopping cart. My steering drifts all over the road. I almost ran into sign.

  6. By steve Ford #7, Posted: 2/25/2009

    Power Steering is Dangerous

    Driving many hours day the car is pulsing from right to left. My neighbor has one the same year and it drives just fine. The Toyota Dealer says it's just a common complaint but it's normal.

  7. By Eric W #8, Posted: 3/6/2009

    Corolla for Life

    What Happened the the new Corolla? I just bought the new 2009 and the steering is something awful. Someone is going to get HURT! It takes the wheel and sometimes wont give it back.

  8. By James #10, Posted: 3/30/2009

    Steering is near perfect

    I've had my 09 XRS for about 7 or 8 months now and I've never had any problem with steering. I can let go of the wheel for a good 8 seconds at 120kph with little to no drift in either direction. I drive it every day.
    This steering problem that some people are having definitely doesn't happen on all of them.

  9. By howard allen #11, Posted: 5/28/2009

    steering is very dangerous

    steering is a constant correction over correction etc and is extremely dangerous.the dash gages are difficult to read in most daylight conditions.clock and temperature gages should have dedicated spaces.as it is you have to take you eyes off the road to long to read all the info.gas/temp gages to small

  10. By pucho #12, Posted: 6/29/2009

    Steering problem
    my car swings left and right; don't feel safe!
    dealer said it's like any other luxury car. are they funny?

  11. By Don Thomason #13, Posted: 7/19/2009

    My wife and I have 2 2009 Corollas (His and Hers). They are both the same and both are getting 49 mpg plus at 60 mph on Cruise Control on the freeway on trips. The steering takes some getting used to but is no means dangerous. We are completely satisfied with ours--I have 10,000 miles on mine and she has 7000 miles on hers. Don Thomason, waucondaone@q.com

  12. By Tom Miller #14, Posted: 8/3/2009

    My first Toyota since having a Corona (what the Camry was called man moons ago). The best thing about it seems to be the engine. It very efficient, but still peppy when you need it. My only complaint would is that all trims should have disk brakes all around. Home on, how much more could that be these days.

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