2009 Toyota Corolla: strike up the bland

BRIAN EARLY FOR THE TORONTO STAR

The ’09 Toyota Corolla won “Best New Small Car (under $18,000)” at the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year awards.

Brian Early

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

The Toyota Corolla is the oatmeal of cars – it's good for you (your mom will definitely approve of it), it's not likely to ever upset you, and you're probably not going to crave it or remember the experience long afterwards.

Really, it's not the Corolla's fault that it's so bland. Toyota has spent more than 40 years systematically purging every last bit of offensiveness out of what has consequently become one of the world's best-selling cars – it is perennially in Canada's top three sales positions.

Even the exterior design is super conservative, with the adoption of Camry's front-end styling being the only readily obvious change between this 10th generation car, new for 2009, and last year's model.

Don't get me wrong, the Corolla is not a bad car; quite the opposite, really. This is a vehicle line whose primary calling card is a well-earned reputation for relentless reliability – take it from a guy who spends his day turning wrenches; I don't see many Corollas in for major repairs.

Value is another Corolla asset; pricing starts at $14,835, though you'll have to ante up for an entire option package just to get air conditioning at this level.

My tester, a base CE model equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission and Convenience Package 4A, listed at $17,740, a price point that allowed it to compete in – and win – "Best New Small Car (under $18,000)" at AJAC 2009 Canadian Car of the Year awards.

I smirk when I read Toyota's PR literature extolling the Corolla's "European-influenced handling." But I have to admit that even in CE trim, it's a less soggy, less sullen driving experience than the base Chevrolet Cobalt. Well damped and more tossable than initial impressions might suggest, it ultimately lacks the verve that's found in a Honda Civic or Mazda3 – the other two cars that are often in top-three sales contention with the Corolla.

Some of the blame may lie with the Corolla's electrically assisted steering, which is clearly tuned more for isolation than feedback, but at least has appropriate weighting and reasonable precision. The compliant sidewalls of the CE's 195/65/15 tires are probably a contributing factor too.

Toyota does offer a "sport-tuned" suspension in the Corolla XRS (which features 17-inch wheels); however, it's unlikely to cause Mazda3 owners any sleepless nights.

The base Corolla's ride is more absorbent than that of the firmly sprung Civic, and the Corolla's interior is way more conventional, with large, round analogue speedometer and tachometer flanked by smaller fuel and temperature gauges; a digital outside temperature and trip computer display is also included.

Though well assembled, it's not as visually or tactilely pleasing as the 3, and there was an unusual amount of wind noise from the left front of my test vehicle.

The rear seat is surprisingly comfortable, with adequate legroom, though I'd opt for the Matrix (basically the hatchback/wagon version of the Corolla) if my rear seat had to regularly accommodate tall passengers.

The Corolla also has a large trunk, which features a sizeable pass-through to the split rear seats, tie down rings, and a moulded bin for washer fluid and the like, though oddly, Toyota's own brand of washer fluid doesn't fit in it.

Toyota claims that there's a large amount of Canadian influence in the design of the Corolla – and why not, since the Corolla's second-largest global assembly point is right here in Cambridge. As such, the cupholders are Timmies-cup compatible, there's enough footwell space for a driver to wear winter boots, two gloveboxes means that there may actually be a place for gloves, and I'll personally vouch for the effectiveness of the heater system, which is controlled by the elegant simplicity of three big round knobs.

Under-hood motivation comes from a new 1.8 litre "2ZR-FE" four-cylinder that produces a competitive 132 hp. Smooth and quiet under most conditions – including 120 km/h at 3,000 rpm – it does become tolerably harsh when brisk acceleration is requested, if not enthusiastically delivered. Power is sufficient, not ample.

The sportier XRS models come with a stouter, 158 hp 2.4 L engine, and the availability of a five-speed automatic, a combination that is not an option on the otherwise loaded Corolla LE. All but the LE (CE, S, XRS) come standard with a five-speed manual transmission.

Perhaps Corolla's popularity in this country has to do with how it echoes the Canadian archetype: reliable, trustworthy, practical – not exciting or terribly sexy, but likeable, friendly, and dependable.

Freelance auto reviewer Brian Early can be reached at bandb.early@sympatico.ca

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