Add a love of fuel efficiency to the list of things Baltimore has in common with much of the world. At least that’s true in the case of the newest Corolla.
The 2009 new-generation Toyota Corolla sedan debuting this year is the 10th generation since Toyota first unveiled the car in 1966. In that time, the car has become the most popular in the world, with reported sales of more than 30 million units.
Baltimore area dealers have seen that appeal echoed among their customers as gas prices remain steep and customers place a premium on the reliability for which Toyota and the Corolla are known.
“The Corolla is famous for reliability and that’s what our customers come here looking for: a safe reliable vehicle,” said Rick Berman, general manager at Antwerpen Toyota in Clarksville.
The latest Corolla is smaller and lighter weight than the best-selling U.S. car: the Camry. But the 2009 Corolla comes with similar exterior styling, quiet interior and fuel mileage that the Camry is known for domestically.
The five-passenger, compact Corolla with base four-cylinder engine is rated at 27 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg in highway driving. Those government fuel ratings put Corolla near the top of small cars in fuel mileage and beats 21/31-mpg rating for a midsize 2009 Camry with a four-cylinder engine.
That aggressive fuel economy might even affect Camry sales if high gas prices remain.
“We’re getting a lot of people who are downsizing from full-sized sedans,” said John Barry , sales manager at Jerry’s Toyota in Baltimore, about recent Corolla buyers.
His customers are drawn in by the new Corolla’s fuel economy and reworked styling.
Gone is the old Corolla styling that made it seem like a cheap car. The new Corolla is wider and higher than its predecessor, while remaining small enough to park on city streets and in compact-car mall-parking spaces.
The exterior redesign is echoed on the interior where more leg-, head- and shoulder-room was added in the back seat. The interior quietness of the car also stays with people who test-drive it, Berman said. Even the Corolla’s new floor carpet is designed to absorb sound.
Although many customers are attracted to the low-priced base model, which starts at $15,910, some have upgraded because of the interior fit and finish of Corolla XLE. That model, with the optional navigation screen and fake wood-grain trim, has received lots of compliments from passengers, Barry said.
Another aspect of the new Corolla that has drawn a lot of comments is the 1.8-liter, double-overhead cam, four-cylinder engine. The 132 horsepower and 128 foot-pounds of torque at 4,400 rpm delivered by the engine surprises a lot of first-time drivers expecting an economical ride, Berman said.
“It’s not underpowered,” he said.
That power is expected by industry watchers to carry the Corolla to the number two spot this year among all Toyotas in total U.S. sales.
SPECS BOX
- 2009 Toyota Corolla
- Engine: 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine
- Transmission: Manual transmission is standard. Optional automatic five-speed on XRS and four-speed on other Corollas.
- Fuel economy: 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway
- Price: base $15,910 (manual), base $16,710 (automatic)
