2009 TOYOTA COROLLA REVIEW

2009 Toyota Corolla

Chances are, you know someone who owns or has owned a Toyota Corolla, or own one yourself. Think about it. This is because right now, a Corolla is sold about every 23 seconds. Since 1966, Toyota has sold around 30million Corollas. Being the best selling car in the world, the Corolla has always provided its buyer with unmatched reliability, safety, and fuel economy.

Completely redesigned for 2009, this tenth generation Toyota Corolla shows no signs of running out of steam.

The thing about Toyotas is that they’re really good at what they do, and that’s all. No flair, no personality; many have called Toyotas simply an “appliance” – a refrigerator on wheels. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Not for most people, apparently. Most Corollas are sold to people who say “Cars are for getting you from Point A to Point B.” These are people who care about reliability over excitement, fuel economy over power, and safety over fun. I happen to not be one of those people, but I’m not quite comfortable saying I disliked the Corolla, either.

Styling

2009 Toyota Corolla

If you’ve ever had a younger sibling of the same sex, then you must understand how the Camry feels when looking at the Corolla. Exterior styling on the 2009 Corolla is a bit funky, much like a younger brother trying to mimic the style of his older brother (the Camry, in this case.) I suppose it makes sense, since Toyota was going for a younger crowd with this one.

Inside, the design holds to the same principal of Corollas of yore. Simple, no extreme lines, basic, and utilitarian. Controls are simple and well laid-out, making everything easy to use and understand immediately. The fake wood trim looked strange, but did break up the otherwise monochromatic interior.

Driving

Electroluminescent gauges on XLE

Despite this being the tenth generation Corolla, it really doesn’t feel that much different than my friend’s 1995 Corolla, or even previous models. Toyota is staying true to what the car is, and that is one reason it’s continuing to sell as well as it is. Plus, why mess with a winning formula? Sure, it’s fancier and shinier and more modern, but the driving dynamics and interior feel haven’t changed that much. It’s a good thing.

Driving is comfortable. Smooth riding, attractive interior, and smartly placed controls. The problem with driving the Corolla is that while it’s extremely easy to drive, the steering is uncommunicative. You don’t really feel like you’re driving the car as much as you are just telling it where to go. Perhaps that’s good for some, but I like to be able to feel the road a little bit through the steering wheel, and I know I’m not alone. The problem is the overzealous power steering helping too much.

None of that matters though, because most Corolla owners are looking for one thing: fuel economy. And this is where the Corolla shines. While rated at 27 city / 35 hwy mpg, we ended up averaging 38.6 mpg for the week we had the car. This included a lot of highway driving, but that’s still significant.

So how is livability with the Corolla? I’m a tall guy (6’4″) and drove comfortably. There’s an nonrestrictive amount of space throughout the whole car and trunk, which is impressive. Toyota was smart to include a standard auxiliary jack for your MP3 player and two power outlets for your gadgets. However, the aux jack was placed to the lower left in the center dash, requiring you to feed your cable awkwardly around the shift knob. The extra storage space above the glove box was nice. The Corolla, unlike its sister car the Matrix, felt solid and well-built.

After a long drive you’re not left feeling as worn out as many small cars, except for the fact that in our Corolla XLE test car, there was no cruise control. That leads us to the next section…

Trims and Options

2009 Toyota Corollas come with your choice of five trims: base, LE, S, XLE and XRS. All (except the XRS) come with the standard 1.8-liter four cylinder engine getting 132 horsepower and 27/35 mpg. The base model stars you off with A/C, 15-inch steel wheels, and an MP3-capable CD player. Thankfully Toyota made the auxiliary jack standard across all trims.

From there, you decide which is more important to you: sporty or luxurious.

If you decide to go with a sporty Corolla, the S trim will get you 16-inch steel wheels, foglights, an underbody spoiler, sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and two extra stereo speakers. Move up a level from there and you step into the top-of-the-line XRS, which adds a bigger, 2.4-liter engine pushing 158 horsepower, sport suspension, 17 inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, cruise control, and chrome interior trim. The bigger engine in the XRS get 26 more horsepower than the standard 1.8-liter in the other trims, but also loses a significant 5 mpg average fuel economy rating.

Go the luxury route, and you first see the LE trim, which gains only power windows and locks, and body-color exterior mirrors over the base model. The XLE continues on over the LE, offering 16 inch wheels, wood grain trim, keyless entry, electroluminescent gauges, variable intermittent wipers, and a sliding center armrest. The XLE does not, however come with standard cruise control as it should. Only the XRS gets that privilege.

Our XLE base price of $17,550 represents the middle ground – The base model starts at $15,350, while the top-of-the-line XRS begins at $18,860, bring an optioned-out XRS into the mid-$20’s.

Toyota offers “Make it Mine” packages for the Corolla which include various options in one package. One of the options included in the “Make it Mine #3” was “Base Grade Secutity System” – Yes, their misspelling. You’d think they’d hire a copywriter before posting this stuff online.

Overview

The best selling car in the world should continue to be the best selling car in the world for years to come with the new Corolla. Not that I’m particularly impressed with the steering response and road feel, and it’s not terribly exciting to drive, but the overall practicality of the car should solidify its place in the efficient, small car segment. If you don’t mind the looks of it, then the Corolla will give you plenty of interior room for its size, the 1.8-liter engine and transmission are just right for it, and it will get you where you need to go safely and reliably.

Source: www.automoblog.net/2008/10/22/2009-toyota-corolla-review/

Toyota Corolla 2009-2013 - Used review

2012 Toyota Corolla

Toyota Motor Company started in 1937 as an offspring of the Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, the textile loom maker. Thanks to its famous production system, Toyota grew from a tiny company into the largest car manufacturer in the world. In the early 60's Japan economy was booming and Toyota recognized the need for a family car for people living in suburbs to get around. That's when the Corolla was born. The first model went on sale in November of 1966 and since then, the Corolla became the world's most popular car. The 2009-2013 Corolla is in its tenth generation. True to its roots, it features a practical comfortable interior, fuel-efficient engine and smooth and quiet ride. In North America, the 2009-2013 Corolla comes only as a 4-door sedan with front wheel drive. We researched this car from the point of view of a used car buyer with these questions in mind: is the Corolla reliable? How good is it on gas? How expensive is it to maintain? How it stacks up against competitors? Here is what we found.

2012 Toyota Corolla interior. Click for larger photo

The trunk offers 12.3 cu. ft. of cargo space.

Interior: The interior is roomy. The seats are higher off the floor than in many other small cars, making entry and exit easier. The Corolla offers more rear seat space than Mitsubishi Lancer, Hyundai Elantra or Nissan Sentra. Rear seats fold down. The trunk is spacious with large opening. The audio auxiliary input is standard, the USB port is available on late models.

Model lineup: In the US, the 2009 Corolla was offered in base, S, LE, upscale XLE and sporty XRS trims. The XLE and XRS were discontinued for 2011 and the L trim became the base level for 2012. In Canada, four models were offered: CE, LE, S and XRS. The S and well-equipped LE are the most widely available trim levels on the used car market.

Powertrain: The main engine is the 132-hp 1.8L 4-cylinder DOHC. It's simple and reliable. With good maintenance it can last for over 200K miles. The Corolla XRS comes with the 158-hp 2.4L 4-cylinder, the same engine as in the Camry and RAV4. Transmission choices include a 4-speed automatic (5-speed automatic in XRS) or 5-speed manual.

Timing belt or chain: Both, the 1.8L and 2.4L engines have a timing chain; there is no timing belt. A timing chain doesn't need to be replaced unless there is a problem with it.

Fuel Economy: The EPA rates the 2011 1.8L automatic Corolla at 26/34 mpg (9.0/6.9 L/100 km), which means that with mostly highway driving you can get up to 380 miles (612 km) to a 13.2-gallon (50.0L) tank.
The manual transmission offers even better fuel economy: 28/35 mpg or 8.4/6.7 liters per hundred kilometers. With a manual transmission, you will be saving around 100 dollars a year on fuel costs compared to the automatic.

Mechanical: The Corolla XRS has disc brakes on all 4 wheels; other models come with rear drum brakes. The steering is electrically powered. Antilock brakes are standard. Vehicle Stability control is optional in early models; standard on all US models from 2010. The Canadian Corolla received standard Vehicle Stability Control for 2011.

Handling and ride: The Corolla is very easy to drive. The ride is soft and quiet; road imperfections are well absorbed by the suspension. The 1.8L engine has enough power for daily commuting. The electrical steering is light and feels fine in the city, but is a bit vague around the center position when driving on the highway. 

Among competitors, Mazda 3 offers sportier handling and rich interior, but only 2012-plus models come with the fuel-efficient Skyactiv engine. Mitsubishi Lancer is also more sporty, but is not as good on gas. Both, Mazda 3 and Mitsubishi Lancer have a stiffer ride compared to the Corolla. Honda Civic is reliable, but some buyers may find its seating position too low compared to the Corolla.
Read about safety, pros and cons, what to look for in a used Toyota Corolla on the next page.

Seats are relatively high off the floor for easy entry and exit

Rear seats fold down

Toyota Corolla reliability and common problems: The Corolla is reliable and with proper maintenance can last very long. Consumer Reports rates a used Toyota Corolla as 'Good Bet'. Common complaints include a leaking water pump, various noises, brakes wearing fast and minor engine issues.

Safety: The 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla scored 4 stars for both the driver and the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal crash tests. In the side crash tests, the Corolla got 5 stars for the driver and 4 stars for the rear passenger. In 2011, the NHTSA introduced tougher tests, where the 2011 Corolla scored 4 stars in frontal and rollover tests, but only 2 stars in the side crash tests. The upgraded 2012 and 2013 Corolla has earned 5 stars in the side crash tests and 4 stars in the frontal and rollover tests.

Pros: Reliability, soft comfortable ride, fuel economy for 1.8L engine, conventional automatic transmission, crash test scores, easy to drive, practical spacious interior, low ownership costs, resale value.

Cons: Plain styling, interior plastic could be better, engine is a bit underpowered with a full load, not very exciting to drive.

Year to year changes: Toyota Corolla got minor facelift for 2011 with new front grill, head- and taillights, updated bumpers and trunk lid. For 2012, the Corolla received a few feature upgrades, including a new standard audio system with the USB port, Bluetooth and steering audio controls for the US and Canadian LE trim. The US Corolla L received power windows, power door locks and remote keyless entry.

What to look for when buying a used Toyota Corolla: Not all used cars are the same; look for the one that hasn't been involved in an accident and was regularly maintained. When checking the used Corolla, check the engine oil level; if it's very low, the engine may consume oil. If the engine makes loud rattling noise or smokes when started cold, avoid the car. Watch out for leaks in the engine compartment. A rattling noise coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment could indicate a bad belt tensioner or a failing water pump. Water pump failures were common in early models. Make sure to test all the electrical accessories, including the air conditioner and the audio auxiliary input (also common to fail). During the test drive, see how the automatic transmission shifts; all shifts should be smooth. 

Maintenance: To keep your engine in good condition, have your oil changes done regularly. The Scheduled Maintenance Guide for the US 2009 Corolla recommends changing engine oil every six months or 5,000 miles. The Owner's manual for the US 2009 Corolla recommends using SAE 0W-20 oil, which is typically synthetic. It's also important to check the oil level periodically and top up if needed, because some amount of oil is consumed as you drive. Check your transmission fluid regularly and have it changed if it gets too dirty. Rear brakes need to be inspected regularly and serviced as needed.
If you want better traction on snow, consider installing winter tires. You can find the electronic version of an owner's manual, maintenance schedule and how-to videos at the US Toyota Owners website. 

Source: /www.samarins.com/reviews/corolla_09.html

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