2009 Toyota Corolla Review

Toyota has always had great sales success with its Corolla subcompact and now compact sedan. The Corolla dates back several decades and has been a success for the company from the beginning. The Corolla offers great value in a small, fuel efficient package. Combining all of the elements of the Corolla together results in a best seller.

The Corolla has faced stiff competition throughout the years. Most of their competition comes from its nemesis the Honda Civic. Honda and Toyota have traded off and on several times in terms of yearly sales leaders between the two models, but the race is always tight and rightfully so. Both the Corolla and the Civic are stand outs in the compact class. They both offer virtues such as great gas mileage, dependability, strong resale value, strong performance, and solid build quality.

Though the Corolla and the Civic dominate, they are facing competition from the likes of the Mazda 3 and the Volkswagen Golf / Rabbit. However, Toyota's name being synonymous with reliability, has always landed them a slight edge over everyone else but Honda.

The 2009 Toyota Corolla does not disappoint. It still offers great virtues, but with more refinement and a slightly larger package than before. Read on the learn about the 2009 Toyota Corolla.

Pricing: The 2009 Toyota Corolla is on the lower end of the price scale for a Toyota Model. The base Corolla starts at just $15,350. A loaded top of the line model will set up back upwards of $22,000. The Corolla lineup of cars include the models called Corolla, LE, XLE, S, and XRS. The pricing climbs as you move up the scale. The S and XRS models are considered sportier models.

Specifications: The base Corolla all the way up through the S model achieve similar fuel economy numbers. They are rated at 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. The sportiest model the XRS drops to 22 mpg city 30 mpg highway. All Corolla use a 1.8 liter 4 cylinder engine rated at 132 hp except for the XRS model which uses a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine rated at 158hp. The Corolla is available with an automatic or manual transmission.

Performance: The Toyota Corolla is midpack in the compact category of economy cars. Expect solid handling, but far from sporty. A comfortable ride and capable engine are standouts in the class.

Bottom Line: The Toyota Corolla continues to offer great virtues in its class. There is now strong competition in the compact economy class, but the Corolla still stands out in several categories such as ride quality, road noise, and refinement. The 2009 Toyota Corolla is a good buy.