Driving Experience
Includes acceleration and handling
What Owners Say
"Good: smooth ride. Great gas mileage. Poor: rear window has a hard time defrosting."
Anonymous, KS (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Good overall experience."
Martin K., CA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Very nimble car to drive. I use it for my work car."
Anonymous, IL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"An excellent combination of many factors including fuel consumption."
Anonymous, AB (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Best combination of handling and ride of any car I have ever had. Needs more acceleration quickness, especially the first 100 feet from a dead stop."
Shirley B., MA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Weak acceleration"
Anonymous, NC (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Consistent handling"
James H., WI (2009 Toyota Corolla)"The acceleration begins sluggishly and, as the pedal is pressed further, becomes jumpy sometimes causing tire spin. This makes stop-and-start driving more dangerous than necessary in slippery conditions."
Anonymous, NC (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Drives well. Enjoy long trips in it. Handles and accelerates well."
Johne S., NC (2009 Toyota Corolla)"At freeway speeds the car seems to wander in the lane. This is due to the electronic steering control. Toyota sent me a notice stating they could reprogram the controller for a different feel but this is personal preference and is not covered by any warranty and would cost $400."
Anonymous, WA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Adequate for a small car."
Anonymous, CA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"It drives as one would expect for a compact low powered car."
Robert W., WA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"It accelerates great and it handles very nicely. I enjoy driving my car. The motor is quiet once you start driving it. In the winter months it starts up asap and the motor is quiet once it on for about 5 minutes."
Anonymous, IL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"First automatic transmission, won't buy one again."
Anonymous, NS (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Very good and surprising."
Anonymous, AB (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Although its sits a bits low, our 2009 Toyota Corolla simply seems easier to drive than most other automobiles. At almost 70,000 miles and within months of being 10 years old, the Corolla still drives like a new car."
Wayne F., TX (2009 Toyota Corolla)"It can be somewhat under powered and sluggish when trying to accelerate from 40 or so. Very high rpm for the speed you are going."
Anonymous, NJ (2009 Toyota Corolla)"The car continues to provide sufficient acceleration for our driving needs and handles smoothly."
Anonymous, NJ (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Acceleration is sluggish"
John W., CA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Engine and transmission have remained very reliable. Did have to replace alternator after it failed this year."
Anonymous, MI (2009 Toyota Corolla)"The handling is excellent but the acceleration is low enough to be almost dangerous, sometimes. There is almost no acceleration for the first 100 feet of travel and that can be a hazard, especially when entering a busy rotary (which is nearby)."
Anonymous, MA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"My car handles well. I have the larger engine and so have great acceleration. Good turning radius, steering is easy, parking is very easy."
Anonymous, IL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"The Corolla drives very nice. I have a 5 speed manual which I enjoy and use it for slowing down. It is very easy to shift and pass on the highway. I really enjoy driving my Corolla!"
James P., IL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"It has always been reliable"
Linda M., WA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"The Corolla has a good feel to the steering wheel, brakes well, but is noisy and requires more attention to steering at higher speeds due to vibration."
Deborah C., NC (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Absolutely great handling car acceleration is great just a joy to drive as I am a hard driver have about 3 million km’s of driving! Car can get you out of trouble when need extra power! Don’t always keep it clean but car is a Jewell! Grandson drives it a lot 20 years old learning car responds to his driving ! 2009 car good size new ones not as appealing smaller! Car dealer’s staff known selling well but road handling not as good as mine! New ones are affected by wind harder to control than mine! Mine is so good delaying newer one due to this! 2009 Corolla great size before cut down new ones!"
Lloyd M., NS (2009 Toyota Corolla)"This has been a reliable and easily handled vehicle that handles well and is economical to operate."
Anonymous, MI (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Toyata reliability and low cost to own."
John S., FL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"The 2009 Corolla does not have good acceleration when the air conditioning is on."
Anonymous, WI (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Dependability"
Anonymous, FL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"With the age of the vehicle I am wary of jack rabbit starts."
John S., IL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Acceleration is sluggish."
Marianne M., KS (2009 Toyota Corolla)"In my opinion, the 2009 Toyota Corolla looks better than the new models. My wife is the primary driver and she loves every aspect of the 2009 Toyota Corolla."
Paul F., FL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Drives and handles well. Quick on the accelerator when it needs to be"
TAMMY C., DE (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Hesitation upon acceleration."
Anonymous, CA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Ability to accelerate varies with ambient temperature and / or season."
Anonymous, SC (2009 Toyota Corolla)"I've added a TRD rear sway bar, TRD front strut brace and TRD springs which have transformed the car. It was okay in stock form but this improved the handling 100% without hurting the ride. Reports should expand on what a positive change these things make to a car!"
JIM C., WA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"fuel injection for the S Version"
MICHAEL P., MD (2009 Toyota Corolla)"fuel economy"
ROBERT R., TX (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Steering feels uncertain at higher speeds. Buffeting affect, as with wind, even when not windy. Theoretically this is not 'unsafe' per toyota, but it does not feel safe especially on long drives. There is a TSB on issue"
Anonymous, MA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"very good acceleration"
Anonymous, PA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Steering is poor, and it can be a rattletrap."
Anonymous, MO (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Great accident avoidance and braking. Able to prevent collisions no less than 3 times to compensate for errors by others."
KRIS R., TX (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Generally boring to drive. Has excellent turning radius. Changing to Pirelli P7 changed the character of the car: less noise, better traction in rain, better ride."
JAMES C., FL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Acceleration is adequate for a car in this category but the steering and brakes are miserable compared to my other car (which was much more expensive so I give the Corolla a pass on this)."
Anonymous, CA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"My only complaints are the poor visibilty when backing the car and difficulty in seeing the front hood and fenders when driving."
JOE H., NY (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Turning around and turning corners is more flexible than with previous cars I have owned."
LEE H., OH (2009 Toyota Corolla)"It is a little boxy and big-feeling. Compensated for somewhat by the roomy interior."
Anonymous, CA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Relatively weak acceleration and steering is not as precise as I would like, limited road feedback through the steering."
PHILIP W., ON (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Not a drivers car. Despite being the XRS model which is supposed to be sporty, the mid range mazda3 we have beats it hands down. The XRS has more power, but doesn't like corners. The Mazda3 loves corners and just feels much more connected. The Corolla is a great car overall, but Toyota needs to learn from Mazda about how to make a driver feel like he's involved with driving the car."
DAVE M., ON (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Seems to sway side to side a little too easily around 70mph"
MARY L., NH (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Very snappy acceleration. Stopping on most hills, the transmission will hold the car without braking. (no roll back)."
Anonymous, CA (2009 Toyota Corolla)"Haven't owned an automatic in years, can't wait for this car to die so I can buy a standard transmission."
MICHAEL D., NS (2009 Toyota Corolla)"good overall good power and great mpg"
GINO T., QC (2009 Toyota Corolla)"even with the great mileage, when i have to get out of danger, the acceleration is great."
LUANN B., FL (2009 Toyota Corolla)"when we first start the car there is a rattle type of sound like something is loose, it only last a few seconds.. The mechanic thought it might be the starter and replaced it, but the sound didn't stop. It doesn't seem to affect the running of the car."
Anonymous, AB (2009 Toyota Corolla)
"Firm suspension & crisp handling with decent acceleration for a 1.8L engine."
Michael P., FL (2009 Toyota Corolla)