2023 Toyota Corolla

Is the Toyota Corolla a good-looking car?

The Corolla no longer wears beige even when it’s painted another color. It has a stray busy line or two—it’s almost but not quite as precisely drawn as the VW Jetta or the Mazda 3 sedan. But at long last, it’s more interesting to look at than not, and even interesting inside. It’s a 6 here, with a point extra for the cabin.

That’s not to say there’s anything extreme about the thoroughly conventional profile of the Corolla sedan, or anything revealing in the almost undetectable details that distinguish Hybrids from gas-powered versions. It’s plain and inoffensive, and that’s perfect for what and whom it’s built. Hatchbacks have a little more dazzle, or maybe it’s just that we’re no longer so familiar with that body style. The sizzle comes with the GR Corolla, which takes the hatchback shape and puffs it up with wider fenders that can swallow its 18-inch wheels and gaping air intakes feeding its turbo intercooler and cooling down its brakes. The tri-tip exhaust? A dead giveaway.

The Corolla cabin has an airy, open feel, particularly when it’s wrapped in lighter hues. Logical and cohesive, the interior gets some leather-like trim on the seats and dash if you spend up to that level.

With dull powertrains offsetting its nicely balanced ride and handling, we give the Corolla a 5 for performance. Score the GR on its own, and it’d be much higher.

Is the Toyota Corolla 4WD?

All-wheel drive is an option on both hybrids and gas-powered Corollas, and it’s standard on the rip-snorting GR Corolla.

How fast is the Toyota Corolla?

Most gas-powered Corollas now sport the gruff 169-hp 2.0-liter inline-4 found previously in the SE and XSE models. It’s capable of perfectly adequate acceleration and fuel economy, but the loudness that accompanies it undercuts the Corolla’s otherwise pleasant demeanor. A CVT slurring around in the powerband doesn’t help matters, or make the Corolla feel any more responsive. It’s lost its 6-speed manual transmission option, too. 

Who buys a non-Hybrid Corolla for the powertrain, anyway? Take the gas-electric model for many reasons, not only its sky-high efficiency. Its combination of batteries, a motor, and a small gas engine generate an unimpressive total of 121 hp, but it’s so much more muted as it accelerates via its own CVT that it’s worth the second-slower acceleration times (about nine seconds to 60 mph, by our reckoning). 

All Corollas have good balance and handling. The relatively soft suspension tune is complemented by direct but relaxed steering. In ride quality and in cornering, the Corolla feels like a larger car—and that’s to its credit. 

Toyota GR Corolla

The GR Corolla’s so unlike the stock models, it’s hard to even see the physical resemblance to the standard hatchback once you’ve driven it. With sizzling power and rally-ready handling, it would rate an 8 here, easily.

Toyota takes the hatchback and dumps its 4-cylinder for a 1.6-liter turbo-3 with 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. It’s a screamer, dumping gobs of power to all four wheels from 3,000 to 7,000 rpm through a 6-speed manual shifter that’s a delight to row through its positive, short throws—though we’d tame the grabby clutch a bit. Zero-to-60 mph times of about 5.0 seconds make that a performance worth repeating.

The GR’s all-wheel-drive system lets drivers pick their power splits, from 50:50 to 30:70, which has the logical payoffs in twisty-road navigation. It’s not difficult to get the GR Corolla to fling its rear end out of line in a joyously controllable way, squeezing out every tenth from its engine. Underneath, its grippy 235/40 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires (245/40 Cup 2s are available) get amplified with available front and rear Torsen limited-slip differentials, which work in perfect unison with itsMacPherson-strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension and race-tuneddampers, springs, and roll bars. Firm? Sure, it’s taut and borderline rough for everyday drives—but the GR Corolla’s not the kind of car you see or drive every day, anyway.

The Corolla sedan offers the best accommodations for up to five people, but four fit best in it—and in the trimmer hatchback. In all, a plain but well-assembled interior leaves few negative impressions, but has lots of room for improvement. We give the Corolla an extra point for good front seats, for a 6 here. 

Toyota fits the Corolla with supportive front seats that have lots of travel and are wide enough to accommodate a range of body types. Sedans wear basic cloth, while Hybrids get a smart woven material; both can be upgraded to synthetic leather and front-seat heating. GR Corollas, by the way, have marvelously grippy sport seats to match the traction they generate on the pavement.

While Corolla sedans have a 106.3-inch wheelbase, hatchbacks sit shorter on a 103.9-inch wheelbase. That plays out in the back seats of both, where sedans have much better legroom. Even in the sedan, though, the second row doesn’t have plentiful headroom. Both are better suited for short trips in the back seat. 

In cargo space, the hatchback trumps the sedan, with roughly 18 cubic feet of room, compared to the sedan’s 13.1-cubic-foot trunk.

How safe is the Toyota Corolla?

It’s exceptional. The IIHS calls it a Top Safety Pick+, but that applies only to versions with upgraded LED headlights. Other versions have “Marginal” headlights. The NHTSA gives the Corolla five stars overall. 

The Corolla carries standard automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control, while blind-spot monitors are an option. Outward vision isn’t bad, but it’s not good enough to grant the Corolla the final point here for a perfect 10. It's a 9.

Superb value in almost every version earns the 2023 Corolla a point here, as does its swell infotainment system and its complete set of standard features. It misses only a point for exceptional warranty coverage and for a multitude of options; it’s an 8 for features.

Which Toyota Corolla should I buy?

Toyota has dropped the base Corolla L, leaving the $22,645 Corolla LE as its entry-level sedan. It has a newly standard 8.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, keyless start, and cloth upholstery. We’d spend up to the $23,895 Corolla LE Hybrid, which gets digital gauges in addition to the regular equipment. If the body style compels you, the cheapest hatchback is the $24,100 Corolla SE.

How much is a fully loaded Toyota Corolla?

With synthetic leather upholstery and all-wheel drive, the $27,695 Corolla Hybrid XLE is a certified bargain. But you’ll spend more for the fantastic performance of the GR Corolla: it’s $36,995, but comes with all its go-fast hardware, plus a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. It’ll be difficult to find one anywhere near sticker price for a while, though.

Is the Toyota Corolla good on gas?

Most models are exemplary. Base cars get EPA ratings of 32 mpg city, 41 highway, 35 combined, which earns a 6 here. High-spec versions get a little less, due to weight.

Corolla Hybrid sedans get spectacular results, with EPA ratings of as much as 53/46/50 mpg, and at worst, 47/41/44 mpg. Those numbers would merit a score of 7 here, were the Hybrids rated alone.

At 21/28/24 mpg, the GR Corolla’s a thirst trap. It would earn a 2.