Gas and groceries cost more and your house is worth less. Economic anxiety envelopes the country. Toyota's timing couldn't be better for introducing a redesigned Corolla. The 2009 edition of the venerable subcompact sedan carries on the 40-year tradition of economy and value. And there are a few surprises thrown in. Car and driver: This XRS, then, is a vehicle for buyers who seek reliability and value over heart-popping excitement and emotional bliss, those who don't want to be bothered with stoplight drags or tuner-car showdowns. Indeed, the XRS -- which gets rear disc brakes, a strut-tower brace, 17-inch alloys, cruise control, and stability control as standard -- makes a smidgen more sense at its $19,420 base price. What's special: The base engine is an all-new 1.8-liter four-cylinder that promises 35 mpg on the highway. The XRS trim test car had fairly peppy 158-horsepower 2.4-liter engine that jumped to 60 mph at 6,500 rpm in third gear. The bigger engine still delivered a bit more than 27 mpg in a mix of high-speed highway and stop-and-go driving. What we like: The Corolla offers a quieter ride than you would expect from a bargain-priced subcompact. The front roof pillar was redesigned to reduce wind noise. The windshield is layered glass that further reduces sound. New carpet absorbs the whine of the road better. What isn't there: Thrills galore. The standard Corolla is a point-to-point sort of car, but the XRS tested hopes to be more. Sporty, even. It falls a bit short. Acceleration is OK, but certainly won't give you tingles. The rear spoiler won't fool anyone. You ought to know: The interior makes the most out of the space available. There is a small storage box carved into the dash above the traditional glove compartment. There is an overhead compartment to stash your sunglasses or garage door opener. The materials and fit and finish give the cockpit an economically elegant look and feel. The rear seats fold down to expand the trunk. Extras: The list of options available for this economy car is longer than it used to be. Figuring thrifty people get lost too; the Corolla extras now include a navigation system with real-time traffic updates. XM satellite radio is among the audio options. Power windows and power locks, increasingly part of the standard equipment on new cars, are part of a new option package. 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. And another thing: The Corolla offers some unexpected niceties at this price such as automatic headlights and a trip computer. - Cox News Service __
