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Used 2009 Toyota Corolla Consumer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
316 reviews

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Pros
Cons
4 out of 5 stars

Small compact car with pretty good reliability

TravelingRat03, 07/13/2023
2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

My three most favorite parts about owning this car: great fuel economy, reliability, and aerodynamic. I have a few mixed reviews about this specific vehicle. If you can find one used with lower miles that has been very well maintained, this car will take you anywhere with of course staying on top of maintenance, especially oil changes every 3k to 5k miles, as the two engines for this year Corolla can have major oil consumption and leaking issues because of this. With only one year of ownership, I have driven the car just about 25,000 miles mostly due to road trips consisting of driving from Wisconsin to Kansas a few times, Wisconsin to Colorado & Wyoming, and Wisconsin to Tennessee and back. I plan on taking it on a few more longer trips before I search for something new. Despite the wide range of problems these Corollas tend to have, I have never had to replace any of the more common parts (water pump, alternator, starter to name a few) My specific vehicle does have a few suspension issues and little miscellaneous things that don’t affect the entirety of the vehicle as far as I’m aware. At this point, the car has become a very reliable A to B machine with a decent amount of wear and tear. Living up north, the small size of the car and being front wheel drive can have a huge impact on the drivability in snowy conditions. A set of snow tires is almost a necessity in such conditions for this ride. My overall rating for this car would be a 4 due to a few personal complaints. One would be the plastic interior look and the occasional rattling noises in the cabin while driving. Otherwise, I am fond of this vehicle and would recommend it as a first car, daily commuter, or even as a vehicle you can take on long trips if you can handle becoming uncomfortable after just a couple hours. Make no mistake, this car’s power is indeed very limited due to the engine size. However, the aerodynamic build will make up a bit for it at freeway speeds.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
3 out of 5 stars
Comfort
3 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

I will never trade or sell

A Dean, 03/13/2023
2009 Toyota Corolla 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

My Toyota Corolla is the most reliable car I ever purchased. It is made in Japan. I have been driving 50 years.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

2009 Corolla XLE

jilliew, 03/02/2008
2009 Toyota Corolla XLE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I love this new body style on the Corollas. I decided to get this over the Prius at the last minute and saved a ton of money and I'm not one bit sorry. The ride in this car is very smooth and handles the road well. I feel safe with all the great safety features it comes with, and the 10 airbags protect everyone that's in the car. Gas mileage is wonderful. I'm averaging 38 mpg. The car has a long list of standard features and they are all good. All told, it's a GREAT value for the money. I'm a first time Toyota owner and I'm very very pleased with this car. It's a keeper for sure.

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5 out of 5 stars

Hateful little car.

C J commuter , 07/23/2021
2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful

My favorite wife (47 years) calls this the " hateful little car". She likes big comfortable vehicles, which the Corolla is not. Bought it new in 2008, 2009 model, for commuting 148 highway miles a day. Retired now but still driving it. Has been loaned several times to unfortunate friends, used and abused, ( will actually go over 100mph, verified by Michigan State Police )but routine maintenance and recalls are always done. Steering is twitchy and the brakes could be better. 221, 879 miles just yesterday. Tires, oil, brakes, belts and a few light bulbs is all it has needed. Still doesn't use oil. Gas mileage 35 to 38 highway 30 to 33 city. A few dings and scratches but I'm going to drive 'til the wheels fall off while keeping the speed legal. How long will it last?

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5 out of 5 stars

Dont ingore the car cause it's a corolla

Mike Roman, 05/28/2008
2009 Toyota Corolla XRS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 5A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful

I was looking at getting a second hand luxury car but wasn't thrilled about the insurance costs, mileage to the gallon, and the lack of warranties. The older Corollas are not for me. I'm 25 years old, had to make a smart purchase but still an eye candy, fun to drive car. The XRS 2009 is amazing in every aspect, and there aren't that many out there, so yours will stand out more. Bottom line a Corolla hater (2008 and earlier) is now a Corolla lover. Test drove a dozen new cars, XRS wins by landslide!!

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