2009 Toyota Corolla Review
Price Estimate: $6,499 - $10,950





+145
Oops, we can’t seem to locate you.
Please enter U.S. ZIP code to see vehicles for sale
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Smooth and controlled ride, excellent fuel economy with base 1.8-liter engine, attractive and ergonomic interior design, lengthy features list.
Cons
- Oddly weighted electric-assist steering, so-so gas mileage with 2.4-liter engine.
What’s new
Completely redesigned, the 2009 Toyota Corolla looks much the same as last year's model but is a bit larger inside and out. Highlights on the new car include an available 2.4-liter engine and a navigation system.
Edmunds says
The redesigned 2009 Toyota Corolla will satisfy those seeking a refined and fuel-efficient small sedan backed by an impressive reliability record. Younger buyers, however, might be put off by the tepid driving experience.
For sale nearby
484 listings
- $6,499fair price$343 below market
- 174,851 miles
- 27 City / 35 Hwy MPG
- Quality Toyota (69 mi away)
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Rear Bench Seats
- Aux Audio Inputs
- Fold Flat Rear Seats
Close
Located in Fergus Falls, MN
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary Unavailable.
Features and Specs:
30 Combined MPG (27 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JTDBL40E89J039591
Stock: T9J039591
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-01-2025 - 191,000 miles
- No accidents, 4 owners, rental vehicle
- 27 City / 35 Hwy MPG
- Bob and Jill's Drive and Buy (158 mi away)
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- Rear Bench Seats
- Aux Audio Inputs
- Fold Flat Rear Seats
Close
Located in Bemidji, MN
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
30 Combined MPG (27 City/35 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 2T1BU40E09C174914
Stock: 74914
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-21-2025
Vehicle overview
About 400,000 people will buy a Toyota Corolla sometime during the 2008 calendar year. One-quarter of these likely buyers are in their 60s. Almost as many are in their 20s. Despite the huge age gap between these groups, their primary motivation for buying is the same: reliability. With such a steady and diverse following for its compact sedan, Toyota usually undertakes major redesigns with a light hand: Although changes underneath the surface may be significant, each new Corolla invariably retains its predecessor's basic styling cues and overall driving demeanor. And so it is with the redesigned 2009 Toyota Corolla.
That's not to say you won't appreciate the differences on the new Corolla. For instance, although it's not any longer or taller than last year's car, it rides on a wider track, and this opens up noticeably more hip- and shoulder room in the cabin. The addition of a telescoping steering wheel improves upon the Corolla's historically awkward driving position, while new features like an auxiliary audio input, keyless startup and a navigation system with real-time traffic updates bring Toyota's compact sedan into the 21st century in terms of feature content.
Since fuel economy is another big reason people buy Toyota Corollas, most versions of this sedan continue to use an efficient 1.8-liter four-cylinder. This engine is heavily revised for 2009 and now features variable timing for both its intake and exhaust valves. Power increases are modest on paper, but the results are apparent on the road: In spite of a 200-pound weight gain, the 2009 Toyota Corolla is a touch quicker than the '08 model and capable of returning comparable gas mileage.
Most of the Corolla's rivals offer larger engine options, though, and for '09, Toyota is following suit. The high-line XRS trim level returns to the model line, and it's motivated by a 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter inline-4, which promises to shave a second off the car's 0-60-mph time. In keeping with its heightened performance focus, the Corolla XRS has quicker steering, bigger wheels and a front strut tower brace.
With two engines and five trim levels at their disposal, most 2009 Toyota Corolla buyers will have little difficulty equipping one to taste. Although competitors such as the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Lancer and Nissan Sentra offer comparable interior room and amenities, Toyota's compact sedan remains a fine choice for a commuter car given its composed ride quality, above-average gas mileage and high overall level of refinement. However, we question whether the company has done enough to meet increased expectations for performance and handling in this class. Even in sporty XRS trim, the '09 Corolla does little to engage its driver. Shopped against genuinely entertaining alternatives like the Mazda 3, Civic and Lancer, Toyota's economy sedan remains a tough sell.
Performance & mpg
With the exception of the XRS, all 2009 Toyota Corollas are motivated by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 132 hp and 128 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional. You can look forward to 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway EPA ratings with either transmission.
Selecting the Corolla XRS entitles you to a 2.4-liter engine good for 158 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual is standard and a five-speed automatic is optional. Fuel economy drops significantly, with a 22/30 rating for both transmissions.
Safety
Every Toyota Corolla comes with antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Stability control is standard on the XRS and optional on other Corollas. Only the XRS has four-wheel disc brakes; other Corollas have rear drums.
Driving
Most buyers will be content with the base 1.8-liter engine, which delivers respectable acceleration in normal traffic situations. We recorded a 9.1-second 0-60-mph time in a manual-shift Corolla with the 1.8-liter, and our test car returned an impressive 29.8 mpg in mixed driving. Although the five-speed's shifter feels firm and decisive moving through the gates, we suspect its abrupt, at-the-floor clutch engagement will push many buyers to the automatic. Upgrading to the 2.4-liter engine provides a gratifying increase in low-end torque, though it does come at the expense of fuel economy.
Regardless of which trim level you choose, the 2009 Toyota Corolla excels as a commuter car, as the suspension delivers a comfortable, controlled ride. Handling is uninspiring, however. Body roll is decently controlled, but the electric steering on non-XRS models provides so little feedback, you may find yourself making corrections simply to keep the car traveling in a straight line. Toyota retuned this setup for the XRS, and indeed its steering feels crisper and weightier. Driven on a back road, the Corolla XRS is undeniably a capable compact sedan, but compared to rivals like the Mazda 3, Civic and Lancer, it's not a very entertaining one.
Interior
Cabin design is a strong point for the 2009 Toyota Corolla. The driving position better accommodates drivers of different sizes than in past years, and the control layout is as ergonomic as they come. Storage is more than ample up front, particularly with the addition of a double glovebox, though the provisions are a bit stingy in back. Materials quality is high, and fit and finish is consistent with Toyota's historically high standards. In back, the Corolla offers plenty of space for children and just enough room for adults. The trunk measures 12.3 cubic feet (average for this class) and has a wide opening.
2009 Toyota Corolla models
The 2009 Toyota Corolla is a compact economy sedan. It's available in five trim levels -- base, LE, S, XLE and XRS. Base Corollas start you out with 15-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, an MP3/WMA-capable CD stereo with an auxiliary audio jack, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and power mirrors. The LE gains power windows and locks, along with body-color exterior mirrors. If you select the Corolla S, the LE's equipment upgrades move to the options list, but you gain 16-inch steel wheels, full underbody spoilers, foglights, sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an extra pair of stereo speakers.
Essentially a luxury version of the LE, the new Corolla XLE also gets the 16-inch wheels and upgraded stereo while adding amenities like a sliding center armrest, wood-grain interior trim, electroluminescent gauges, keyless entry and variable intermittent wipers. The top-of-the-line XRS, meanwhile, builds upon the S model's equipment list. Although it forgoes some of the XLE's standard conveniences, it adds a larger engine, 17-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension and steering, a front strut tower brace, a rear deck spoiler and chrome interior trim. Cruise control is also standard on the XRS; it's optional on other Corollas.
Heated mirrors and satellite radio are optional across the Toyota Corolla line, while the S, XLE and XRS are eligible for a sunroof, an upgraded JBL sound system and a navigation system (with real-time traffic). Leather upholstery is available on the S and XRS only.

2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid: Which Three-Row SUV Should You Buy?

2025 Toyota Tacoma vs. Toyota Tundra: Which Truck's Right for You?

The Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser and Tacoma Turned Hell's Revenge Into a Piece of Cake

2026 Toyota RAV4: Five Things You Need to Know
Compare 2009 Toyota Corolla trim levels
Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$133/mo for Corolla Base
Corolla Base
vs
$166/mo
Avg. Compact Car
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
4.5 out of 5 stars4.5/5Excellent
#1 out of 46 among Compact Cars
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
$308/yr
vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car
for Average Compact Car
Frequency
0.6x/yr
vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car
for Average Compact Car
Severity
6.9%
vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car
for Average Compact Car
powered by RepairPal
Toyota Corolla Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Our best car ever!
5 out of 5 starsDave C., 10/12/2015
2009 Toyota Corolla S 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
Cons: It's noisy on the highway (probably due to limited interior insulation). Pros: Extremely reliable; We bought it new in June, 2008 and now (Oct., 2015) are still driving it with over 132,000 miles. The only real repair, other than the wearables, (tires, brakes, etc.) has been a rear wheel hub replacement ($500. expense) which was necessary due to a bad internal sensor. We found … out later that a properly-inserted pipe cleaner might have cleaned off the dirty, not defective, sensor and eliminated even that repair expense. We really like our Corolla and consider it to be our most dependable, and economical vehicle evr. PS: We have been driving for 41 years and have had well over 20 vehicles in that time period.
200,000 miles
5 out of 5 stars77thue77, 03/08/2018
2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
I bought this car when it was year old with about 10,000 miles and it just turned over 200,000 miles. There are two things this car does fantastically 1. RELIABILITY and 2. GAS MILEAGE. Only a few minor things have needed to be fixed over the past 9 years on this vehicle, it is a champ and continues to run very well. This car could easily last a few more years. Now, this car is about the … most uninspiring and bland driving experience I have ever had in a car, so make no mistake, there is nothing fun about driving this car - however if you love saving money by having a low cost of ownership, it is a blast!!
An appliance car with personality
5 out of 5 starsStetler, 07/06/2016
2009 Toyota Corolla XRS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 5M)
I wanted a car that was very reliable and practical, but also had personality and caught the eye. When you say Corolla, you don't think about the XRS model, but this model is great. The 2.4-liter engine has great pickup with the manual transmission, and climbing grades is a lot better than with the 1.8 liter, with extra power on tap for passing. The interior is cheap, like others say, … but it's a Toyota and 7 years old at that, so I am not expecting much. For a guy in his twenties that wanted something awesome but still practical and reliable, I have to say I am in love with my XRS Corolla. I just bought the car yesterday, but I will update this review when I have had it for some more time.
Toyota Reliability
5 out of 5 starsB A Miller, 08/06/2018
2009 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
Totally Reliable. 10 years of no problems!
2009 Corolla Highlights
Base
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $15,350 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 30 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $133/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 12.3 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the Corolla include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
People who viewed this also viewed
4.4 average Rating out of 27 reviews. |
Starting at $24,250 |
4.1 average Rating out of 67 reviews. |
Starting at $28,700 |
4.0 average Rating out of 2 reviews. |
Starting at $23,825 |
Related Used 2009 Toyota Corolla info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Infiniti QX50 2020 Review
- Hyundai Elantra 2021 Review
- Ford F 350 Super Duty 2021 Review
- Land Rover Range Rover Velar 2021 Review
- Alfa Romeo Giulia 2020 Review
Shop similar models
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Scion iM 2017
- Used Toyota Corolla 2010
- Used Toyota Corolla 2011
- Used Toyota Corolla 2012
- Used Toyota Corolla 2013
- Used Toyota Corolla 2014
- Used Toyota Corolla 2015
- Used Toyota Corolla 2016
- Used Toyota Corolla 2017
- Used Toyota Corolla 2018
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2025 Jeep Compass
- 2025 Ford Bronco Sport
- 2025 Subaru Forester
- Lexus GX 2025
- 2025 Toyota Sequoia
- 2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- Hyundai Sonata 2025
- 2025 Model X
- 2026 Tesla Model X News
- 2024 Toyota Pickup
Research other models of Toyota
- New Toyota Crown Signia
- 2026 GR Supra
- 2024 RAV4
- New Toyota Sienna
- New Toyota Land Cruiser
- New Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
- 2024 Toyota T100
- New Toyota Crown
- Toyota BZ4X 2025
- 2025 Toyota Pickup
Research similar vehicles
Other models
- Used Scion XB in Ft Mitchell, KY 2015
- Used Nissan Rogue-Select in Federal Way, WA 2015
- Used Alfa-Romeo Tonale in Malvern, PA 2025
- New Chevrolet Trax for Sale in Colonial Heights, VA
- Used Chevrolet Malibu-Maxx in Beloit, WI 2007
- Used Mazda MX-30 in El Monte, CA 2023
- New Honda CR-V for Sale in Watertown, WI
- Used Chevrolet Malibu-Maxx in Aurora, IL 2007
- Used GMC Yukon-Hybrid in Suwanee, GA 2013
- Used GMC Terrain in Northport, AL 2025