April 2008
2009 Toyota Corolla: First Drive
Redesigned popular sedan feels like a downsized Camry
For 2009, the redesigned Toyota Corolla enters its 10th generation and 40th year on the market. Since 1968, more than 30 million
Corollas have been sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling model lines ever.
The new Corolla sedan comes in five trim lines: base, LE, S, XLE, and XRS. All except the top-trim XRS are powered by a 132-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. The XRS has a 158-hp 2.4-liter Four. We recently purchased an LE automatic with the optional stability control for $18,404. Standard safety gear includes antilock brakes, side-curtain air bags, and active front head restraints.
Initial impressions. The Corolla continues to provide competent, unpretentious basic transportation. The new car feels much like a downsized Camry,
with a more comfortable ride than most small sedans. The spacious interior is relatively quiet and nicely laid out.
The Corolla LE handles competently but it's not inspiring. The new steering is electrically assisted but feels a little weightier than that in many other Toyotas-a good thing. The revised 132-hp engine revs willingly and sounds less boomy than the base engine in the previous generation. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly and responsively, despite having only four speeds. We've been averaging an impressive 32 mpg so far, according to the car's trip computer.
The interior shows some significant design improvements, but the trim has more cheap, hard plastics than before. The steering column is now adjustable for angle and reach, improving the flawed driving position of the previous car. Controls are simple and straightforward. The rotary climate controls are easy to grasp. The rear floor is completely flat, aiding rear seat room. With its on-board computer and widely available stability control, there's little reason to buy a higher trim line than the LE.
CR's Take. The Corolla is not as much fun to drive as a Honda Civic or Mazda3, but its fundamentals are strong. The roomy interior,
commendable ride, good noise isolation, and promising fuel economy bode well. We will soon see how it stacks up among other
small cars we're testing for the July issue, online in June, including the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra,
and Subaru Impreza.
Discuss Toyota in the Cars forum.
The new Corolla sedan comes in five trim lines: base, LE, S, XLE, and XRS. All except the top-trim XRS are powered by a 132-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. The XRS has a 158-hp 2.4-liter Four. We recently purchased an LE automatic with the optional stability control for $18,404. Standard safety gear includes antilock brakes, side-curtain air bags, and active front head restraints.
The Corolla LE handles competently but it's not inspiring. The new steering is electrically assisted but feels a little weightier than that in many other Toyotas-a good thing. The revised 132-hp engine revs willingly and sounds less boomy than the base engine in the previous generation. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly and responsively, despite having only four speeds. We've been averaging an impressive 32 mpg so far, according to the car's trip computer.
The interior shows some significant design improvements, but the trim has more cheap, hard plastics than before. The steering column is now adjustable for angle and reach, improving the flawed driving position of the previous car. Controls are simple and straightforward. The rotary climate controls are easy to grasp. The rear floor is completely flat, aiding rear seat room. With its on-board computer and widely available stability control, there's little reason to buy a higher trim line than the LE.
Discuss Toyota in the Cars forum.
