When Toyota released New Vios a while ago, I have the feeling that the car is ugly than the Old Vios. I don’t know what the heck their designer thinking is. Now, Toyota released their New 2009 Corolla. Well known in Asia as Toyota Altis and in Europe & Australia as Toyota Auris.
For the American version of the new 2009 Corolla, Toyota has brought in the usual add-ons like DVD navigation with satellite traffic reports, Bluetooth® phone connections, audio input jack, and leather-wrapped steering wheels with audio controls.
The Standard, LE and XLE models have a new 1.8-liter engine with 16 valves, dual cams, and dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence for both intake and exhaust); it produces 132 hp at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, similar to the prior model, so we’d expect the change in design is to reduce assembly costs. Gas mileage, according to tough 2008 standards, is expected to be 27/35 mpg.
While Corolla maintains the same headroom, legroom and shoulder room as the previous model, it feels larger, thanks to a design that enhances comfort and improves utility, usability and storage. Easy-to-reach storage spaces include center console side pockets, a storage box above the usual glove box, front and rear door pockets that can safely hold 20-ounce bottles, a console box with a large-capacity main tray and a smaller accessory tray, an overhead console useful for storage of sunglasses or garage-door openers, and a rear-seat center armrest with an integral drink holder. Retractable handgrips are above each door opening.
The wide, low profile was developed by Toyota Design in collaboration with styling studios in Turin, Italy. Its foundation was set by the search for a lower, sportier shape than that of the previous Corolla. That search drove the decision to move the bottom of the A-pillar forward and the bottom of the C-pillar aft to increase the angle of the window glass and to improve the Corolla’s aerodynamic performance.
Safety features on the all-new Corolla include standard driver and front passenger airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags and two-row side curtain airbags. Active front-seat headrests are standard equipment. When the vehicle is struck from the rear, a cable-actuated mechanism in the active headrest moves the headrest upward and forward to limit the movement of the seat occupant’s head. Anti-lock braking (ABS) is standard; vehicle stability control (VSC) with traction control (TRAC) and an off switch are optional.
Summing up, the 2009 Corolla Altis is perfect for those who find the Camry too big. You cannot go wrong with the Corolla, the car that built Toyota’s reputation for reliability, high standard of quality and high resale value. The Corolla is the most popular car in history with over 40 million sold worldwide. It may not be as exciting or as sporty as some of its competitors in the compact sedan market, but it will provide you many years of comfortable, trouble-free driving.
