Toyota Corolla 2009 for Sale

Toyota Corolla 2009 For Sale: Toyota's revamped Corolla is a bit like the healthy-fare section of a restaurant menu: On paper, its high qualities should attract plenty of left-brained purchasers, but like the overcooked tilapia you're always stuck forking with, its general charm is missing something. If portable cars drew just on sensible sensibilities, this Corolla can have risen to the top-- and, indeed, with climbing gas costs, it still might. Given that today's best little autos take care of to pique both sides of the brain, nevertheless, Toyota's most recent entry underwhelms.

The Corolla is available in Criterion, LE and also XLE trim levels; most consist of a transmission. Click on this link to see a comparison with the 2008 version. A sportier variation is supplied in S or XRS trims, while the upgraded Toyota Matrix as well as Pontiac Vibe work as hatchback descendants. I drove a Corolla XLE.


Toyota Corolla 2009 For Sale


How it Moves

Most trim levels, including the one I drove, have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder. As I have actually typically discovered to be the standard amongst compact cars and trucks, the Corolla's accelerator responds with a light touch, offering the engine an anxious feeling around town. Highway velocity is much less energetic, where the Corolla's four-speed automated becomes something of a liability, especially if you're bring travelers. Motivating the transmission to kick below 4th to 3rd takes a concerted prod on the gas, and increasing from 30 to 50 mph occasionally calls for 2nd gear-- and also quite a bit of engine sound-- to get up to speed. The Honda Civic, which we had in the Cars.com fleet the week before the Corolla, has a five-speed automatic, as well as its drivetrain really feels decidedly extra up to the job of high-speed passing.

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

Though I really did not drive the Corolla XRS, I have actually driven that engine in the new Matrix, and also it's an incredibly versatile powertrain. Its mileage penalty is substantial, though: In the Corolla it returns 22/29 mpg (city/highway) with a stick or 22/30 with an automated, as compared to 27/35 mpg with the 1.8-liter engine and also either transmission. The mileage numbers for the base engine are specifically impressive:

Antilock brakes are typical, though all trims but the XRS have low-tech drum brakes in back. The pedal in my test car appeared a little bit mushy, specifically compared with the stopping action from four-wheel-disc automobiles like the Hyundai Elantra or uplevel Civics. Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder took the Corolla out in the rainfall, and also he discovered in one instance that ABS started too soon as well as led to a disturbing side stumble as the auto came to a stop.

Suspension equipment includes an independent front and semi-independent, torsion light beam back-- again, inferior to rivals with four-wheel-independent suspensions. (Specific Matrixes have an independent rear suspension, yet also the Corolla XRS sticks to the torsion light beam; a Toyota spokesman claimed that's since the Matrix is a naturally sportier auto.) Highway trip quality is acceptable, with limited wind and road noise, but or else the Corolla conveys a sloppy driving experience. Hit a development joint while rounding an offramp, as well as the wheels shimmy sidewards dramatically. The steering wheel has a comfy on-center feel, yet it transforms with a numb, distant feel, and difficult corners evoke lots of body roll.

The Civic and Lancer, which both have four-wheel-independent suspensions, appear more precise in all 3 pertains to. The Corolla XRS may prove sharper, too-- it has a quicker steering ratio as well as a suspension-stiffening strut-tower brace, so if you're searching for better handling, it's possibly worth checking out. Note that the XRS has an unsatisfactory 36.3-foot transforming circle, while other trims make it in 35.6 feet. The last figure is affordable with the Civic as well as Sentra, though it sheds to the Elantra (33.9 feet) as well as Lancer (32.8 ).

How it Looks

The Corolla's newest expression, which Toyota claims it created with the help of layout studios in Italy, appears much more aggressive compared to that of the Japanese-market Corolla. Triangular fronts lights as well as an impression in the grille for Toyota's logo design make it much like the larger Camry, while the tail recalls the outbound Corolla's. It's an organized look that takes few threats, and I doubt it will find numerous fans or detractors.

Wheels variety from 15 to 17 inches in size. The Corolla S as well as XRS add fog lights, bumper expansions as well as a rear spoiler, elevating the styling mercury to someplace around that of the body-kitted Camry SE. You can decide whether that's an advantage.

The Within

Generally, the Corolla's cabin seems affably neat-- the two-tone dash in my examination car had consistent, if not outstanding, high quality, and whatever from the center regulates to the determines seemed customized for straightforward usability. The turn indicator and also window buttons operate with precisely fitted movements, and though a lot of plastics are hard to the touch, total fit and also surface is decent. Storage locations are plentiful, with 2 stacked glove areas, an adequate facility console as well as little pockets flanking the center controls.

I'm uncertain simple cleanliness suffices, nonetheless. The Civic's cabin boosts control accuracy to an additional world-- the Corolla's A/C dials really feel awkward in comparison-- as well as the Elantra boasts soft-touch materials as well as high end amenities. The Lancer and also Emphasis go for braked with interior designing. Caught in the crossfire, the Corolla seems average-- dumbed-down, even-- which might not be a place Toyota could manage to be.

Front-seat headroom suffices, though my test car had no moonroof, which would take away concerning an inch of overhanging area. The cloth seats were the subject of much discussion at Cars.com: I located the upholstery comfortable and perfectly brushed, yet editors Mike Hanley and David Thomas believed it was dated and low-grade. The vehicle driver's seat modifications won little favor-- a height-adjustment jack is conventional, but the seat has limited rear movement for taller motorists.

Perhaps that's a good thing; if the pole positions took a trip any type of further back, rear legroom would come to be untenable. As it stands, legroom and also clearance in back are just appropriate for adults. Congratulations to Toyota for keeping the flooring between the rear seats hump-free, which indicates a fifth passenger may in fact have the ability to endure a short trip in the facility seat there.

Trunk quantity amounts to 12.3 cubic feet, which is at the low end of this sector. Below's exactly how indoor quantity contrasts:

Security

The 2009 Corolla gained the highest possible rating, Great, in frontal crash examinations from the Insurance Institute for Freeway Safety. IIHS has not yet reviewed the auto for side-impacts. The Corolla's six typical air bags consist of side-impact airbags for the front seats as well as side curtain airbags for both rows. Active front head restrictions and also antilock brakes are also conventional; a number of competitors make ABS optional.

Traction control and a digital security system run as a $250 bundle on all trims yet the XRS, where they're common. The option is well worth the price, considered that lots of competitors get stability control for greater trim levels or do not use it at all. The outward bound Corolla billed $650 for the function. Toyota says it's mounted on simply 14 percent of all '09 Corollas, though, so it may take some looking to discover one with it.

Attributes & Pricing

Without the destination charge, the Corolla begins at $15,250. Typical functions consist of cooling, power mirrors as well as a CD stereo with a complementary jack. Note that there's no iPod-specific hookup like Scion, Toyota's sibling nameplate, uses.

The Corolla LE adds power home windows and locks, while the XLE obtains phony wood trim, backlit gauges as well as keyless entry-- a $245 option on the LE that really should certainly be conventional. Both the LE as well as XLE consist of a transmission. The S and also XRS sporting activity various exterior attachments, in addition to sportier seats and also a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls. Both models revert to hand-operated door locks as well as windows, though-- especially unsatisfactory for the XRS, which costs greater than the better-equipped XLE. Power accessories, heated leather seats, a moonroof and a navigating system are optional.

Tons an XRS to the handle, and the sticker label comes up simply reluctant of $25,000. All told, the Corolla doesn't boast fairly as much value for the money as several of its rivals do. Check out just how an easily furnished model contrasts:

Corolla in the Market

Gas gas mileage as well as safety qualifications offer the Corolla plenty of book allure, and if the car's 40-year background is any kind of indicator, the latest version must verify as reputable as the sunrise. Barring any top quality snafus-- a considerable unknown, taking into consideration the current Camry V-6's performance history-- these aspects could be sufficient to drive the Corolla's success.

As a portable car that hits on all fronts, nevertheless, the Corolla dissatisfies. It's the kind of choice born out of your inner sense of duty-- a strong pick, maybe, for parents shopping for their teen motorist. The problem for Toyota is that a great deal of rivals have managed to package book sensibilities with engaging styling as well as fun-to-drive allure. Judged versus these competitors, the Corolla comes off as an also-ran.