2009 Toyota Corolla Safety Review

March 31, 2009

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

All the safety gear is there; airbags left, right, center, and curtain
Autoblog

Only the XRS has four-wheel disc brakes; other Corollas have rear drums
Edmunds

Four stars, front impact; five stars, front side impact; four stars, front rear impact
NHTSA

Good, frontal offset impact
IIHS

When it comes to safety, the 2009 Toyota Corolla should inspire confidence with both its crash test ratings and its available safety features.

During independent crash tests, the Toyota Corolla scored very well in a multitude of impacts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal government's testing agency, gives the Toyota Corolla four out of five stars for most impacts, and a full five stars for front side impacts. The private Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also gives the Corolla Toyota its highest rating, "good," for the frontal offset impact test, which is the only one it has conducted so far.

Aside from commendable engineering, there are a number of safety features that work together to improve occupant protection on the Corolla Toyota. Autoblog writes that the 2009 Toyota Corolla has "airbags left, right, center, and curtain," along with "seatbelt pretensioners" and "active head restraints." Edmunds adds that "stability control is standard on the XRS and optional on other Corollas" and notes that "only the XRS has four-wheel disc brakes; other Corollas have rear drums." Cars.com says that "traction control and an electronic stability system" are optional on every 2009 Toyota Corolla except the XRS, which comes standard with the systems, and adds that "the option is well worth the price."

One important aspect of driving safety is outward visibility, and on the Toyota Corolla “outward visibility is good,” according to ConsumerGuide. Other reviewers agree, and the Toyota Corolla scores well in terms of driver visibility.

Conclusion

The 2009 Toyota Corolla offers high crash test ratings and a strong list of safety features.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:All the safety gear is there; airbags left, right, center, and curtainAutoblogOnly the XRS has four-wheel disc brakes; other Corollas have rear drumsEdmundsFour stars, front impact; five stars, front side impact; four stars, front rear impactNHTSAGood, frontal offset impactIIHS When it comes to safety, the 2009 Toyota Corolla should inspire confidence with both its crash test ratings and its available safety features. During independent crash tests, the Toyota Corolla scored very well in a multitude of impacts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal government's testing agency, gives the Toyota Corolla four out of five stars for most impacts, and a full five stars for front side impacts. The private Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also gives the Corolla Toyota its highest rating, "good," for the frontal offset impact test, which is the only one it has conducted so far. Aside from commendable engineering, there are a number of safety features that work together to improve occupant protection on the Corolla Toyota. Autoblog writes that the 2009 Toyota Corolla has "airbags left, right, center, and curtain," along with "seatbelt pretensioners" and "active head restraints." Edmunds adds that "stability control is standard on the XRS and optional on other Corollas" and notes that "only the XRS has four-wheel disc brakes; other Corollas have rear drums." Cars.com says that "traction control and an electronic stability system" are optional on every 2009 Toyota Corolla except the XRS, which comes standard with the systems, and adds that "the option is well worth the price." One important aspect of driving safety is outward visibility, and on the Toyota Corolla “outward visibility is good,” according to ConsumerGuide. Other reviewers agree, and the Toyota Corolla scores well in terms of driver visibility. ConclusionThe 2009 Toyota Corolla offers high crash test ratings and a strong list of safety features. 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA STYLING | [7 out of 10] Autoblog: "One of the handsomest pieces of sheetmetal in Toyota's U.S. lineup" Edmunds: "Attractive and ergonomic interior design" Kelley Blue Book: "A lower, wider, sportier look to compete with Honda's Civic" The Toyota Corolla has ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

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.

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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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