Unless you are pedaling on a bike everywhere you need to go, there is no escaping the pain of owning a gasoline-operated vehicle now - of any kind.

I thought my week test-driving a subcompact sedan would leave me buoyant, wanting to run a few extra trips, until I did the math. Even today’s economy cars are taking a hit. At $3.50 a gallon, it would cost me $45.50 to fill up a 13-gallon fuel tank. And in places where gas is $4.00 a gallon, that’s just a whole lot of hurt.

I test-drove the 2009 Toyota Corolla recently and the first thing I did was look at the sticker for the price and the EPA rating for the fuel economy. This is the way people are thinking: How much does it cost, how much does it get? I used to be asked, “What’s the horsepower?” Not so much anymore.

The all-new 2009 Corolla has a base price of $15,250, and with a variety of trim levels available, the base starting price tops at $19,950. The five grades Toyota offers on the 2009 Corolla are Standard, LE, XLE, the sport-oriented S and the performance-driven XRS.

I tested the S version with a starting price of $17,150. Optional equipment of electronic stability control and traction control; an all-weather guard package of a heavy-duty heater, anti-chip color-keyed side-view mirrors; plus a Satellite capable, six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 upgraded sound system, brought the as-tested price to $18,410. That is a very good price for small car with extras.

Do you have to pay extra for safety? This is what the 2009 Toyota Corolla S buyer gets as standard equipment in that department: nearly everything. The safety protection system includes dual front air bags, head curtain air bags, side-impact air bags, whiplash protection active head restraints and antilock brakes with Brake Assist.

Powering the Corolla is the 16-valve, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The small engine will develop 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. Toyota’s performance-focused Corolla XRS has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that offers 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. This engine is rated to return fuel achievements of 22/29 mpg with the five-speed manual transmission.

For its all-new 2009 model, Toyota designers say they gave the Corolla an all-new body with a leaner, more muscular shape compared to the model it replaces.

Corolla’s interior is roomy with enhanced driver-focused comfort. In fact, engineers measured the driving positions of tall individuals when designing the new shape of the seats and repositioned the steering column so that all drivers could find comfortable command positions.

There’s a reason why the Corolla has been around for nearly 40 years. It has always evolved to meet current demand trends. Comfort, safety and affordability are benchmarks that Toyota has hit with the all-new 2009 Corolla.

2009 Toyota Corolla S

Vehicle type: five-passenger FWD subcompact sedan

Base price: $17,150 (as tested: $18,410)

Engine type: 16-valve DOHC 4-cylinder w/SFI

Displacement: 1.8 liter

Horsepower: 132 net at 6000 rpm

Torque: 128 pound-feet at 4400 rpm

Transmission: four-speed automatic

Wheelbase: 102 inches

Track: 60/60 inches (front/rear)

Overall length: 179 inches

Overall width: 69 inches

Height: 58 inches

Turning circle: 36 feet (curb-to-curb)

Curb weight: 2,822 pounds

Fuel capacity: 13 gallons

EPA mileage rating: 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway