New in 2021
85%
car owners will buy this car again!
- 86% Road tests
- 98% Reliability
- 85% Driver satisfaction
- The sedan has been completely updated
Who should buy it?
The car's base price is fairly balanced, and it comes with a good list of features and a well-thought-out infotainment system. Although, it is difficult to recommend the entry-level model due to the far from powerful engine. By paying more, you can count on a more powerful power unit. For comparison, you can look at the main players in the class Mazda 3 and Honda Civic. Japanese creations guarantee more dynamics and a more refined interior.
New or used car?
The company has completely updated the Corolla sedan for 2021. In addition to the new interior and exterior, current models offer Apple CarPlay, traffic sign recognition and lane tracking. The base 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 139 horsepower carried over to the new generation, albeit with the addition of 7 horses. A 2.0-liter engine with 169 horsepower is offered as an option. Of course, you can be content with models from previous years, but then you shouldn’t count on updates.
How we tested the 2020 Toyota Corolla
Free leg and head room
Front seat passengers have generous head, leg and elbow room. The Corolla is airier inside than some rivals, and as a result it is a comfortable car to accommodate passengers. Rear-seat space is also adequate across the board, but taller passengers may find headroom a little tight. Those looking for maximum rear-seat space will be happier with the Skoda Octavia, but the Corolla is more or less on par with the Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus in this area.
There are ISOFIX points on the outer rear seats, and all models have decent rear seat access.
Car reviews
Mikhail S.: I was choosing a car for a trip around the city, focusing on an affordable price (no more than $20,000), an average-power engine and an attractive appearance. The latest generation Corolla was perfect for all these parameters. I liked it right away – the face, the optics, the rear view. After a couple of months of use, I would like to add to the pluses good fuel consumption, a large trunk and a heated steering wheel. The only things I didn’t like were the low-quality plastic trim and the heavy hood, which requires effort to lift.
Vitaly V .: Corolla is not the cheapest car in its class. But it has such advantages as reliability, a spacious interior, almost the same size as a Camry, and a good appearance. And also - convenient microclimate control. Although the protruding screen of the multimedia system looks somehow wrong. There is no standard navigator, and the performance of the system itself is average. But in the future I will be able to sell this car more profitably on the secondary market - it is popular and does not lose much in price.
Maxim L.: The design of the 2021 Corolla is very stylish - this has become almost the main reason for purchasing. I also liked the safety features and crash test results - 5 out of 5 stars is very cool. True, I would like to see a more powerful engine - but for the city, in principle, this is enough.
( 1 ratings, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Operating rules and maintenance features
Rules for using cars with CVTs:
- Driving in neutral gear is not allowed. This mode is considered a service mode and can be turned on in emergency situations. For example, if you need to drive a car into a garage for repairs or pull a car out of a snowdrift. If the vehicle is stuck in snow or mud, you should not try to pull it out using the “rocking” method, alternately turning on the R and D positions on the box. This will lead to rapid wear of bearings and other structural elements of the transmission. If you get stuck, the best solution is to ask someone to pull you out of the obstacle.
- Do not start abruptly and constantly drive in sport mode at high speed. This also causes accelerated wear of the structural parts of the gearbox. CVT transmissions are not adapted to this operating mode.
- Avoid driving on rough roads and rural areas. When driving off-road, the oil in continuously variable transmissions deteriorates faster. Because of this, lubrication of the internal components of the transmission will not be as effective, which will lead to wear on the unit parts.
- In winter, always warm up your car. Please note that a vehicle's engine always heats up faster than the transmission. Therefore, if the engine has warmed up, this does not mean that the transmission has also warmed up. In the cold season, you should not start driving by sharply pressing the gas pedal. At low negative temperatures (-20 degrees and below), the warm-up time for the CVT transmission can be 15 minutes or more. To heat the gearbox faster, it is necessary to disperse the lubricant through the system lines. To do this, after starting the engine, switch the gearbox selector through all modes, holding it in each of them for 10 seconds. Until the box warms up completely, you need to drive at a reduced speed.
- Parking mode (P) can only be activated when the car is parked for a long time. Activating it will lock up transmission components. You can start the engine from parking mode. It is not recommended to turn on this position with the selector if the car is in a traffic jam or you have stopped for several minutes.
- Avoid wheel slip. On machines with CVT transmissions, slipping is not allowed; this leads to rapid wear of the drive and driven pulleys, as well as the V-belt.
- Do not tow other vehicles or trailers. CVT gearboxes are designed to work with a certain vehicle weight.
- Change the oil in the unit periodically. According to official regulations, the manufacturer does not provide for replacing the lubricant. But this does not relieve car owners from the need to replace consumables. Experts recommend changing the gearbox oil at least every 60 thousand kilometers. Before changing, it is necessary to check the lubricant level and assess its condition. If the oil smells like burning and there are traces of wear products in the form of metal shavings or deposits, then the consumable must be replaced.
- CVT gearboxes must use special oil. If the lubrication is not up to standard, the service life of the V-belt may be affected.
You can learn how to increase the service life of a CVT transmission from a video filmed by the Automatic Transmission Repair Technology channel.
Technical specifications of Toyota Corolla 2021
In Russia, the new Toyota Corolla 2021 model is sold with only one powertrain option. This is a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a performance of 122 hp. It is equipped with one of two gearboxes – a CVT or a 6-speed manual. The engine provides a car speed of 185 or 195 km/h for CVT or manual transmission, respectively. Acceleration time to hundreds for the same versions is 10.8 and 11 s, fuel consumption is from 5.3 on the highway to 8.2-8.7 liters in city mode.
The trunk size of the car is quite large, although not the best for its class. 471 liters of cargo fit inside. If you fold the second row of seats, there is more space - but a step is formed that interferes with the convenient distribution of things. But even in the basic version there is a full-size spare wheel hidden under the luggage compartment floor. Ground clearance is 150 mm, sufficient for a sedan intended mainly for city trips and good roads.
High body rigidity and the presence of many safety systems (even in the basic configuration there is a light sensor, 4 airbags, ESP and ABS) make the car safe. And confirmation of its strength and workmanship are the results of the Euro NCAP crash test - 5 stars out of 5. Moreover, the first row of seats is protected by 95%, and a child in a child seat in the back is protected by 84%.
Objective opinions of owners
The most interesting reviews from Toyota Corolla car owners are given below; when you read them, you will get the most complete picture of the latest generation of Corolla.
Alexander from Smolensk
There was a painful choice between the restyled Corolla and Camry, I settled on the first. The purchase took place in mid-February 2017, the car was produced this year, Active equipment, I tested it in my city. I went to the neighboring city several times, and now I can judge the operation of the car and engine systems.
I was pleased with the engine-variator combination; it turned out that the dynamics were better than I thought. Previously, I drove with engines with a volume of at least 2 liters, but with this engine you need to press the gas pedal to raise the speed and accelerate the car on a long climb.
At a speed of no more than 3 thousand. Outside the city, the car consumes a hundred gasoline of no more than seven and a half liters, which is very decent if the engine is not run-in.
I tried the Sport mode, and the dynamics turned out to be much more fun during acceleration. The automatic works confidently in the city cycle, gear changes are imperceptible, and there are no jerks that are so felt with robotic gearboxes.
The suspension stiffness is perfectly selected, and the car feels confident when cornering. Handling with electric power steering is also excellent.
I think that the body should be assessed by each driver personally. Love the LED headlights. The interior pleased me with a new dashboard and comfortable seats with adjustments. There is plenty of space for rear passengers and a spacious trunk. So don’t think twice, buy this creation of the Japanese auto industry.
Alik from Moscow
I carefully studied the reviews of the Toyota Corolla and purchased a post-restyling car in October last year. The new design of the car has become more attractive, but it was assembled in Turkey. I read on the forum that the assembly is controlled by Japanese representatives, and the point is not that the assembly is Turkish, but the components, which are supplied mainly from Europe and the USA. The quality of these components and parts is lower than that of Japanese ones.
Prices went up, and I had to buy a 2021 model year Corolla with a 1.6 engine with 122 horsepower, but I wanted one with a 140-horsepower engine. The engine does not shine with dynamics, but gasoline consumption is 6 liters on the highway and up to 9 liters in the city. Noise insulation is good; when you stand near the car, you can’t hear the engine at idle.
The car's interior is spacious and the trunk is spacious. The operation of the stove for the Russian cold does not cause any complaints; I really liked the heated seats and headlights with LED lights. They illuminate the road well and do not blind oncoming drivers. And this is understandable, because all the reviews about the Toyota Corolla 2021 are only good.
After five thousand km, all the disadvantages of the car were identified - the armrest niches are too small and there is no adjustment, the rearview parking camera produces a fuzzy picture, and when the trunk is full, its hinges rest against the luggage.
And one more thing: the brakes are exhausted by their squeaking - they brake perfectly, but the squeaking is annoying, you will have to go to the service station.
Maria from Svetlogorsk
I’ll share my impressions about my new acquisition. I turned over the entire Internet in search of a new Toyota Corolla, read all the reviews and went to the sales center. There they told me that a new model was expected and showed me a photograph and video. The car fascinated me, the front end became more pleasant, I liked the plus style package inside and the large trunk. I ordered the color: pearl white and a 1.6 engine with 120 liters. With.
And now the new Toyota Corolla 2015 arrived, I drove it for the first thousand and am very pleased. Compared to the previous Toyota Auris, the CVT on the new car works simply flawlessly. I don’t hear or notice the gear change, it goes calmly along the highway, along serpentine roads, thanks to the correctly selected suspension, it confidently holds the road.
LED headlights front and rear, pleasant blue instrument lighting. The huge, roomy interior gives a certain feeling of calm and comfort. It’s not for nothing that all the reviews on the Internet about the new Toyota Corolla are favorable.
The only shortcomings I have found so far are the weak paintwork. I am very pleased with the car, after all, the Toyota brand is, above all, reliability.
Valery from Tyumen
I read reviews about the Corolla in a new body and was inspired to buy this car, first of all, for its reliability. Although the appearance has changed after restyling, the engines with which this car was equipped remained the same.
The equipment on my 2015 car is style plus. And, I must say, very decent. The steering wheel is heated, the windshield wiper area is also heated, climate control is carried out in two zones, and there is a rearview camera for parking. Four electric windows operate automatically.
The driver's and front passenger seats in the car are adjustable in height and tilt, the rear sofa can easily accommodate three people. The large trunk capacity is complemented by space for a spare wheel. LED headlights illuminate the road perfectly, and you can move without using high beams.
The engine is quite torquey and the acceleration dynamics suit me.
In the urban cycle, during congestion, fuel consumption is ten liters, outside the city - about seven liters.
The suspension provides good handling. The brakes work tenaciously and accurately, which is very valuable - high ground clearance. There is nothing more to say about the car; it suits me completely.
Vasily from the village of Oktyabrsky
I read about the Toyota Corolla 2021 owner reviews and bought this car, but in vain, I suffered with it later - it’s terrible, but now I’ll describe everything in order. I live in the region, in a small village, our roads are like everywhere else in Russia: when you leave the highway, there are only directions. I used this road to go to work in the city; it was 50 kilometers there and back.
About six months later, I was dragging myself through the mud on such a road, and the variator suddenly began to make a growling sound, the engine jerked and stalled. No mode was activated. I called the service station, they answered: do not try to tow it under any circumstances, call a tow truck. They dragged it to the service station and called the dealer, because the car was under warranty.
Under the supervision of the dealer, they opened the box and said: the drive is broken, but the drive is a chain drive! Here's the story: the Russian off-road CVT couldn't handle it. They say it is intended for asphalt roads. Here's a new car, I left it at the dealer. The new spare part arrived only two months later.
Maria Nesterova from St. Petersburg
I was without a car for about two years, and when I read reviews about the Toyota Corolla, I persuaded my husband to buy me one for my birthday. I liked the car, I was especially pleased that it eats little, and when driving you don’t have to change gears - the automatic machine does this work for you.
My husband chose the 2021 Corolla, the latest generation, for me, the controls are easy, and you don’t have to press the brakes hard. I redid the interior to my taste, upholstering the seats and doors with real leather. I also liked the built-in navigator and a separate place for the phone and Bluetooth.
I also liked the spacious trunk, I love shopping and going on vacation in my car, and my wish came true. Thanks to my husband for a wonderful car.
