2009 Toyota Corolla

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Exterior - What the Auto Press Says

There's a relatively even mix of reviewers who praise the Corolla's new design as forward thinking and "faster"-looking with those who say the new design has not evolved enough from the old one, nor does it make a significant impression in such a large class.

• "The new car's exterior is improved, if not as fresh and dynamic as those of competitors." -- AutoWeek
• "The Corolla has gone from blobby to 'baby Camry,' and it's one of the handsomest pieces of sheetmetal in Toyota's U.S. lineup." -- Autoblog
• "Some might be tempted to label the subtly updated Camry-esque exterior and interior bland -- precisely no one noticed our '09 Corolla during our Southern California drive." -- Car and Driver
• "With a bit of reshaping, Toyota has scrapped the tall H-point mini-Avalon look of the last Corolla for a longer, lower, wider compact sedan. A faster, more cab-forward A-pillar and a faster C-pillar enhance that new look. … If Honda has influenced Toyota on any part of the Corolla's design, this is it. Beyond that, the Corolla has none of the edginess of the latest Civic." -- Motor Trend
• "No question about it, the lines of the latest Corolla are edgier and more contemporary than before. Still, during my several days driving a pre-production '09 Corolla -- and a few weeks before the car was due to hit the showrooms -- I noticed no heads swiveling to take a second look." -- Dallas Morning News
• "Though the new Corolla sports more aggressive front-end styling that includes a new grille, headlights and bumper, it retains the general profile of its predecessor." -- Cars.com