CD Article: 2009 Toyota Corolla

[CD_Editor]

First Drive:


"The 2009 Corolla balances 'new and improved' with 'old and familiar' in just the right proportions," says Assistant Editor, Jil McIntosh. Sleeker styling, more powerful engines and new safety features should satisfy both old fans and new converts, she reports.

 More:
Read the article | View the photos | All The First Drives

[articsteve]

Just in time. 

[initial_D]

I like it, will see tons of it on the road.

[mmret]

Looks much nicer now. Should be an accordingly healthy bump in sales vs. the Civic and Mazda3.

[articsteve]

Should be an accordingly healthy bump in sales vs. the Civic and Mazda3.

I think millions of ppl in the USA are seriously going to be looking/forced to downsize vehicle type in the near future.  All 3 of these brands will do well.

[JSCC]

Should be an accordingly healthy bump in sales vs. the Civic and Mazda3.

I think millions of ppl in the USA are seriously going to be looking/forced to downsize vehicle type in the near future.  All 3 of these brands will do well.

A shift from mid-size to compact in the USA.
Does that also imply Canadians will shift from compact to sub-compact?

[PJungnitsch]

A shift from mid-size to compact in the USA.
Does that also imply Canadians will shift from compact to sub-compact?

The Fit and the Yaris are not much cheaper than the Civic/Corolla. And the mileage is about the same.

I think the first company to bring in Toyota Aygo/Volkswagen Fox type cars to Canada will do well.

[quadzilla]

It looks much nicer than the previous version. Now bring back the wagon version and I'll buy it tomorrow.

[chrischasescars]

It looks much nicer than the previous version. Now bring back the wagon version and I'll buy it tomorrow.

Toyota would like you to look a nice product they offer, called the Matrix. ;-)

But seriously: I wish they'd do a proper wagon again too. Every time I see one of the last-gen Corolla wagons, I kind of want one.

[quadzilla]

It looks much nicer than the previous version. Now bring back the wagon version and I'll buy it tomorrow.

Toyota would like you to look a nice product they offer, called the Matrix. ;-)

But seriously: I wish they'd do a proper wagon again too. Every time I see one of the last-gen Corolla wagons, I kind of want one.

 

I actually drove my friends Matrix once. After getting use to the bus driver seating position I then got sea sick after going around the first corner. I won't even get into trying to accelerate 

The Matrix is a nice hatch for those who only want that but please bring me back the wagon. Can you believe that the Matrix has less room than my buddies Suzuki Esteem Wagon? Yep.

So make mine a Corolla wagon with the 2.4L and sunroof please 

[jww]

I don't like the looks of this any more than the previous model. It's still boring, and looks small and tight inside.

I notice that Toyota has created a variation of the centre stack look from Volvo - only without the floating open area behind (which really isn't good for storage, but looks oh-so good).

I much prefer the new Matrix to this.

[Cord]

Tacky "ground effects"?
4 speed auto?
Beam axle?
132 hp?

Plenty of other cars would be roasted for coming out with a "new" model featuring the above. This is definitely an improvement over the previous model and will sell well. But there is nothing there for a "driver."

[quadzilla]

Tacky "ground effects"?
4 speed auto?
Beam axle?
132 hp?

Plenty of other cars would be roasted for coming out with a "new" model featuring the above. This is definitely an improvement over the previous model and will sell well. But there is nothing there for a "driver."

Sorry, DRIVER and TOYOTA do not go together in the same sentence 

[mmret]

4 speed auto?
Beam axle?
132 hp?

Corolla buyers don't understand nor care.

You're right though, if a Focus came with a torsion beam and a 4 cog slushbox we'd all how that $2.7b loss shows in the products.

[initial_D]

Tacky "ground effects"?
4 speed auto?
Beam axle?
132 hp?

Plenty of other cars would be roasted for coming out with a "new" model featuring the above. This is definitely an improvement over the previous model and will sell well. But there is nothing there for a "driver."

The equivalent of the Corolla?

[Greg B.]

Tacky "ground effects"?
4 speed auto?
Beam axle?
132 hp?

Plenty of other cars would be roasted for coming out with a "new" model featuring the above. This is definitely an improvement over the previous model and will sell well. But there is nothing there for a "driver."

Not much there, period. Toyota seems to be living on its reputation as a quality automobile, which has been proven false with its recent new models. Add to that the unfortunate hood-to-headlight interface and truly ugly door panels and it does not seem a very appealing offering, though the styling is less offensive than the new Focus. OTOH, the instrument cluster and dashboard design is an improvement over the previous generation. I notice Jil didn't comment on the driving position which was also a shortcoming of the last model.

[Brigitte]

Is it just me, or does this new model seem to be a ripoff of the Mazda 3's design? 

[carcrazy]

I wonder how "good" the interior plastics are in this one; the last gen. Corolla was horrible in this respect IMO. It really looked and felt like a cheap, cheap car (without actually being quite cheap).
The door panels design in this new one is truly ugly and the dash yuck.... and the "ground effects”..... OMG....
Certainly the thing would sell, but this only tells you how unfair life could be to some better cars born with the wrong name....

[Seafoam]

I wonder how "good" the interior plastics are in this one; the last gen. Corolla was horrible in this respect IMO. It really looked and felt like a cheap, cheap car (without actually being quite cheap).
The door panels design in this new one is truly ugly and the dash yuck.... and the "ground effects”..... OMG....
Certainly the thing would sell, but this only tells you how unfair life could be to some better cars born with the wrong name....

A lot of criticism but the last gen was a very good car. People think that since it's not a performance/ drivers car it is a POS. With proper
maintenance these cars are probably the most reliable on the road.
This car will still live up to it's "name"

[The Mighty Duck]

I had a previous-gen Corolla as a loaner for a few days a couple years ago...  absolute junk.  The interior was ridiculously cheap, to the point that the sun visor felt like cardboard that would fall off in my hand if I wasn't careful.

Suffice to say, I was not impressed.

The new one looks a lot nicer on the outside, but it doesn't sound terribly competitive on the fronts we find important.  Less HP than the Civic, and far behind the 3 on HP and torque.  Four speed auto...  but I suppose, for the market that these cars are being offered to, it doesn't matter.

The XRS is a let down, though: 148 HP out of a 2.4L?