Overview & Reviews

Well into its fourth decade of production, the compact Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car in automotive history, and for good reason. Small, inexpensive, fuel-efficient and as reliable as the day is long, the Corolla is the quintessential economy car. As long as you change the oil on time and don't hit a tree, any Corolla should provide dependable transportation well past the 100,000-mile mark. That's why so many shoppers keep buying Corollas year after year.

Since its 1968 introduction in the U.S., the Toyota Corolla has come in a variety of body styles, including a sedan, coupe, hatchback and wagon. More recently, however, it has only been available as a sedan. Today's Corolla has almost as much rear passenger space as a midsize sedan and its fuel economy is impressive. Although rivals boast sportier designs and more entertaining driving dynamics, a Corolla is nonetheless an excellent choice for smart consumers on a budget.

User Reviews:

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  Nice Car - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By CJMara - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I just bought my Corolla S this week and even my parents approve of it for reliability and dependability. Its so much better than my nightmare Mazda 626. Its fun to drive with the stick shift and handles curves like a dream! I also like the way it looks, the last owner took off the red S and the Toyota decal on the off the back (so it only has the Toyota symbol and says Corolla) and I think Ill keep it that way. The paint is chipping and scratching pretty easily though so Im going to have to get the chips retouched and another layer of clear coat put on the whole thing.

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  Good Old Reliable Corolla - 2004 Toyota Corolla
  By liane - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Theres really nothing to hate driving a Corolla. Low-end CE I admit, looks bland but the Sporty S really looks great and the road and wind noise is very minimal and for economy car, this is something to brag about.

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  OK for rental, would not buy. - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By RJBME - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Had this vehicle for three days as a rental in Denver, CO and it suited this purpose quite well. I guess as a commuter or grocery-getter, it would be a reasonable choice. The main problem is that this car is WAY underpowered (getting on the expressway is scarry business and having the pedal to the floor on hills was not uncommon) and not fun to drive at all. Ive driven 1.0L in Europe that performed better. The driving dynamics seem awkward at best, likely due to the vague steering. The passenger comfort is decent for this class of car but overall, this car is mediocre at best. I would consider a Focus instead as its more fun to drive and has the 2.3L.

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  They get better and better! - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By steve B - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Had to give my 2001 Corolla to my daughter so I picked up a new S. My son has the Corolla LE 2003, one daughter has a 1999 LE, and the wife has a 2000 camry. The 2005 S has the best ride. A great improvement in comfort and road feel from the 2001. I would rather have this car than a BMW. It sits higher than the older Corolla and has a very solid feel and response. The backseat is still just a tad bit small for a tall person when the drivers seat is back. That is the only very minor complaint. For the money, this is the very best! Honda does not get close to this one.

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  Good mileage, horrible seats - 2009 Toyota Corolla
  By C. Alan - June 3 - 2:16 am

  The car is small, but does not feel cramped, at least in the front seat. The back seats are a bit cramped. It would be hard to get 4 full sized adults in the car without some one ending up with a knee in their back. The driver seat is ok, but seriously lacks lumbar support. Finding a place for your elbows while you drive is also difficult. Most of the controls are laid out in a logical manner, and are easy to find. However, the temp gauge, is nearly hidden in the lower right hand corner of the dash display. In an economy car, you expect a plastic dash, but feel of the plastics used in the Corolla are very harsh. The turn signal stalks feel very cheap.

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  Great Value - 2015 Toyota Corolla
  By Erika - May 29 - 6:35 pm

  I would recommend this car to anyone.. Its comfortable, good on gas, great handling but, would recommend snow tires for winter.

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  Stylish and Fun! - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Rhonda in H.B. - May 28 - 7:53 pm

  We love the fuel mileage on our new S series. My teenagers love it and are fighting over whos going to inherrit it. It handles well, is easy to drive, and the price was excellent. I parked my Dodge Ram which was getting 10.5 mpg @ $3.49 per gallon Diesel. The way I see it, what I save on fuel alone will make my new payment. I am very happy with my decision.

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  Great Car - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By gorzo55 - May 27 - 1:00 pm

  I bought my 2001 Corolla used in 2003 with 40k miles. It now has 120k miles and is still my primary car. No engine problems that others have reported. My catalytic converter was replaced at 115k though. Ive done by the book maintenance and have had no major problems. The only big repairs Ive had were break issues that were my fault from overly aggressive city driving. Im not sure about what others have said about burning oil...I havent noticed it but I know little about cars. This car gets better gas mileage than the current Corolla models. I once drove from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis on one tank.

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  The Best Ever! - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By CoRrOlLaSgUrL - May 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car in august of 2002, I have never had a problem with it, It drives great & looks great! Where ever i go i have heads turning!

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  Without a doubt, the best compact sedan - 2003 Toyota Corolla
  By aragornbeagles - May 27 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car in 3/02, and have been in love since! It is stylish, roomy, so easy to get in and out of! The best redesign that Toyota has done in years! If I could choose one thing to change, it would be to make Cruise Control standard on the CE model.