My review of '09 Corolla

[ryannel2003]

I had a chance to look over the new ’09 Corolla today. I gotta say, I was completely impressed with the car. I had seen a new Matrix the weekend before, and I did not like it at all. Very unusual looking, and just not my style. So I go up to the Corolla, the salesman doesn’t even bother coming over to me since I’m at the dealer all the time looking around. He goes inside to get a brochure, and I sit inside the car and take a look at everything. HIGHLY impressed with the dashboard, very much reminds me of the ’00 Camry but much more stylish and better built. All of the controls have a very fluid motion, and have a high quality feel. Something even the current Camry doesn’t achieve. I try to imagine myself driving one, and I would definitely own one. I do have one nitpick however. That is the headliner. For a car as nice as the Corolla, the headliner looks like it was pulled straight out of a Chevy Cobalt. It’s extremely thin, and feels like cardboard at touch. I’ve been inside cheaper cars, and the headliners are much nicer looking. I didn’t have a chance to look at the carpet, but it possible it’s the same type they used in the 9th Generation Corolla, which means it isn’t of the highest quality. I prefer a really thick, plush carpet like my Camry has (you really can’t compare the two cars; my car cost $25k in 2000). Other than that nitpick, the interior is a great place to spend time. I love the fabric choice Toyota used; very high quality, and the seat itself was very comfortable. Much more so than my Camry, which feels like your sitting on the seat. Not in it; but I would have to take it on a long distance to trip to determine how comfortable it really is.

Oh, I forgot to mention this car was a ’09 Corolla XLE in Classic Silver Metallic. Overall though, I was extremely impressed with the car. The exterior looks much classier than the Civic and Mazda3, with the former not aging very well at all. It looks too much like a space shuttle, and an ugly one at that. I love the mini-Camry design, even though I believe the Corolla does a better job with styling compared to the Cam. The sticker for this car was $18,700. Very reasonable since I’ve seen Civic EX’s going for $20k. I think Toyota has done a good job of creating a comfortable, reliable, clean looking sedan for under $20k. I also believe the nagging quality issues with the Tundra’s and Camry’s will not be rampant on this car. Its obvious that the cost cutting (besides the headliner) is not shown in this car, and Toyota spent a lot of time with the design and quality of this car. When it’s time to retire my Camry, I will be looking at the Corolla for sure.

BTW, I did not have a chance to test-drive the car. I’m only 17, so they probably don’t want to risk me driving a brand new car. Completely understandable. If it drives anything like the 9th Generation ‘rolla, I would be impressed.

[REN69]

Nice review.. you say you're 17? I'm impressed, I'm sure someone out there would let you test drive the car, you have to make it look like you have the money to buy it.. OR go in with your parents and test drive it.

[cargirl2B]

I had a chance to test drive a red XRS 5 speed yesterday. Very zippy. When I was in third gear and gave the car some extra gas the car plunged forward. Drive wise, this new Corolla was lots of fun. Being female, I had only one preference for the more sporty 5 speeds and I've given my suggestions over the past two years by calling Toyota customer service, by writing a letter snail mail and by sending my suggestions via email. Here was my suggestion, request and preference - that the more sporty 5 speeds, S and XRS, also come in a parchment leather or beige fabric, not just black. I may be showing my gender here, but the black interior on all the S and XRS 5 speeds will likely attract more males than females. Demographic-wise, this may have been Toyota's aim all along - to pull in the younger and/or male market. As for me, however, I would have been more likely to purchase a 2009 Corolla if the S or XRS manuals came with a lighter interior, too, but it's not an option on these cars. That said, however, looks wise, the exterior of the Corolla is a winner and the drive is a blast.

[ECHOKnight2000]

Nice reviews, Keep them coming. This is probably the first time I've been interested in the Corolla, beside the last gen XRS. I Think this Corolla looks sporty and classy, a blend of both. Some people say boring but I'm glad its not out there or it would be dated like the Civic. There are people who don't like the new Matrix, I do. I'm glad Toyota went out on a limb and did non-Toyota styling as far as flare. The Matrix is supposed to be more "flashy." I saw the new Corolla and Matrix today at the dealer lot. Not the main one but a second side lot where no one really goes but you can still go over there. I asked one of the sales men that actually sold my mom a previous gen Matrix. Anyway, I saw the black Matrix's first and was looking for the Corolla. Was about the to leave and saw the Rolla out of the corner of my eye. I'm like there you, you sneaky bastard. I finally saw them in person. Nice, but there was snow on them and it was cold so I didn't stay out too long. I'll wait till I see them without snow. But otherwise very nice cars!

If I don't get a chance to sit in one soon I'm sure I'll see one at the auto show this coming year in March. Can't wait!

I picked up a Matrix brochure but didn't find the Corolla brochure yet, I will!

I love how they tout the Corolla as classy and up scale in the marketing campaign on the website, so cool.

Oh I heard one review that they said the large knobs on the Rolla are probably due to the fact that older people are Toyota's biggest demographic, that maybe true but what's wrong with easy to grab knobs? If they were smaller they would bitch how small the knobs were. I think they were just trying to find something to complain about.

[lowincash]

i just sat in a black corolla s today...looks very very nice in black i must say! it was parked next to a black camry se and looks very similar from far away lol but i like a small car so the corolla would be what i'm getting. this was the only 09 corolla in the dealer and i didn't get to test drive it since there were lots of cars in the way. but i just sat inside and it's very comfortable and i was able to get a comfortable sitting position thanks to the telescoping steering wheel. i did get to turn on the car tho. it was very quiet and smooth. i closed the doors and couldn't hear much of the people talking outside...i'm hoping there will be very very little wind and road noise once on the road. it had cloth seats and they were pretty comfy. very soft compare to the leather seats i have on my maxima. but i dont' want leather anymore so those seats are nice for me. i was hoping to see one with a sunroof so i can check that out. dealer says they'll get more in a month or so wth lol

oh and the sales guy is kinda dumb =/ i told him i want to get a corolla xrs and he's telling me corolla don't have xrs...only matrix comes in xrs o_O anyways i try to find a dealer with an xrs to check out lol

[toyweb]

Originally Posted by REN69

Nice review.. you say you're 17? I'm impressed, I'm sure someone out there would let you test drive the car, you have to make it look like you have the money to buy it.. OR go in with your parents and test drive it.

He has to go with his parents. A 17 year old cannot buy the car whether they have the money or not and the dealership should not let him drive it.
A 17 year old is a minor.

[ryannel2003]

Thanks for all the replies! I'll be 18 in a couple of weeks, so I might have the chance to drive one then. But to be honest, I have test-driven several cars before without the dealers knowing I'm so young. I had a chance to drive an '03 Camry XLE V6 from the same dealer (now that was a nice car), and the other day I had the chance to drive an '00 Cadillac Seville SLS (I love them). So i guess it depends on how you present yourself as well. You can't go up there and be like "Yeah dude that car is freakin sweet, I just gotta drive it." But I don't normally talk like that anyway.

[toyweb]

Originally Posted by ryannel2003

Thanks for all the replies! I'll be 18 in a couple of weeks, so I might have the chance to drive one then. But to be honest, I have test-driven several cars before without the dealers knowing I'm so young. I had a chance to drive an '03 Camry XLE V6 from the same dealer (now that was a nice car), and the other day I had the chance to drive an '00 Cadillac Seville SLS (I love them). So i guess it depends on how you present yourself as well. You can't go up there and be like "Yeah dude that car is freakin sweet, I just gotta drive it." But I don't normally talk like that anyway.

They are supposed to check your drivers license (and probably insurance too), so I guess they don't do their jobs.

[TFan]

Good review Ryan! I've now test driven 3 different 2009 Corolla LE's and the more I drive it the more I like it. It is very refined and very quiet!! What's even more impressive is how quiet and refined it is on the freeway/highway. There is no wind noise and very little road noise. The engine is barely noticeable. Toyota did an outstanding job with this car!

[chris2k5]

I have a quick question.

In the 2007 Corolla, the engine is very noisy and sounds very robust. You could hear it while you drive and especially when accelerating.

Is this also in the 2009 models? Is the 2009 a lot quieter with the engine noise?

[wonger]

Originally Posted by TFan

Good review Ryan! I've now test driven 3 different 2009 Corolla LE's and the more I drive it the more I like it. It is very refined and very quiet!! What's even more impressive is how quiet and refined it is on the freeway/highway. There is no wind noise and very little road noise. The engine is barely noticeable. Toyota did an outstanding job with this car!

every new corolla i driven had wind noise. with no radio on.. driving on the highway at 65 mph + i driven like 4 and will be driving alot more.. high winds will cause wind noise to be heard inside the cabin.. even at 20 mph a car going the opposite direction i can hear it pass by.. maybe its just me but the commercial made it seem like its very quiet inside . with a radio on .. no loud at all.. you cant hear anything outside.. so i guess thats a good thing..

havent driven an XRS yet but they went away from the 6 speed which sucks lol.. i guess the 6 speed had too many problems.. i just dont see myself going from a 6 speed to 5

[incomprehensible]

Originally Posted by wonger

havent driven an XRS yet but they went away from the 6 speed which sucks lol.. i guess the 6 speed had too many problems.. i just dont see myself going from a 6 speed to 5

Money. Why develop a new transmission for an uncompetitive engine when it already has its own?

[wonger]

Originally Posted by incomprehensible

Money. Why develop a new transmission for an uncompetitive engine when it already has its own?

kinda like they still havent went back to 4 wheel independent suspension. sad