The 2009 Toyota Corolla joins a car dynasty spanning almost 40 years of driving history. The Corolla brand is the single largest selling collection of cars ever made, with some 30 million units sold to date. It’s probably a safe bet to say, then, that Toyota probably knew what they were doing when they went to the Corolla drawing board for the tenth time.

The Corollas success is thanks to its decent looks, reliable parts and excellent fuel economy. These key features can only become more important to drivers in the modern economic and environmental climate, so it looks like Toyota chose the right time to re-model the car.

When you put your foot on the gas, the basic Corolla’s 132-hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine will kick in and gently accelerate the car. There’s no amateur dramatics, no sparks or dynamite, just solid, reliable acceleration. It’s the same with the power steering which provides clean and effortless control over the vehicle. Nothing remarkable, but perhaps that alone is the Corollas greatest achievement?

If fuel economy, reliability and general longevity are your idea of the perfect car, then you can’t go far wrong with the 2009 Toyota Corolla. Enthusiasts will blanch at the over-powered steering and response times, but 30 million people probably know better.