According to the dictionary, a Corolla is the outer part of a flower. You needn’t be a botanist, however, to know what the word means to Toyota – their definition would be something like “big-time money maker.”

The Corolla nameplate goes way back to 1966, which probably makes it one of the longest-lasting nameplates, at least among cars that have undergone as many redesigns as the Corolla has: the generation that debuted in 2003 is the ninth distinct body style to wear the highly-respected Corolla badge.

Compared to the eighth generation car, and every other Corolla before it, the ninth iteration of this insanely popular small car looked more substantial, standing taller, longer tip-to-tail and riding on a longer wheelbase. The result was a roomier interior, and the car as a whole had a much more solid feel on the road.
The 2003 Corolla was also the most powerful ever. It was powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder, just as the outgoing 2002 model was, but the new car was more powerful, with 130 horsepower. The VVT-i variable valve timing system (which first appeared in the Corolla in 2000) made for an engine with good low-end torque, considering its relatively small displacement. Transmission choices were a five-speed manual (standard across the range) and a four-speed automatic as the optional gearbox.

In 2005, Toyota added a high-performance XRS model to the line-up, featuring a 170-horsepower engine (this was the same motor that powered top-end Celica and Matrix models – basically the same 1.8-litre engine but tuned to produce more power at higher revs). XRS models got a six-speed manual as the only transmission choice as well as 16-inch wheels, stiffer suspension and a body kit. The XRS is not to be confused with the Corolla Sport, which wore the same tacky body add-ons as the XRS, but used the 130-hp engine, a softer suspension, smaller wheels and was available with an automatic transmission.

Two things Toyota is known for – fuel economy and reliability – are to be found in spades in the ninth-generation Corolla. According to Natural Resources Canada, a Corolla equipped with the automatic transmission uses about 8 L/100 km in the city and 5.7 L/100 km on the highway. Manual-transmission cars use a little less, at about 7 L/100 km (city) and 5.3 L/100 km (hwy). The hi-po XRS uses more, owing to its high-strung engine, consuming 9.2 L/100 km in the city and 6.4 L/100 km on the highway.
The majority of Corollas sold as 2005 through 2008 models are subject to a Technical Service Bulletin that addresses a problem with bad engine control units (ECU). The TSB lists a check engine light and/or an engine that won’t start as the main symptoms, but Corolla owners at ToyotaNation.com (click here and here) and Corolland.com suggest that the engine will simply quit while the car is being driven. In Canada, this problem was addressed through a Transport Canada recall to have the ECUs in affected cars replaced. This only affects Corollas with the base 1.8-litre engine (code-named 1ZZ-FE), and not the high-output 2ZZ-GE used in early versions of the Corolla XRS.

Cheap paint that chips easily, particularly on the hood, is a common complaint, and hard starting when the engine is warm is a minor, but well-known problem.

Crash safety is excellent. The 2003 Corolla earned a perfect five-star rating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s frontal crash test for protecting both the driver and front passenger, and scored four stars each for protecting front and rear seat occupants in side impacts. The side impact tests were conducted on a car without the side airbags that were optional on the Corolla LE.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Corolla its “good” rating; initial tests revealed a high likelihood of injury to the driver’s right leg, so Toyota modified the padding underneath the carpeting, eliminating the problem. Cars with the modification were built after December 2002 (the 2003 Corolla went on sale in early 2002).

Used values from Canadian Black Book start at $4,300 for a 2003 CE with manual transmission and no air conditioning, to $11,225 for a 2008 LE with power sunroof. By far, the CE is the most common version you’ll find, and most of these were optioned with the automatic transmission and a convenience package that added air conditioning and power locks/keyless entry (and other items, depending on model year). A so-equipped CE ranges in price from $7,250 for a 2003, to $12,325.

That easily out-values popular compacts from Korea (Hyundai Elantra) and North America (Dodge SX 2.0 and Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire), but the trade-off is that older versions of the ninth-gen Corolla have held up better than most cars from that era. The only other car built in the same years as this Corolla’s early years that I’d recommend without much reservation is the Mazda3, but in that one, you sacrifice some durability for a more entertaining drive.

I’ve been critical of some recent Toyotas (criticism that is not unfounded), but this Corolla deserves the solid reputation with which its name is associated. Do make sure the ECU recall has been performed on any car you consider buying; remember too that even a well-built car will have problems if it’s not maintained properly, so avoid any car that doesn’t come with proof of regular maintenance.

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