2009 toyota Corolla

2009 Toyota Corolla: Toyota's redesigned Corolla is a little bit like the healthy-fare section of a dining establishment menu: On paper, its qualities ought to draw plenty of left-brained purchasers, however like the overcooked tilapia you're always stuck forking with, its overall appeal is missing something. If compact cars attracted just on prudent perceptiveness, this Corolla could have risen to the top-- and also, without a doubt, with increasing gas costs, it still might. Given that today's ideal little cars take care of to ignite both sides of the mind, however, Toyota's latest access underwhelms.

The Corolla can be found in Requirement, LE and also XLE trim degrees; most consist of an automatic transmission. Go here to see a contrast with the 2008 design. A sportier variation is used in S or XRS trims, while the redesigned Toyota Matrix as well as Pontiac Ambiance act as hatchback descendants. I drove a Corolla XLE.


2009 Toyota Corolla


How it Relocations

A lot of trim degrees, consisting of the one I drove, have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder. As I've generally discovered to be the standard among compact vehicles, the Corolla's accelerator reacts with a light touch, offering the engine an eager sensation around community. Highway velocity is less energised, where the Corolla's four-speed automated ends up being something of an obligation, specifically if you're carrying guests. Motivating the transmission to kick down from 4th to 3rd takes a collective prod on the gas, and also accelerating from 30 to 50 miles per hour in some cases calls for 2nd equipment-- and quite a bit of engine noise-- to obtain up to speed. The Honda Civic, which we had in the Cars.com fleet the week prior to the Corolla, has a five-speed automatic, as well as its drivetrain really feels extremely much more approximately the job of high-speed passing.

A 2.4-liter four-cylinder powers the Corolla XRS. Here's just how the two engines compare:

Though I really did not drive the Corolla XRS, I've driven that engine in the brand-new Matrix, and it's an extremely adaptable powertrain. Its gas mileage charge is significant, though: In the Corolla it returns 22/29 mpg (city/highway) with a stick or 22/30 with an automatic, compared with 27/35 mpg with the 1.8-liter engine and also either transmission. The gas mileage figures for the base engine are specifically outstanding:

Antilock brakes are conventional, though all trims yet the XRS have low-tech drum brakes in back. The pedal in my test car appeared a little bit mushy, specifically compared to the stopping action from four-wheel-disc cars and trucks like the Hyundai Elantra or uplevel Civics. Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder took the Corolla out in the rainfall, and also he found in one instance that ABS kicked in prematurely as well as resulted in a disturbing side lurch as the car came to a stop.

Suspension equipment consists of an independent front and also semi-independent, torsion beam rear-- once again, inferior to rivals with four-wheel-independent suspensions. (Certain Matrixes have an independent rear suspension, but even the Corolla XRS sticks with the torsion beam of light; a Toyota representative claimed that's due to the fact that the Matrix is a naturally sportier automobile.) Highway ride quality is acceptable, with limited wind and also road noise, yet or else the Corolla imparts a sloppy driving experience. Strike a development joint while rounding an offramp, and the wheels vibrate sidewards considerably. The guiding wheel has a comfortable on-center feeling, yet it transforms with a numb, distant feel, and also difficult corners generate lots of body roll.

The Civic and also Lancer, which both have four-wheel-independent suspensions, appear more precise in all three regards. The Corolla XRS may verify sharper, as well-- it has a quicker steering proportion and also a suspension-stiffening strut-tower brace, so if you're searching for much better handling, it's possibly worth checking out. Keep in mind that the XRS has a frustrating 36.3-foot transforming circle, while various other trims make it in 35.6 feet. The last figure is competitive with the Civic and also Sentra, though it loses to the Elantra (33.9 feet) and Lancer (32.8 ).

How it Looks

The Corolla's most current expression, which Toyota says it established with the help of style studios in Italy, seems more aggressive compared to that of the Japanese-market Corolla. Triangular fronts lights and an imprint in the grille for Toyota's logo design make it similar to the larger Camry, while the tail recalls the outgoing Corolla's. It's an organized appearance that takes few risks, and I doubt it will locate several followers or critics.

Tires variety from 15 to 17 inches in diameter. The Corolla S and XRS include fog lights, bumper extensions as well as a back spoiler, elevating the styling mercury to somewhere around that of the body-kitted Camry SE. You could determine whether that's an advantage.

The Within

For the most part, the Corolla's cabin seems affably neat-- the two-tone dashboard in my examination vehicle had consistent, if not superior, top quality, and also everything from the facility controls to the assesses appeared customized for straightforward use. The turn signals and also window buttons run with specifically fitted motions, and also though many plastics are difficult to the touch, total fit and surface is reputable. Storage areas abound, with two stacked handwear cover compartments, a sufficient facility console or even tiny pockets flanking the center controls.

I'm not sure plain tidiness suffices, however. The Civic's cabin elevates control precision to another realm-- the Corolla's AIR CONDITIONER dials really feel awkward in contrast-- and also the Elantra flaunts soft-touch materials as well as high end facilities. The Lancer as well as Focus choose braked with indoor designing. Caught in the crossfire, the Corolla seems unremarkable-- dumbed-down, even-- which could not be a location Toyota could pay for to be.

Front-seat headroom is adequate, though my test cars and truck had no moonroof, which would certainly take away regarding an inch of overhanging space. The cloth seats were the topic of much dispute at Cars.com: I found the furniture comfortable as well as well brushed, yet editors Mike Hanley as well as David Thomas believed it was dated and also low-grade. The vehicle driver's seat adjustments won little favor-- a height-adjustment jack is conventional, but the seat has restricted rear activity for taller vehicle drivers.

Probably that's an advantage; if the front seats took a trip any kind of further back, rear legroom would certainly come to be untenable. As it stands, legroom as well as headroom in back are just sufficient for adults. Congratulations to Toyota for keeping the floor between the rear seats hump-free, which means a fifth passenger could actually have the ability to endure a brief trip in the facility seat there.

Trunk volume completes 12.3 cubic feet, which is at the low end of this section. Below's just how indoor quantity compares:

Safety and security

The 2009 Corolla gained the highest rating, Great, in frontal collision tests from the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security. IIHS has not yet evaluated the auto for side-impacts. The Corolla's 6 typical airbags consist of side-impact air bags for the front seats and side drape airbags for both rows. Active front head restrictions and also anti-skid brakes are also conventional; a number of rivals make ABS optional.

Traction control and also an electronic stability system run as a $250 package on all trims however the XRS, where they're standard. The choice is well worth the cost, considered that several rivals reserve security control for higher trim levels or do not supply it whatsoever. The outgoing Corolla billed $650 for the attribute. Toyota says it's installed on just 14 percent of all '09 Corollas, however, so it could take some searching to discover one with it.

Attributes & Rates

Without the destination cost, the Corolla begins at $15,250. Typical attributes consist of air conditioning, power mirrors and a CD stereo with a complementary jack. Note that there's no iPod-specific hookup like Successor, Toyota's sibling nameplate, provides.

The Corolla LE includes power windows and locks, while the XLE obtains phony wood trim, backlit assesses and keyless access-- a $245 option on the LE that actually ought to be standard. Both the LE and XLE consist of an automatic transmission. The S as well as XRS sport numerous exterior attachments, along with sportier seats as well as a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls. Both models return to hands-on door locks and also home windows, though-- particularly frustrating for the XRS, which sets you back greater than the better-equipped XLE. Power accessories, warmed natural leather seats, a moonroof and also a navigating system are optional.

Lots an XRS to the hilt, and also the sticker label shows up just shy of $25,000. All told, the Corolla does not flaunt fairly as much worth for the cash as some of its competitors do. Look into exactly how a conveniently equipped version contrasts:

Corolla on the market

Gas gas mileage and also safety qualifications provide the Corolla plenty of textbook charm, as well as if the vehicle's 40-year history is any type of indication, the latest version needs to confirm as reputable as the sunrise. Disallowing any type of top quality snafus-- a significant unknown, thinking about the most up to date Camry V-6's track record-- these variables could be sufficient to drive the Corolla's success.

As a small auto that appeals all fronts, nonetheless, the Corolla dissatisfies. It's the type of choice substantiated of your inner sense of duty-- a strong pick, maybe, for parents shopping for their teen driver. The issue for Toyota is that a lot of competitors have taken care of to package book perceptiveness with compelling designing and also fun-to-drive charm. Evaluated against these opponents, the Corolla comes off as an also-ran.