Being popular doesn't mean being cool. Take the Toyota Corolla, for example. They've been around for quite a while. Those buggers are economical, affordable, and reliable. However, they aren't known for being cool. Even the Civic is cooler than the Corolla. With each generation, the Corolla's design evolved from the previous design. There were no radical changes in design, and not many people realized there is a change in look until they compare a current generation to a Corolla that is a few generations older. Even the Corolla S, which was billed as the sporty model, didn't fool anyone, as power output was weaker than the competition, despite a spoiler and a body kit.

But now, the 2009 Toyota Corolla is here. What's changed? What's new?

Exterior
As far as looks go, the 2009 Toyota Corolla (the 10th generation), doesn't seem to contrast much from the previous generation. Like all the previous Corollas before it, it seems to be based off the previous generation's basic style. It is, of course, bigger, but still pretty boring.

However, if you compare it to the previous generation, it is an improvement. The grill, for example, is larger and look more open now that the Toyota logo is moved up and away. It gives the Corolla a meaner face. The headlights still have that cute look in it's eye. It sits quite a bit taller, and in fact, is the same chassis used for their Matrix cross-over vehcile. The rear end still have that same theme and feel of the previous generation, but is actually different.

Colors do make a difference in the way the 2009 Corolla looks. My friend's brand new blue 2009 Corolla LE looks very attractive. The lines are minimal, but they are there. The smooth crease-less doors make it look more like a substantial car than the name suggests. Of course, the higher belt line helps the effect as well.

Indeed, it's also a larger car, bordering on mid-size. But then again, yesterday's "mid-size" is today's "compact" (look at the Altima, the Sentra, and even the Camry).

Interior
Inside, the interior is redesigned as well. It has a much cleaner and more modern look. I especially like the way their door handle and locks are designed (the lock is located on the handle itself). However, in the LE, they are plastic handles, and it does makes the car feel cheaper. Actually, the dash and doors have that inexpensive hollow plastic texture and feel. Why oh why do car manufacturer's do this? The Civic was the same way (very attractive dash, but look and feels cheap when in person). Even my Mazdaspeed 3's interior actually feels cheaper than it looks on the brochure.

Despite this, the control layout is typical of Toyota, which is good if you've owned any Toyota model within the last decade. They are intuitive and do not require you to refer to the manual.

The stereo is where things changed for me (as a driver of a 1994 Tercel), but that is to be expected. However, the head unit is of the same design and control layout as any late model Toyota. I have personally seen it before on a 2002 Camry and a 2001 Celica. The large easy-to-read display also looks the same as the ones I've seen. However, just because the look and button layout is the same, doesn't mean that Toyota hasn't been improving. On my friend's LE, the 6-disc MP3/WMA CD player is one of the better head units I've used. The fact that it holds 6 discs of compressed MP3 and WMA music means you may never find yourself out of music to listen to. A long road trip without needing to haul extra discs is now possible.

The large display indicates what each button does depending on the mode the player is in. This means you have to pay attention to the display sometimes when reaching for those buttons. Despite many buttons, it is easy to use. The display can also show you different attributes of the ID Tag, including artist name, folder name, song name, and just the track # with time played. As far as I know, it does not display radio call signs when listening to AM/FM stations.

Sound quality is decent, but does seem to sound a bit muffled. A little adjustment to the treble help fix this.

The gauges of the Corolla doesn't look outrageous like the Civic. Again, it just looks like an updated version of the previous generation. In fact, looking at the gauges reminds me of my old Tercel. It must be the color scheme.

Seating is comfortable for 4, but can be cramped in the rear if you decide to stuff one more person. It is surprisingly roomy in the rear, even with the front seats pushed back as far as they can go. It is an aspect of a compact car neither my friend or I expected. The spacious leg-room in the room was one of the reasons he was glad the 2009 was available as the 2008 model was not as generous. In the front, it was comfortable enough even for his 6-foot stature. Sure the driver seat is pushed back all the way, but it doesn't seem to bother him or his rear passengers.

Visibility is pretty good, despite the high belt line. The windows looks much smaller thanks to the larger doors. This is more noticeable on the rear windows, as the belt line gets higher the further back you go. My tall friend does not have any problems looking over the windows. I don't know how well shorter drivers are going to fair.

The double-deck glove compartment is huge! So large, in fact, that it is literally split in two! The top part is large enough to store the owners manual as well as other related documents such as registration papers. May even have room for a map and compass. The door swings up to reveal the top.

The bottom part have a door that swings down, which reveals empty space for things such as a full-size Kleenex box with left over room for other nick knacks. Impressive!

The center part that serves as an armrest also serve as storage for CDs. The 2009 Toyota Corolla is simply impressive when it comes to storage.

The trunk space is just as spacious, and the folding 60/40 rear seats adds the flexibility for longer items. The pass through from the truck to the rear interior isn't as large as I would like, however.

Ride and Handling
With a 1.8 liter DOHC 4 cylinder VVT-i engine that pushes out 132 hp at 6000 RPMs and 128 lb/ft at 4400 RPMs, the Corolla LE feels about right. It's not going to push you into the back of the seat on hard accelerations like a dragster, but it is powerful enough to make you feel safe, as if you can hold your own and not be run over by other more powerful cars on the road. This is comforting to know for drivers in the city trying to get on a busy expressway. The small power output also surprised us since it was able to whisk the larger and heavier chassis. After all, this is the same engine without much change from the previous car.

The 4-speed automatic was good enough not to hunt gears on slight grades, but living here in the flat lands of the Midwest doesn't really give us the opportunity to test this at speed like our west coast friends. It changes gear very smoothly and without notice.

Brake feel was solid and allow the driver to feel confident enough to haul the Corolla down to a quick stop. The body does dive a bit, but that is to be expected in an economy compact sedan. Pedal feel is good enough for daily drivers like my friend, but for your enthusiast, it feels a bit numb. That's okay though, since this truly is a grocery getter.

The suspension here is the best for a daily driven car. It's soft enough to absorb mild bumps and disturbances on the road. The commercial where a sushi chef was carving up a puffer fish while being driven in this Corolla came to mind. This is where Toyota's marketing people didn't fail to convey the nice suspension! You can definitely fall asleep in this car. Overall, the car feels smooth and quiet, and if you aren't careful, you may fall asleep at the wheel.

Having such a comfortable suspension doesn't seem to affect street handling, either. The car is controllable in many medium-speed cornering, which is perfect for the city. However, pushing it harder will produce understeer and a lot of body roll. Not that this is the kind of car you do this sort of stuff in anyways...

Conclusion
The 2009 Toyota Corolla does it again. It may be a car for the masses, but Toyota made sure you can say that and not feel bad for being part of the herd. The Corolla is a daily driven car, and as such, it was made with comfort and practicality in mind. In that sense, it's the perfect car. Roomy, comfy, 6-disc MP3/WMA changer, and smooth in every way (got to love the transmission). The new design is also peppier than the last, but it is still no eye catcher. Who cares, though? The smooth ride and the cavernous space with many cubby holes make this Corolla more than livable. You can just move in.

At last, the price of the new Corolla, with all these new features, is creeping upwards. At around $18k, this "economy" Corolla LE still isn't bad considering it is brimming with extras (my friend bought it with a moonroof and heated side mirrors as well). All told, the price should be more on the reasonable side if you can live with a bit less.
Amount Paid (US$): 18000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2008
Model and Options: LE