08' Corolla is a safe bet. I get 40-41 mpg at 65 mph and can fetch about 33-35 city driven smartly, which is very impressive for a 1.8 automatic. Seems to have plenty of room for my liking, except that the steering wheel is oddly kind of far away from the driving position.
PROS: The engine bay is oddly sparse for a newer car. Unlike other ones I have owned, you can reach in and that engine bay and do things yourself easily like plugs, wires, pcv, oil filter (very simple and easy to get to) and other maintenance items. I think the 1.8L is above average in reliability. HVAC and radio controls are very large buttons that are clearly marked and easy to push while driving. The radio is kind of a reach from driving position though. Seats are very comfortable and supportive. The sits higher than most in class it seems, therefore making it easy to get in and out. Headlight brightness is above average, particularly on high beams. Engine is peppy, but not a speed demon either. Car seems geared torquey down low and is a great around town commuter. 4 speed automatic transmission shifts are very smooth and it does a good job of holding gears when it needs to. Price was nice with a 1000 rebate. Car came in at just a tick under 14,000 which wasn't really any more than the Yaris we looked at. YMMV on price though. I do like that the vehicle has an outside temperature sensor located in the odometer area. Nice touch on an inexpensive car. The body integrity seems solid. All doors are very well sealed and close with a solid "thud". What I am getting at is the car doesn't have that tinny feel you may encounter with econoboxes. Car insurance is very inexpensive on the car, even with full coverage, but YMMV depending on your driving history obviously. Leg room in front is good. Wife is 5'11" and drove the Yaris, but could not get comfortable in it. The way the dash and controls are set farther away in the Corolla enables more leg room for taller drivers.
Cons: Brakes are just okay, not that great, but not bad either. Steering wheel position. This car needs a telescoping steering wheel like no other. Instrument layout is nothing fancy, but is at least easy to identify. Back seat head rests (there are 3 of them) get in the way of visibility. I take them out and store them in the trunk so the wife can back up and pass without the horrible blind spot these provide. Paint is a tad bit on the thin side and there are a few small chips already (car has 6000 miles on it). Stock tires will only be good enough until you replace them with real snow/rain tires when you wear these out. These Goodyear Integrity tires are smooth riding, but not the greatest for foul weather. Factory mud guards should come stock, but they don't. Not a major con though as they are available through Toyota for a minor fee.
There you have it. That is my review on my 08' Corolla.
