The ever-popular Toyota Corolla continues to improve with each successive incarnation and it’s still a great alternative to the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, especially if you prefer your saloons to be Japanese. In fact, alongside the similarly popular Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla is everything you'd expect from this manufacturer, with comfort, style and reliability all acting as key factors in its evergreen appeal.
Toyota has worked hard to revitalise the Corolla and recent incarnations look more relevant than ever. It’s a decent car to drive too, with plenty of comfort supplied inside later examples thanks to a refreshed interior. If you’re doing longer jounreys the Toyota Corolla is a no-hassle car to drive, with a suspension setup that encourages you to sit back and enjoy the ride.
Used Toyota Corolla’s are popular in both the 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre hybrid formats, with newer cars feeling zesty and much more fun to drive than Toyota’s old Auris. The power is more than enough to make the Toyota Corolla fun through the bedns, but the hybrid engines also make it a frugal option too. Combined with a spruced up interior on later cars, the overall package is a strong one.
Other options for used car buyers who want something along the lines of the Toyota Corolla include the also very popular Ford Focus, as well as the aforementioned ikes of the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Golf.
There are plenty of used Toyota Corolla’s out there to choose from thanks to its enduring popularity, which also means you should be able to get a good example for not a huge amount of money.
You’ll also get the benefit of Toyota’s high-scoring reliability while the hybrid range is much more enjoyable to drive than older models too. Adding to the appeal, especially if you’ve got a family to move around, is the roomy interior, which is nicely equipped and oozes a decent level of quality.
This is further boosted by the solid levels of equipment, even if you’re making do with the base level trim edition. The Toyota Corolla also boasts a five star Euro NCAP safety rating, which provides another good reason why it continues to be so popular with used car buyers.
When it comes to alternatives, try taking a look at the likes of the Honda Civic, the Volkswagen Golf, Ford’s ever-popular Focus as well as less obvious options including the Skoda Octavia and Mazda 3.
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The 1.8-litre hybrid is the best choice in the Toyota Corolla range. While the 2.0-litre has more performance, the 1.8 never feels slow. In fact, it’s surprisingly quick - especially post-2023 models with the more powerful engine. The 1.8 hybrid is also cheaper to run and insure and there are far more around on the used market.
Even the entry-level Toyota Corolla Icon is well-equipped, but we'd stretch to a Corolla Design if you can find one within budget. It looks a bit smarter with its 17-inch alloy wheels and rear privacy glass, while the power tailgate, folding door mirrors and rain-sensing wipers all make everyday life that little bit easier.
While the original Toyota Corolla came with a 1.2-litre petrol engine option, more recent examples offer you a 1.8-litre hybrid or 2.0-litre hybrid. The more efficient powertrain options are mated to a CVT gearbox however, which can tend to make your car sound rather revvy if you’re heavy on accelerator pedal.
Overall, though, expect a decent level of refinement while performance is more than acceptable for a saloon, no matter which engine you plump for.
More recent models of the Toyota Corolla have arrived in one of four trim levels, with Icon, Design, GR Sport and Excel grades offering something for any type of owner.
Even in its most basic guise, the Icon trim of the Toyota Corolla offers up a decent level of specification and home comforts. If you fancy something a little racier, then head for the GR Sport edition, which takes things up a notch on the looks perspective.
The Toyota Corolla’s dimensions are:
The Toyota Corolla’s boot size is:
Hybrid examples of the Toyota Corolla qualify for a £10/year discount on your annual road tax, which means it’ll cost you £155 each year. Non-hybrid examples will set you back £165.
Hybrid systems like those found in recent used examples of the Toyota Corolla can be pricier to fix. As a result, it's ranked in slightly higher insurance groups, which starts from group 18 for a 1.8-litre Excel model and rising to group 22 for the 2.0-litre.
A more affordable option would be to head for an older Toyota Corolla with the 1.2-litre petrol engine. There’s less power output, but should be slightly cheaper to insure.
Read our full Toyota Corolla review