corolla latest make(2009)

Toyota's redesigned Corolla is a bit like the healthy-fare portion of a restaurant menu: On paper, its qualities should draw plenty of left-brained buyers, but like the overcooked tilapia you're always stuck forking through, its overall appeal is missing something. If compact sedans drew only on prudent sensibilities, this Corolla could have risen to the top — and, indeed, with rising gas prices, it still might. Given that today's best small cars manage to pique both sides of the brain, however, Toyota's latest entry underwhelms.The Corolla comes in Standard, LE and XLE trim levels; most include an automatic transmission.A sportier version is offered in S or XRS trims, while the redesigned Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe serve as hatchback offshoots. I drove a Corolla XLE.

Features:
Its standard features include engine of 1.8-liter four-cylinder.Horsepower @ rpm is 132 @ 6,000.Torque (lbs.-ft. @ rpm) is 128 @ 4,400.Five-speed manual or four-speed auto transmission.

Its mileage penalty is significant, though: In the Corolla it returns 22/29 mpg (city/highway) with a stick or 22/30 with an automatic, compared to 27/35 mpg with the 1.8-liter engine and either transmission.

Antilock brakes are standard, though all trims but the XRS have low-tech drum brakes in back. The pedal in my test car seemed a bit mushy, especially compared to the braking response from four-wheel-disc cars like the Hyundai Elantra or uplevel Civics. Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder took the Corolla out in the rain, and he found in one instance that ABS kicked in prematurely and resulted in an unsettling lateral lurch as the car came to a stop.

Suspension hardware includes an independent front and semi-independent, torsion beam rear — again, inferior to competitors with four-wheel-independent suspensions.

Without the destination charge, the Corolla starts at $15,250. Standard features include air conditioning, power mirrors and a CD stereo with an auxiliary jack. Note that there's no iPod-specific hookup like Scion, Toyota's sibling nameplate, offers.The Corolla LE adds power windows and locks, while the XLE gets fake wood trim, backlit gauges and keyless entry — a $245 option on the LE that really ought to be standard. Both the LE and XLE include an automatic transmission. The S and XRS sport various exterior add-ons, along with sportier seats and a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls. Both models revert to manual door locks and windows, though — particularly disappointing for the XRS, which costs more than the better-equipped XLE. Power accessories, heated leather seats, a moonroof and a navigation system are optional.Load an XRS to the hilt, and the sticker comes up just shy of $25,000. All told, the Corolla doesn't boast quite as much value for the money as some of its competitors do.

Corolla in the Market:Gas mileage and safety credentials lend the Corolla plenty of textbook appeal, and if the car's 40-year history is any indication, the latest version should prove as reliable as the sunrise. Barring any quality snafus — a significant unknown, considering the latest Camry V-6's track record — these factors could be enough to drive the Corolla's success.As a compact car that hits on all fronts, however, the Corolla disappoints. It's the sort of choice born out of your inner sense of responsibility — a solid pick, perhaps, for parents shopping for their teen driver. The problem for Toyota is that a lot of competitors have managed to package textbook sensibilities with compelling styling and fun-to-drive appeal. Judged against these rivals, the Corolla comes off as an also-ran.