2008 Toyota Corolla Review

Representing the ninth generation of the popular car, the 2008 Toyota Corolla is available in three trim levels, the CE, S, and LE, as well as a special 20th Anniversary Edition designed solely for the Canadian market.

All trim levels of the Corolla come with the same engine, a 1.8 liter, 126 horsepower DOHC 4-cylinder providing 122 pounds/feet of torque at 4200 rpm. All come standard with a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive, and all all have an optional upgrade to a four-speed ECT (electronically controlled) automatic transmission with overdrive. Anti-lock brakes are available only as an option, across the line, while vehicle stability and traction control systems are available options only on the S and LE trims.

Cosmetically, the exterior of the 2008 Toyota Corolla is not dissimilar to the Camry, just scaled down. It comes standard with 15-inch steel wheels, but aluminum wheels are available as an upgrade on the LE edition. The head lights are halogen, with smoked lenses on the S trim, and the tail lights are actually partly mounted inside the trunk lid. The S also has fog lamps, a front spoiler, and side rocker panels that match the body color.

Inside the Corolla, the relatively long (102.4 inches) wheelbase for a compact provides a little extra room for back seat passengers, and prevents the rear wheel wells from protruding uncomfortably far into the back doors. Front passengers won't feel cramped, either, unless they're unusually tall. While the Corolla technically seats five, and provides a middle seat belt in the back seat, which can fold down in a 60/40 split, a long trip with three adults in the back would be a bit tight.

Other features of the 2008 Toyota Corolla include a heavy-duty defroster for the rear window, front and back cup holders, CFC-free air conditioning, and an inside light for the trunk. The standard AM/FM radio/CD player comes with four speakers in the CE, and six in the S and LE trims. Safety features include airbags, and pressure monitoring systems for the oil and tires.

The 2008 Toyota Corolla's fuel efficiency is estimated at 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission, and 26/35 with the automatic. These numbers are the same for all trims.