2009 Toyota Corolla Interior Review [ 2008 , 2007 ]

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Interior - What the Auto Press Says

To reviewers, the 2009 Toyota Corolla still excels at no-frills quality in its cabin, and most say the five-seater offers adequate comfort in both front and rear rows.

• "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." -- Edmunds
• "It's a roomy compact, with adequate adult rear-seat head- and legroom, comfortable, nondescript seats, and simple, logically placed controls." -- Motor Trend
• "Inside, the Corolla boasts a simple, functional layout and high-quality materials." -- About.com
• "The Corolla S offers a pseudo-upscale interior with delightfully comfortable cloth seating. … The leather clad three-spoke rim improves the Corolla's awkward tiller-to-driver seating position." -- The Truth About Cars

Front Seats

Generally, reviewers describe the 2009 Corolla as providing sufficient comfort in the front seats, and several cite the Corolla's new telescoping steering wheel as an improvement to the driver's comfort.

• "At six feet five, this driver found the seats to be soft and extremely comfortable, with much-appreciated lower-back support as well as more thigh support than before, although tall guys will still welcome a touch more legroom. Competitors such as the Subaru Impreza, VW Rabbit, and Saturn Astra better accommodate six-and-a-half-foot drivers." -- Car and Driver
• "The addition of a telescoping steering wheel improves upon the Corolla's historically awkward driving position." -- Edmunds
• "Behind the wheel, the new Corolla feels far more upscale than previous models. The driving position and outward visibility are immediately noticeable, although the standard seats are a bit flat. The sport seats in the XRS should be standard issue in all Corollas." -- MSN
• "The front seats were fairly comfortable, though I could have done with a bit more thigh support. I'm 5'6", so I imagine that while those shorter than me will find the seat just fine, taller folks might find it a bit too small. But the seat's height adjuster is a boon for all." -- About.com

Rear Seats

Sitting in the Toyota Corolla's rear seat is tight, but on par with the rest of the class. Experts say two adults can fit comfortably.

• "The rear seat offers plenty of leg- and headroom for most adults. And though it's a squeeze, three can sit in the rear." -- Dallas Morning News
• "Out back, things get tighter. Anybody taller than about 5 feet 9 inches will bump the noggin on the headliner. There's no excess of knee room, either. The center seating position in back is surprisingly better than on most cars, though still without much space for the feet." -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• "The rear seat is apropos for the class and the floor is flat except for a small incline to the back of the console; the split fold puts the narrow section behind the driver so you can carry long objects and still put two riders behind the passenger." -- New Car Test Drive

Interior Features

Auto experts are impressed with the quality and simplicity of the 2009 Corolla's cabin design and features.

• "The Corolla has created quite a following -- last year it was still among the top-five bestselling vehicles, even though it hadn't been updated since 2003 -- for simply being straightforward, uncomplicated transportation, so there was no need for Toyota to try to make it something it's not with the major overhaul for '09. For example, you won't find any color-changing backlighting or a multitude of buttons that would scare away anyone not from the cell-phone generation." -- Car and Driver
• "For the ultimate low-budget wheels you turn to the Corolla base model, but it has manual, wind-up windows and manual door locks. Upgrading to the Corolla LE includes power windows and door locks. If you fancy a fancier interior, the woodgrain trim in the Corolla XLE goes in that direction, although you can't get leather." -- New Car Test Drive
• "What I like best about the new Corolla is that it offers Camry-grade trim in a smaller, more fuel-efficient package. Most compact sedans are aimed at young (read: cash-strapped) buyers, but the Corolla is geared toward people who are buying a small car because that's what they want, not because that's all they can afford." -- About.com
• "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." -- Edmunds
• "The instruments and controls are logically arranged and easy to use. There's plenty of hard plastic on the dash and doors, but it has attractive textures that keep it from looking cheap." -- Dallas Morning News
• The Truth About Cars disagrees with most. "The S-grade gauges have class-appropriate pseudo-sportiness, although their red and white motif turns to Siamese baseballs by night. … But wait, there's less! Rotary knobs and switches are clumsy and clunky, and the chrome trimmed-shifter looks out of place in the cabin's sea of flat black. More importantly, at every touch point, the Corolla is cursed with Toyota's latest form of competitive advantage: borderline beancounting. The plastics are harder than cubic zirconium, and the engineering shows a lack of attention to detail." -- The Truth About Cars

Stereo and Entertainment

Toyota Corolla's standard audio has four speakers and comes with MP3/WMA playback and satellite radio capability, but some reviewers suggest upgrading to the JBL system with a six-disc in-dash CD changer, eight speakers, Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

• "All audio systems adjust volume levels according to vehicle speed and come with an auxiliary audio jack." -- Consumer Guide
• "Unless you only listen to AM talk radio, we highly recommended the optional JBL audio system." -- MSN
• "And the base stereo hits the requisite highs and lows with moderate enthusiasm." -- The Truth About Cars

Navigation

Very few reviewers spend time assessing the new Corolla's optional navigation system -- most just give kudos that the option is available given the car's price bracket.

• "A navigation system is a first-time Corolla feature, and it's optional on all but Standard and LE models. … The navigation system has fewer features than systems in some other Toyotas -- no voice recognition for example -- but programming is intuitive, and the device is relatively easy to use." -- Consumer Guide
• "An 'entry level' (no voice recognition) navigation system and XM satellite radio with real-time traffic information are upscale options also rare in this price class." -- The Car Connection
• "Navigation is available but with two caveats: First, you can not get the top-of-the-line JBL sound system in conjunction with it, and second, it lacks voice recognition and Bluetooth to help keep pricing in line with the Corolla's economy-oriented mission. On cars so equipped, especially with a manual transmission, the sliding top console will be appreciated on long drives." -- New Car Test Drive
• "My test car's stereo…was integrated with the optional navigation system, which meant fairly straightforward operation via the system's touch screen. The nav system has a memo function that allows you to set daily alerts -- very handy, as are the dual gloveboxes." -- About.com

Cargo

The 2009 Corolla's 12.3 cubic feet is considered average for the class by some auto writers, but too small for others. However, almost all reviewers agree the Corolla provides numerous stowage possibilities inside the cabin.

• "Cargo volume increases by three cubic feet." -- AutoWeek
• "The trunk is spacious enough to hold luggage for four." -- Dallas Morning News
• "Folding the standard 60/40-split rear seats expands the cargo area." -- Cars.com
• "The trunk is just OK at 12.3 cubic feet. The back seat splits and folds -- as it should be in a compact sedan -- but the seat doesn't fold flat and the center seatbelt can't be detached, so it's always in the way." -- About.com
• "The rear seatbacks fold down to carry additional cargo. The releases are conveniently located in the trunk, but you have to lean way inside to push the seatbacks down. It would be easier if they were spring loaded and flipped down on their own." -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
• "Storage spaces are well thought-out, even to details like a cord slot so your personal electronics connection doesn't get pinched." -- New Car Test Drive