Corolla excels at satisfying a customer’s needs: good fuel economy, reliability and a quiet ride.

Toyota

If the Toyota Corolla were a movie, it would be a summer blockbuster. After all, this is a car that, like a movie studio executive, lives and dies by its numbers, specifically its manufacturer suggested retail price and EPA ratings.

Here are the ones that accompanied my test vehicle: $18,410 and 27 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway.

Numbers rarely tell the whole story, and there are a few things to consider before plunking down your hard-earned cash for a new Corolla.

But first, here’s the line-up.

The 2009 Toyota Corolla is offered in five trim levels: Standard, LE, XLE, the sporty S and XRS. The Corolla’s wheelbase, or the length from the center of the front wheel to the center of the rear wheel, remains unchanged from 2008. But overall length and width are marginally larger.

A 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is standard on Standard, LE, XLE and S models. XRS models receive a 158-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, a four-speed automatic transmission is optional on all models except the XRS, which gets an optional five-speed automatic that can be shifted manually. Toyota supplied an S model for a week of testing.

And now for the real story.

With dashing new looks, the Corolla resembles the love child of a Toyota Camry and Mazda3 — a car Toyota is clearly targeting with the new Corolla.

But at its heart, the car remains a Toyota, and all the sporty styling can’t hide this car’s mission: to deliver good fuel economy, a comfortable ride and outstanding reliability. The Corolla delivers all that in spades.

This model makes allusions to sportiness that don’t hold up once you twist the key. The electric power steering feels light and numb. It requires a lot of minor corrections at highway speed. And I would expect less body lean in corners, but the trade-off is a compliant ride. This model had the optional stability and traction control. For $250, this is an option that I wouldn’t be without; it can help you avoid an accident.

Is it sporty? Nope. But it’s a fine economy car.

The 1.8-liter engine is peppy but not overly quick. Clearly it’s geared for fuel economy. Around town, the Corolla returned 31 mpg, jumping to 35 mpg on the interstate.

Once you hit that endless gray ribbon, you’ll find the interior is noticeably roomier, thanks to 2.5-inch increase in width. The front bucket seats are a little short for long-legged drivers, but are comfortable enough. Legroom is good, and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel makes it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. Some drivers will find that the brake pedal and accelerator are placed too close together. Worse, the footwell is cramped.

Rear-seat passengers will find plenty of headroom, and legroom is better than most competitors. The trunk is impressively large, but gooseneck hinges intrude on passenger space.

Overall, the interior ambience is OK, but it feels like an economy car, with a cardboard headliner covered in a felt-like material and a switch gear that’s light to the touch. As if to reinforce this car’s mission in the automotive firmament, it lacks power windows (but not locks or mirrors), cruise control and a keyless entry fob. Yet it costs almost $19,000.

Like a summer action flick, the Corolla excels at satisfying a customer’s primal needs: In this case, good fuel economy, reliability and a quiet ride. That’s why it’s popular.

No, it’s not sporty. It’s not even trendy. But it’s a big hit at the box office.2009 Toyota Corolla

What we say: The more things change ...

Pro: Fuel-efficient grocery-getter

Con: Fuel-efficient grocery-getter

Stats

Engine: 1.8-liter DOHC four-cylinder

Wheelbase: 102.4 inches

Length: 178.7 inches

Weight: 2,767 pounds

EPA rating (city/highway): 27/35 mpg

Fuel economy: 33.6 mpg

Fuel type: Regular unleaded

Base price: $17,150

As tested: $18,410

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