12th gen Toyota Corolla 2019–2026 E210

Overview

Engines

1.8L four-cylinder, 2.0L four-cylinder, Dynamic Force, 1.8L hybrid, 1.6L turbo three-cylinder, GR Corolla

Came as

• Sedan 2020–2026
• Hatchback

On record

3 warnings, 14 recalls

Sold as Corolla Hatchback (2019–2026), Corolla Hybrid (2020–2026), GR Corolla (2023–2026)

The story

Developed under chief engineer Yasushi Ueda, the 12th gen was the first Corolla on Toyota's TNGA platform, shared with the Prius and C-HR. The hatchback was shown at the New York show on March 28, 2018 as a 2019 model, and the sedan went on sale on February 26, 2019 as a 2020. A published reference

The Hybrid was the first Corolla hybrid in the US, mechanically almost the Prius. Selling more Corollas than Priuses helps Toyota meet fuel economy rules, and its research found Hispanic buyers preferred the Corolla. A published reference

The GR Corolla, a hot hatch built mainly for North America, came from Toyota's Gazoo Racing division with the GR Yaris's turbo three and all-wheel drive. Toyota delayed it a year because Akio Toyoda, then chief executive and a racing driver, wanted the prototype retuned. A published reference

In 2020 the 12th gen was the best-selling passenger car in the world. A published reference

Rare and special

• SE Special Edition hatchback, Supersonic Red
• Apex Edition

Colors

• Smoke (matte)1M1, 2023
• Gravel An owners' registry (unofficial)6X9, 2026
• Zero Gravity An owners' registry (unofficial)228, 2026
• Supersonic Red An owners' registry (unofficial)3U5, 2021Toyota used code 3U5 for this color and Supersonic Red
• Blue Flame An owners' registry (unofficial)8W9, 2024Toyota used code 8W9 for this color and Blue Flame

Interiors

• Black/Blueyears not known
• Moonstoneyears not known
• Macadamia/MochaPremium cloth, years not known
• BlackPremium cloth, years not known
• Light Gray/MoonstonePremium cloth, years not known

Sources: Toyota, Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)

Specs

Badges

• Corolla Hatchback (2019–2026) Edmunds, a published reference
• Corolla Hybrid (2020–2026): 1.8L hybrid Toyota, Edmunds
• GR Corolla (2023–2026): 1.6L turbo three-cylinder, GR Corolla, GR-Four all-wheel drive Toyota, Edmunds, a published reference

Engines

• 1.8L four-cylinder 2ZR-FAE Toyota, a published reference

  139 hp and 126 lb-ft; L, LE and XLE sedans · 2020–2022

• 2.0L four-cylinder, Dynamic Force M20A-FKS Toyota, Edmunds, a published reference

  169 hp and 151 lb-ft; SE and XSE, the hatchback, and every non-hybrid sedan from 2023

• 1.8L hybrid 2ZR-FXE Toyota, Edmunds, a published reference

  121 hp combined; 138 hp from 2023 with a stronger motor and a smaller lithium-ion battery · 2020–2026

• 1.6L turbo three-cylinder, GR Corolla G16E-GTS Toyota, a published reference

  300 hp and 273 lb-ft, or 295 lb-ft in the Morizo Edition and in every car from 2025 · 2023–2026

Transmissions

• CVT Toyota, a published reference
• eCVT (2020–2026) A published reference
• 6-speed manual (iMT) Toyota, a published reference
• 8-speed automatic, GR Corolla (2025–2026) A published reference

Drivetrains

• Front-wheel drive A published reference
• eFour all-wheel drive (2023–2026) Edmunds, a published reference
• GR-Four all-wheel drive (2023–2026) Toyota, a published reference

Body styles

• Sedan (2020–2026) A published reference
• Hatchback Edmunds, a published reference

Trims

• L (2020–2022) Edmunds, a published reference
• LE Edmunds
• SE Edmunds
• XLE Edmunds
• XSE Edmunds
• GR Corolla Core (2023–2026) Toyota, a published reference
• GR Corolla Circuit Edition (2023–2024) Toyota, a published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• GR Corolla Morizo Edition (2023) Toyota, a published reference
• GR Corolla Premium (2024–2026) A published reference
• GR Corolla Premium Plus (2025–2026) A published reference

Packages

• Apex Edition (2021–2022) Edmunds, a published reference, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• Nightshade Edition (years not known) Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
• FX Special Edition (2025) Edmunds
• SE Special Edition hatchback, Supersonic Red (2021) An owners' registry (unofficial)
• GR Performance Package (years not known) Toyota

Figures

• Platform: TNGA GA-C, shared with the Prius and C-HR A published reference
• Where built: Sedans at Blue Springs, Mississippi, and Huntsville, Alabama from 2021; the Hybrid at Takaoka and the hatchback in Japan; the GR Corolla at Motomachi, then Burnaston, England, from May 2026 Toyota, a published reference
• Direct Shift CVT: A physical launch gear, then the belt, with nine simulated steps, for ten in all A published reference
• Hybrid economy: Toyota rated the first Corolla Hybrid at 52 mpg combined Toyota
• Safety award: IIHS Top Safety Pick for the 2019 hatchback and 2020 sedan, short of Plus for their headlights A published reference

Rare trims and options

• Rare

  SE Special Edition hatchback, Supersonic Red Package

  Limited to 1,500 An owners' registry (unofficial)

  1,500 built An owners' registry (unofficial)

• Rare

  Apex Edition Package

  Toyota said it would build 6,000, only 120 of them manuals A published reference

  6,000 built for the US A published reference

Years and what changed

1. 2019

   New hatchback in SE and XSE trims with a 2.0L and a six-speed manual or CVT. Edmunds, a published reference

2. 2020

   New sedan in L, LE, SE, XLE and XSE trims, and the first Corolla Hybrid. Toyota, Edmunds

3. 2021

   The Apex Edition arrives. Android Auto becomes standard, and the sedan adds rear side airbags and engine stop-start. Edmunds, a published reference

4. 2022

   No major changes. Edmunds

5. 2023
   Refresh

   Facelift. Every non-hybrid sedan gets the 2.0L and CVT, the sedan's manual, the L and the Apex are dropped, the Hybrid adds SE and XLE trims and all-wheel drive, and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 and new infotainment arrive. The GR Corolla goes on sale. Edmunds, a published reference

6. 2024

   The Nightshade Edition returns. Edmunds

7. 2025

   The FX Special Edition arrives, and the FX and XSE get a 10.5-inch touchscreen. The GR Corolla is facelifted and offers an 8-speed automatic. Edmunds, a published reference

8. 2026

   Blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a digital instrument panel become standard, and the FX is dropped from the sedan. Edmunds

Watch out

Faults owners and the press report, and how to spot each one.

• Steering shaft, 2023–2024

  Check: Ask whether recall 24V878000 was done, and feel for any clunk or looseness in the steering.

  Toyota recalled 2023–2024 Corollas and Corolla Hybrids because the steering intermediate shaft may have cracked in manufacture and could break away from the steering column. NHTSA

• CVT torque converter, 2019 Hatchback

  One source so far

  Check: Ask whether recall 18V901000 was done.

  Toyota recalled 2019 Corolla Hatchbacks with the CVT because blades in the torque converter's pump could come loose under high load, and the car could stall. NHTSA

• Fuel pump, 2019–2020

  Check: Ask whether recalls 20V012000 and 20V682000 were done.

  Toyota recalled some 2019 and 2020 Corollas and 2019 Hatchbacks because the low-pressure fuel pump in the tank could fail and the engine stall while driving. NHTSA

Recalls

Newest first. Ask the seller for proof the work was done, or check the VIN with NHTSA.

• 2026 Recall 26V110000

  The headlights may lack their aiming marks, so they can be aimed wrongly when serviced. NHTSA

• 2023–2025 Recall 25V595000

  An instrument panel software error at start-up may stop it showing the speed, brake and tire pressure warnings. NHTSA

• 2023 Recall 25V040000

  The earlier steering column repair may have been done wrongly, leaving a poorly welded connection that can switch off the driver's airbag. NHTSA

• 2023–2024 Recall 24V878000

  The steering intermediate shaft may have cracked in manufacture and can break, letting the shaft come away from the steering column. NHTSA

• 2023–2025 Recall 24V708000

  A software error in the skid control computer can cut power brake assist when turning a corner. NHTSA

Checked against NHTSA records on November 2, 2026.

Owning

What owners and buyers say

• Sought after

  Ranked second of twelve All years

  One source so far

  SlashGear ranks the 12th gen second of twelve, for the TNGA platform's better handling, the hatchback's manual with the 2.0L, the Hybrid and the GR Corolla. SlashGear

• Sought after

  2019–2021

  One source so far

  SlashGear picks 2018 to 2021 among the best used Corolla years, with IIHS Top Safety Picks in three of the four, few severe problems and among the fewest complaints. SlashGear

• Sought after

  Rated by its owners 2020

  One source so far

  On Edmunds, an unofficial source, the 2020's 95 owners' reviews average 3.6 of 5. Owners' reports (unofficial)

Maintenance

• Engine oil and filter 2020–2024

  Replace every 10,000 miles or 1 year Toyota

  Only with 0W-20 oil in the 1.8L or 0W-16 in the 2.0L

  Ask the seller: Ask for oil change records, and which oil was used.

• Engine oil and filter, Corolla Hybrid 2020–2024

  Replace every 10,000 miles or 1 year Toyota

  Only with 0W-16 oil

  Ask the seller: Ask for oil change records, and which oil was used.

• Engine oil and filter, hard use 2020–2024

  Replace every 5,000 miles or 6 months Toyota

  Only for the guide's special operating conditions

• Cabin and engine air filters 2020–2024

  Replace every 30,000 miles Toyota

• Engine coolant 2020–2026

  Replace first at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles Toyota

Warranty when new