It’s a safe bet to assume that the Toyota Corolla is a very popular car among people who are fond of safe bets.  The Corolla isn’t for gamblers or risk-takers.  It is not the chariot for people who push envelopes and break paradigms.  No, the newly redesigned Corolla’s destiny is to be a calm, predictable oasis in a tumultuous and chaotic commute.

Improvements over previous Corolla include better materials, a larger and quieter interior, and a slightly less bland design.  Perhaps I’d better revise that “slightly,” in fact.  It seems that many compact buyers have been awaiting the arrival of the new Corolla with some interest.  My drive in the 2009 Corolla marked the first time that I was ever stopped with questions about an economy car.

The new design is evolutionary, but seems to catch the eye of people who know what they’re looking for. The silhouette and proportions haven’t changed that much–less than an inch in all of the dimensions that matter–and with about three million Corollas on the road it’s not hard to recognize the ‘08 model as a member of that family.  Subtle changes like an expanded greenhouse and more steeply raked windshield and rear glass give the new Corolla a larger side profile and a chunky aspect.  The revised silhouette comes off as a pleasantly downscaled version of the Camry’s design.  The headlamps units are larger, and the wide, fish-mouth grille opening is shared with the rest of Toyota’s car lineup.  The sportier Corolla S gets the usual spiky ground effects and blackout trim, as well as an available decklid spoiler.   The new windshield surround and even the windshield itself are designed to reduce wind noise, as well, resulting in a quiet ride.

Did I mention the quiet ride?  Interior noise levels are negligible even at freeway speeds; the Corolla does a convincing luxury-car imitation when it comes to aural comfort.  The rest of the cabin has benefited from improvement as well.  The Corolla’s tall chairs make comfortable seating for up to four, or five in a pinch.  The dash is clean and plainly laid out.  There’s no reason for an excess of style in a nice predictable ride like the Corolla, so Toyota focuses on doing the basics well.  The instrument panel and center stack are easy to navigate and use.  The dash and door panels sweep together nicely, and cubbies in the console and instrument panel are in place to capture cell phones and other small items. Big-car options like heated side mirrors and a navigation system are available.  Customers who want their Corollas prettied up can choose the available woodgrain trim, “Optitron” gauge lighting and a moonroof.

With a MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion-beam rear, the Corolla is happiest on surface streets.  Our S model felt wound-up when keeping up with Detroit’s aggressive freeway traffic, and the 205-series tires had a tendency to wander on grooved or uneven pavement.  The slightly spooky handling was not particularly welcome in a car this small!  The standard anti-lock brakes with available traction control were welcome.  Kept at slower speeds and around town, however, the Corolla is a champ, with nimble electronic power steering and the aforementioned fantastically quiet ride.  The Corolla XRS gets sportier suspension appointments, with a strut tower brace, standard vehicle stability control and 17-inch wheels.

What’s going to attract many Corolla buyers is the fuel economy, of curse.  With gas prices still on the rise, the available 1.8 liter and 2.4 liter four-cylinder power plants are sure to ensure you can afford to get where you need to go.  The 132 horsepower 1.8 is all-new, and features dual overhead cam construction, Toyota’s VVT-i variable valve timing and low-friction internal components for improved efficiency.  A choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions is available.  The sportier Corolla XRS gets a more powerful 158-horse 2.4 and an available five-speed automatic.  Front wheel drive is standard across the board.  I drove the smaller 1.8, and its 132 horses are more than enough to get the Corolla up to speed on surface streets.  Out on the freeway the Corolla feels like it’s out of its element somewhat; while it will keep up with freeway traffic, the engine is reluctant to accelerate quickly and doesn’t sound happy at higher revs.

It ain’t particularly sexy, but the Corolla is a reliable choice in an uncertain world, and that’s exactly what many buyers are looking for.  With its impressively quiet ride, efficient powertrain and comfortable interior, the new Corolla brings Point A and Point B closer with ease.  Pricing for the Corolla starts at $15,250.  Our nicely-equipped Corolla S stickered for $19,295.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2009 Toyota Corolla
Base price:  $17,150
Price as tested: $19,295
Engine:   1.8 liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine
Drivetrain:  four-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 132 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 128 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
Est. mileage: 27/35