Special Offers Get automotive tips, specials,
& more delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Today
2009 Toyota Corolla
EPA Green Vehicle Guide: 7 out of 10
The Toyota Corolla is one of the most popular cars in the world. When introduced in the United States in 1968, it was a small, simple economical car. Now in its ninth generation, it hasn’t strayed too far from its roots.
Powered by two different four-cylinder engines that can be paired with either a five-speed automatic or manual transmission, the Corolla comes in several trim levels. We tested the sportier XRS, with the more powerful 2.4-liter engine.
The XRS has a long list of standard features. Safety is addressed with traction and stability control system and a full complement of air bags. Antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution -- a feature usually found in more expensive vehicles -- is also standard.
Our vehicle came with an upgraded sound system with satellite radio, power windows and locks, and keyless entry – options that can quickly add to the base price.
Our test car was equipped with a manual transmission that perfectly matched the 158-horsepower engine. During my time with the Corolla, I was stuck in a significant traffic jam. Usually in these cases, driving a standard-shift car is torture, but it wasn’t so with this car.
The engine has a broad torque band that provides smooth power when needed, and a timed trip to 60 mph takes about 9 seconds. The ride is smooth and comfortable, but certainly not sporty. Even the worst bumps in the road are easily absorbed by the Corolla’s suspension.
As good as the ride is, the steering feels vague and a bit artificial. Toyota has switched to an electronic power-steering system that doesn’t have the road “feel” of other models.
The original Corolla was an economical car, and the new one is still pretty good. The EPA rates fuel economy at 22 miles per gallon city and 30 mpg highway. I averaged 29 mpg in mostly highway driving.
THUMBS UP
• Ride
• Interior Comfort/Ergonomics
• Brakes
THUMBS DOWN
• Steering "Feel"
• Pricy With Options
Buyers looking for a little better economy could opt for the Corolla with the smaller 1.8-liter engine, which is estimated to get about 5 more miles per gallon.
The brakes are smooth and powerful, and a stop from 60 mph can be achieved in as little as 118 feet.
Passengers are treated quite well in the Corolla. The materials all have a quality look and feel. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, although I would have liked a little more lumbar support.
This model is wider than the previous version and feels more like a mid-sized car. Head room and leg room are fine for all but the very tall, and with the tilt/telescoping steering wheel, most drivers should find a comfortable position.
The layout of the cabin couldn’t be better. All controls are simple and easy to use, with large knobs, buttons and switches and clear, uncluttered gauges. There are bins for storage, two glove compartments and cup and bottle holders.
The rear seat is comfortable for two and can accommodate three adults for short periods. The trunk offers more than adequate storage for a compact car, rivaling many mid-sized cars.
The all-new Corolla is a gem of a car, whether it’s for commuting or transporting the family. Depending on the model, the Corolla has a base price from $15,250 to $19,950
2009 Acura TSX
EPA Green Vehicle Guide: 7.0 out of 10
The Acura TSX, a four-door, front-wheel-drive sedan, with four-cylinder, 201-horsepower engine. Choice of six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.
The TSX is the entry-level model in the premium Acura line. For 2009, it's bigger and more powerful with more features than previous models. It comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, keyless-entry power windows and door locks - and all the other features we expect in cars. The only major option is the technology package: an upgraded sound system, dual-zone climate control, DVD-based navigation system with voice recognition and rearview camera. The cabin is comfortable but flawed.
Although the car is bigger than last year's model, the cabin is best described as cozy. The seats are comfortable, and the position gives a great forward view of the road but the view to the rear is limited. While not a substitute for actually being able to see backing up, the rearview camera took some of the mystery out of parallel parking. Drivers over 6 feet tall will find the cabin confining, and rear seating is a little short on leg room. The instrument panel has easy-to-see gauges but the rest of the dash is too busy. Some manufacturers are returning to simple controls, but it's not the case with this Acura: I lost count at 40 buttons on the dash. Though they all serve a purpose, this many buttons becomes too distracting. The navigation system is accurate but not as intuitive as some others, and the voice recognition never understood a single word from me. Storage is limited to a small glove compartment and bins, although all four doors have pockets. The trunk is flat but narrow, and the hinges can damage bulky fragile items. Overall fit and finish is first rate.
The ride is firm but not uncomfortable, and handling is sharp and precise. Steering is light at parking-lot speeds but firms up and feels nicely weighted at highway speeds. The traction and stability control systems should help during inclement weather, and the brakes stop with the same precision as the rest of the car. The Bottom Line: Driving the TSX proves you don't need a six-cylinder engine to enjoy driving a sports sedan. The engine is smooth, relatively quiet and responsive. It's easy to accelerate and pass a slower-moving vehicle and takes about eight seconds to get to 60 mph. One benefit of a four-cylinder engine is better fuel economy. I averaged about 28 miles per gallon in a mix of city and highway driving. With its combination of performance and fuel economy, this may be one of the better four-cylinder engines on the market. The Acura TSX is not perfect but it is fun to drive, rides well and offers great fuel economy for a luxury sporty sedan.
THUMBS UP
• Steering/handling
• Performance/economy
• Comfortable seats
THUMBS DOWN
• Busy dash
• Fussy voice-recognition system
Driving the TSX proves you don't need a six-cylinder engine to enjoy driving a sports sedan. The engine is smooth, relatively quiet and responsive. It's easy to accelerate and pass a slower-moving vehicle and takes about eight seconds to get to 60 mph. One benefit of a four-cylinder engine is better fuel economy. I averaged about 28 miles per gallon in a mix of city and highway driving. With its combination of performance and fuel economy, this may be one of the better four-cylinder engines on the market. The Acura TSX is not perfect but it is fun to drive, rides well and offers great fuel economy for a luxury sporty sedan.
2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 EPA Green Vehicle Guide: 7.0 out of 10
The Aveo5, a five-door hatchback with four-speed automatic transmission, powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine. (Also available: five-speed manual transmission and a four-door version.)
Chevrolet's smallest car was redesigned from last year's model, and its most prominent feature is the Malibu-inspired grill separated by a Chevrolet bowtie. Though the Aveo is manufactured by General Motors' Daewoo division, the new look brings this model closer in line with the rest of the Chevy family.
Driving the Aveo presents no surprises - good or bad. The handling is OK for a small car, but it lacks the agility of some of its competitors. The steering is a bit numb and a little vague - especially at highway speeds. The ride is generally smooth, although it can get a bit unsettled over less-than-perfect New England roads. High-speed turns induce a fair amount of body roll, but nothing unexpected from an economy car. On a trip into Boston, the Aveo's tight turning radius made it easy to maneuver and park on city streets. The engine develops 106 horsepower, which translates into a leisurely 10.5-second trip to 60 mph. Like many small cars, the Aveo can get a little buzzy at highway speeds. The brakes provide smooth, controlled stops, although the antilock brake system is a $440 option I would like to see as standard equipment on every vehicle.
THUMBS UP
• Price
• Cargo space
• Simple controls
THUMBS DOWN
• Handling
• Buzzy engine
• Steering
During my test drive, I averaged an unimpressive 30 miles per gallon in mostly highway driving. The interior of the Aveo is simple and functional. The instrument panel has large, easy-to-read gauges. The controls for the radio and climate control are simple and easy to use. The cup holders, however, are oddly placed, and the parking brake interferes with the driver's side armrest. The overall quality of the interior is quite good, although I question the need for the imitation wood trim scattered around the cabin. The front seats are fairly comfortable, but the short seat cushion lacks thigh support. The rear seat is OK for two and can accommodate three in a pinch. Overall, the cabin is comfortable.
While it will never be confused with a luxury car, the Aveo5 makes for a comfortable commuter vehicle. It offers decent versatility with its ability to carry a reasonable amount of cargo in a compact package. Though it wasn't designed to replace a pickup truck, it has a fold-down rear seat and it can carry up to 42 cubic feet of cargo - handy for running errands. In spite of it shortcomings, Aveo5's practical nature and attractive price make it worth a look.
The 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 has a base price of $11,460.
2009 Dodge Journey
EPA Green Vehicle Guide: 7.0 out of 10
The Dodge Journey SXT, a crossover with all-wheel drive, six-speed automatic transmission, and a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 235 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. (Also available: front-wheel-drive base-model with 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission.)
The Dodge Journey is the latest in crossover vehicles from Dodge division of Chrysler. A crossover is not quite an SUV, minivan or station wagon. It's designed to appeal to people who need extra space but don't necessarily want the stigma that sometimes comes with owning a minivan or SUV.
The Journey seats five but has an optional 50/50-split folding third-row bench that lets it accommodate seven in reasonable comfort. The cabin is spacious, considering the Journey is built on the same platform as the smaller Dodge Avenger. The front seats offer a comfortable position, although as in so many mid-sized vehicles, taller drivers will be looking for a bit more leg room and under-thigh support. The instrument panel and controls are straightforward, although the Journey has interesting options. In some models you can order a remote starter, beverage chiller and built-in, hard-drive entertainment-and-navigation system. There is a handy built-in, second-row booster seat, under-floor storage bins and a good-sized storage bin under the front-passenger-seat cushion. Plus, there are a number of bins, cubbies and too many cup holders to count. Access to the third row of seats is easy and, unlike some SUVs, can be accomplished without needing the owner's manual to figure out the proper steps. The climate-control system worked quickly and quietly.
If I had one nit to pick with the Journey, the interior looks cheap; even some of the most inexpensive entry-level cars have a better quality feel and look. The engine provided adequate acceleration with four people on board, although it seemed taxed on steep hills. The handling will never be confused with a sports sedan, but there were no surprises. Quick turns produced some body roll and when road conditions were poor, the Journey would become unsettled over bumps. On the highway, there is very little road or wind noise. The brake pedal always had a solid, reassuring feel. A stop from 60 mph used 135 feet of pavement. Fuel economy is pretty good, with my combination of city and highway driving averaging 19 miles per gallon. As with many Chrysler V-6 engines, mid-grade fuel is recommended for the best performance and mileage.
THUMBS UP
• Available all-wheel-drive
• Flexible interior/storage
• Quiet ride
THUMBS DOWN
• Interior fit/finish
• So-so fuel economy
Overall, the 2009 Dodge Journey is pretty good; it's fairly stylish, has plenty of room and is easy to drive. Still, it doesn't have the overall performance of some of its competition, and its interior has a bargain-basement look. That said, the Journey's attractive pricing, functional interior and available all-wheel-drive still make it worth a look.
The 2009 Dodge Journey has a base price of $19,360.
2009 Hyundai Accent
EPA Green Vehicle Guide: 7.0 out of 10
The Hyundai Accent, a three-door hatchback with four-speed automatic transmission and a multi-valve 110-horsepower, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine. (Also available: four-door sedan and five-speed manual transmission.)
The Accent is the most inexpensive car in the Hyundai lineup, but it's outfitted with standard safety technologies seen in more expensive vehicles. This includes a tire-pressure monitoring system and six airbags - including dual-front, front-seat-mounted-side-impact and roof-mounted-side-curtain ¬- covering both rows of seats. Antilock brakes are optional on the GLS and standard equipment on the most expensive SE model. The cabin is comfortable for a small car, and the seating position offers a good view of the road. Even at 6 feet tall, I found the seats reasonable comfortable but would have welcomed more bolstering and thigh support. The controls are simple and logically placed.
Although there is nothing fancy about the Accent, other manufacturers could learn a lesson that sometimes simple is better. The overall quality of the interior is better than I would have expected in an economy car; even the plastic surfaces have a premium look and feel. The rear seat, like in all two-door cars, requires a certain youthful flexibility to get in or out. Tall passengers will feel cramped in the back seat due to the low roofline. The cargo area is pretty good for a small car, with 15.9 cubic feet; this bests the competition in some cases by as much as two feet. The engine delivers reasonable performance with the manual transmission and can best be described as leisurely with the automatic transmission. A timed trip to 60 mph takes almost 12 seconds. The engine gets a little noisy when revved up but only really becomes noticeable over 4200 RPM. Fuel economy is competitive with other small cars, but while its EPA mileage is 26 miles per gallon city and 35 highway, I never reached these numbers. The best I saw was 29 miles per gallon.
THUMBS UP
• Ride
• Fuel economy
• Good value/warranty
THUMBS DOWN
• Thumbs Down
• Engine performance
• Buzzy engine
One plus on the green front: the Accent is certified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle. The handling is OK for an economy car, and the suspension soaks up all but the worst bumps. The steering offers very little road feel, fine for around town but on the highway the steering can become a bit vague.
If you are looking for a compact car that is easy to drive and not to expensive to own, the Accent is worth a look. Combined with a low entry price and one of the best warranties on the market, the Accent should be on your short list.
The 2009 Hyundai Accent has a base price of $10,833.
2009 Toyota Scion xD
EPA Green Vehicle Guide: 6.0 out of 10
The Scion xD, a four-door hatchback with 128-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. The xD is the latest vehicle from the Scion, the youth division of Toyota, and replaces the smaller xA model. The new xD is not only bigger, but it also has a more powerful engine. Like all Scion vehicles, it comes in one trim level with most features standard. Customers only need to choose exterior color and transmission type.
Standard features include power steering, windows, door locks and mirrors; remote keyless entry; cruise control; first-aid kit; tilt steering wheel with audio controls; and air conditioning. Safety is addressed with four-wheel antilock brakes, a tire-pressure-monitoring system and a full complement of airbags. The only factory options are stability control with traction control. The xD features a comfortable, although somewhat futuristic-feeling, interior. The instrument panel, directly in front of the driver, has indicator lamps, an LCD fuel gauge, odometer and an odd combination radar-like speedometer and tachometer. The front seats are firm and comfortable, but taller drivers will be looking for more leg room even though there's more than enough head room. The driver has a change box and storage tray beneath the steering wheel. Other storage areas include a small box in the front of the center console for holding portable music players or cell phones and an upper and lower glove box. The rear seat features a 60/40 fold-flat design for a level cargo space. To make the most out of the interior and to maximize rear cargo or leg room, the rear seats can slide forward and back up to six inches. The rear seat is not very comfortable; it's overly firm and lumpy. The standard 160-watt audio system is one of the few that has a direct iPod connection - it even keeps the iPod charged.
Compared with some of the competition, the xD feels a bit more substantial. At highway speeds — even during strong crosswinds — it feels well-connected to the road. The ride is firm but not uncomfortable, and even over rough roads the xD stays composed. The steering is a version of Toyota’s electric-power steering.
THUMBS DOWN
• Steering "feel"
• Uncomfortable rear seat
At low speeds, it feels over-boosted and artificial; at highway speeds, it firms up but still has a slightly artificial feel. The engine delivers sprightly performance, allowing drama-free merging onto the highway. Fuel economy is quite good, and I averaged 30 miles per gallon. The brakes are among the best of any small car I’ve tested. The pedal was firm and easy to modulate.
The xD continues in the tradition of other Scion models. The exteriors are unique, the interiors have plenty of features, and the engine delivers good fuel economy. Although its target is the youth market, buyers of any age looking for a small car should consider the xD from Scion. The 2009 Toyota Scion xD has a base price of $14,460.
Impreza 2.5GT, a five-door hatchback with 224-horsepower turbocharged, intercooled engine and a standard four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. (Also comes in four-door model; there is no manual transmission version.)
Subaru introduced the compact Impreza 2.5GT for 2009 following a complete redesign of the other Impreza models last year. The revamped Impreza is stylish and practical, with a bit more interior room that is especially evident to rear-seat passengers. (Still, taller passengers still will find the accommodations tight.) The front seats offer great support, keeping the driver comfortable even after several hours behind the wheel. Visibility is quite good all the way around.
This is a great car to drive around a crowded city like Boston or Providence; it's nimble and easy to park. And the interior has certainly come a long way from previous models, which could have been best described as cheap-looking. Today's GT is not luxurious, but the overall quality rivals some of the better interiors from Europe. The controls are simple and straightforward; in this case, less is more. It's not like many cars that have so many switches and buttons the driver can become distracted. For those who spend a lot of time in the car, there's a sufficient number of cubbies, bins and cup-holders for all the stuff we seem to cart around. The performance from the turbo-charged engine is quite good, but like many similar engines it doesn't really come alive until it's revved up. This translates into a car with power that is great on the highway but wasted if all your driving is in the city. (If that's the case, the non-turbo Impreza may be a better choice.) The second issue is the GT requires premium fuel, and during my test drive this car just topped 20 miles per gallon.
THUMBS UP
• Handling
• Standard all-wheel drive
• Versatile interior
Hatchbacks are some of the most practical and underrated models, and this Subaru is no exception. With very little effort, the rear seats fold to offer plenty of cargo space for those trips to the home improvement center or weekend adventures. Where the Impreza GT bests just about all the competition is in its all-wheel drive, which comes standard in all Subarus. This makes for a car that handles extremely well on dry and slippery roads. While not designed for off-road driving, this Impreza should be able to handle all the weather New England offers. The Impreza GT offers sporty performance in a very useful package, but at a price. As delightful as it is, I'm not sure it's worth the $5,000-plus premium over the Impreza 2.5.
The 2009 Subaru Impreza GT has a base price of $27,495.
2009 Toyota Corolla 
