Toyota Corolla 1969–2026
On a 1998–1999 or 2002 car, or a 2009–2010, ask how much oil it burns. On a 2014–2017 with the CVT, ask whether Toyota's JSD software and valve body campaign was done. SlashGear's best used years are 2007–2008, 2011–2013 and 2018–2021.
Generations 12
- 1st gen 1969–1970 E10The first Corolla sold in the US: a small rear-drive coupe, sedan or wagon with a 1.1L four and a four-speed manual.Came as coupe; sedan; wagon, two-door; Corolla Sprinter coupe
- 2nd gen 1971–1974 E20A slightly larger rear-drive Corolla with 73 hp and the first automatic, and from 1972 a 1.6L SR-5 coupe with a five-speed.Came as sedan, two-door; sedan, four-door; coupe; wagon
- 3rd gen 1975–1979 E30A bigger rear-drive Corolla with 1.2L, 1.3L and 1.6L fours, in six body styles once the liftback and sport coupe arrived for 1976.Came as sedan, two-door; sedan, four-door; wagon, five-door; hardtop coupe; Sport coupe; liftback, three-door
- 4th gen 1980–1983 E70A squarer rear-drive Corolla with a 1.8L pushrod four, then a 1.6L overhead-cam four for 1983, and the last with every body rear-drive.Came as sedan, two-door; sedan, four-door; wagon, five-door; Sport coupe; liftback, three-door; hardtop coupe
- 5th gen 1984–1988 E80The Corolla turns front-drive, soon built in California, while the rear-drive SR-5 and GT-S coupes carry on and the FX hatchback arrives for 1987.Came as sedan; liftback, five-door; Sport coupe, rear-drive; liftback, three-door, rear-drive; FX hatchback, three-door
Photo: “1989 Toyota Corolla Deluxe All-Trac Wagon in Silver, front right, 09-09-2023” by Cutlass, CC0
6th gen 1988–1992 E90Front-drive or all-wheel-drive with 16-valve twin-cam engines: sedans, wagons, the pop-up-headlight Sport coupe and the All-Trac.Came as sedan, wagon, Sport coupe, All-Trac wagon, All-Trac sedanPhoto: “1997 Toyota Corolla 1.6L front 6.13.19” by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
7th gen 1993–1997 E100A larger, compact-class sedan or wagon with a 1.6L or 1.8L twin-cam, airbags, front-wheel drive and a name for quality.Came as sedan, wagonPhoto: “2000 Toyota Corolla VE, front 5.12.19” by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
8th gen 1998–2002 E110A sedan-only Corolla with the new all-aluminum 1.8L 1ZZ-FE and its timing chain, with VVT-i from 2000. Ask how much oil it burns.Came as sedanPhoto: “2005 Toyota Corolla CE in Silver Streak Mica, Front Right, 05-08-2022” by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0
9th gen 2003–2008 E130Longer, taller and roomier, with a 130 hp 1.8L. The 2005–2006 XRS has a 170 hp 2ZZ-GE and a six-speed manual.Came as sedanPhoto: “2011 Toyota Corolla Base in Super White, Front Left, 08-06-2022” by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0
10th gen 2009–2013 E140A quieter, more refined sedan with a 1.8L, or a 2.4L in the 2009–2010 XRS. On a 2009–2010, ask about oil use and the water pump.Came as sedanPhoto: “2017 Toyota Corolla LE front 5.6.18” by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
11th gen 2014–2019 E170A bigger sedan with a 1.8L and, in most trims, a CVT, plus the Corolla iM hatchback for 2017–2018. On a 2014–2017 with the CVT, ask about Toyota's JSD campaign.Came as sedan; hatchback, the Corolla iMPhoto: “2020 Toyota Corolla LE standard front, 5.25.19” by Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0
12th gen 2019–2026 E210A sedan and hatchback on Toyota's TNGA platform with a 1.8L or 2.0L, the first Corolla Hybrid, with all-wheel drive from 2023, and the 300 hp GR Corolla.Came as sedan, hatchback
Rare and special
Story
The Corolla was unveiled at the 1966 Tokyo Motor Show and went on sale in Japan that November. Its name, Latin for small crown, follows Toyota's habit of naming sedans after the Crown. A published reference
It reached the US in spring 1968 as a 1969 model. By the 2nd gen it was the world's second-best-selling car, and in 1997 it passed the Volkswagen Beetle as the best-selling car model in history. Toyota, a published reference
Toyota began building Corollas in California in the mid-1980s, at NUMMI, its joint venture with General Motors. NUMMI built them until March 2010, and Toyota's Blue Springs, Mississippi plant took over in November 2011. Toyota, a published reference
Toyota sold its 50-millionth Corolla in July 2021, and more than 54 million had been sold by early 2026. Toyota, a published reference