2008 Toyota Corolla Safety Review [ 2009 , 2007 ]
Toyota Corolla Safety Review
Safety - 8.0 (Very Good)
The 2008 Toyota Corolla receives favorable government crash test ratings. However, its safety record is undermined by glaring omissions in the standard list of safety features. Specifically, most air bags and anti-lock brakes are add-ons.
In government crash tests, the 2008 Corolla earned five stars for frontal crashes, and four out of five stars for both front and backseat occupant protection in side crashes. The Corolla's rollover rating is four out of five stars. Likewise, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awards the Corolla its highest possible rating, "Good," for frontal-crash tests, and a second-best rating of "Acceptable" for side-impact tests when equipped with the optional air bags. Without those air bags, the rating plummets to "Poor."
Accident Avoidance
About.com says the Corolla lags "behind its rivals on … [the] standard safety kit." However, buyers may find that the car's relatively low base price means that adding these features will not break the bank. No important accident avoidance equipment comes standard on the base model. Vehicle stability control (VSC), a useful feature that helps keep the car traveling in its intended direction, is available as an option only on the automatic-transmission S and LE models, which also come with disc/drum anti-lock brakes. VSC comes with a Brake Assist system that detects emergency braking situations and applies additional braking power as needed.
Crash Protection
Standard base model equipment to protect occupants in a crash includes dual front air bags. Full-length side curtain air bags and front-seat side air bags aren't standard (though they come as options for an extra cost. Most reviewers feel that the Corolla is just so-so for safety without the add-ons.
