Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a compact sedan with seating for up to five passengers. In the automaker’s lineup, it sits between the subcompact Yaris and the midsize Camry. Toyota also offers a hatchback version called the Corolla Hatchback and a crossover variant called the Corolla Cross, which are reviewed separately. The Corolla’s most recent (twelfth) generation debuted in 2020, featuring revised styling, new engine options, and additional safety features.

The Corolla comes in various trims, including the L, LE, XLE, SE, and XSE. The L is the base version with essential features, while the LE adds more convenience items. The XLE focuses on luxury touches and additional technology, and the sportier SE offers unique styling elements and performance upgrades. The range-topping XSE combines sportiness with luxury amenities.

In its eleventh generation (2013-2019), the Corolla employs a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 132 horsepower. It pairs with either a six-speed manual, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), or a four-speed automatic, depending on options and trim. With the introduction of the twelfth-generation Corolla in 2020, Toyota added an available 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 169 hp on higher-level trims (SE and XSE), with the 1.8-liter engine continuing to be offered on other trims. A six-speed manual is available on select trims, while a CVT is the only available automatic. Toyota also offers a hybrid version, called the Corolla Hybrid, which is reviewed separately.

Starting in 2018, the Corolla's base L trim gained a 6.1-inch touchscreen, while the LE and higher trims got a 7-inch touchscreen as standard. They were upgraded to 7- and 8-inch units, respectively, in 2020, which also added standard Apple CarPlay integration, with Android Auto following in 2021. Advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision system with pedestrian detection were introduced as part of the Toyota Safety Sense suite in 2017 and became standard on all trims in 2020.

Used car buyers seeking a Toyota Corolla should consider models from 2017 or later in the LE or higher trims to benefit from their newly available safety features. For those looking for updated technology, including smartphone integration, twelfth-generation models (2020-present) are a better bet. Performance-oriented buyers should seek out the SE or XSE trims, which offer a more powerful engine and a sport-tuned suspension.