My first car was a 2007 Toyota Camry XLE V6 3.5L automatic. After driving it, I fell in love with the Toyota brand. However, as a college student, owning a Camry got very expensive in regards to gasoline and maintenance. Therefore, I decided to go with a more economic option and trade-in for a 2008 Corolla Sport. I felt like it was the best decision possible. I needed a car that was both reliable and efficient with fuel, and the Corolla exceeds both of these requirements.

The Toyota Corolla is an adequate option in the compact car class, but you can likely find a better model if you shop around. It isn't thrilling to drive, but it has sufficient power and a comfortable ride. The interior is similarly OK; there’s plenty of passenger space but some underwhelming material quality. The Corolla's real selling point is its reliability rating, which is higher than nearly every competitor’s. A four-cylinder engine powers the Corolla, and while it should be suitable for most commutes, it can feel underpowered during heavy acceleration. The engine is paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission. Depending on the trim, the available automatic transmission is either a four-speed automatic or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT feels more refined than those in some competitors, and it does a decent job of delivering the engine's power on the highway. When equipped with the CVT, the Corolla gets 29 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, which is decent for the class. The LE Eco trim is tuned specifically for fuel economy; it earns 30 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway. Though the Corolla is comfortable, it’s plagued by a boring ride, dull steering, and clumsy cornering.