2001 vs 2002 Toyota Corolla

vs

Both years are the same generation, so most of what they offer is shared.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

2001

Nothing that 2002 lacks.

2002

Nothing that 2001 lacks.

Both years

  • Burning oil All years

    What to check: Check the oil level and ask how much it uses between changes. Look for blue smoke at start-up and oil fouling on the plugs.

    On CarComplaints.com's page for oil use in the 2002, an unofficial source, 59 owners report it at about 99,200 miles on average, at rates from about a quart every 1,000 miles to one every 150 to 300, and 14 had the engine replaced. In a BobIsTheOilGuy forum thread, also unofficial, two owners report their 2001 and 2002 Corollas burning oil.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

Rare catches

2001

Nothing that 2002 lacks.

2002

Nothing that 2001 lacks.

Both years

  • Rare Front side airbags and anti-lock brakes Package

    Very few cars had this option A published reference

What changed between

After 2001, up to and including 2002.

  1. 2002A short model year, built only until the end of 2001. A published reference

What it came with

2001

Nothing that 2002 lacks.

2002

Nothing that 2001 lacks.

Both years

Engines
1.8L four-cylinder Toyota, a published reference
Transmissions
5-speed manual A published reference, 3-speed automatic A published reference, 4-speed automatic A published reference
Drivetrains
Front-wheel drive A published reference
Body styles
Sedan A published reference
Trims
CE A published reference, LE A published reference, S (2001–2002) A published reference
Packages
Touring Package A published reference, Front side airbags and anti-lock brakes Edmunds, a published reference, Power sunroof A published reference

Colors

2001

Nothing that 2002 lacks.

2002

Nothing that 2001 lacks.

Both years

  • Super White 040, 1998–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Silverstream Opal 1C4, 1999–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Black Sand Pearl 209, 2000–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Sandrift Metallic 3M5, 1998–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Impulse Red Pearl 3P1, 2001–2002 An owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Mystic Teal Mica 760, 1998–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Woodland Pearl 6R1, 2000–2002 Edmunds, an owners' registry (unofficial)
  • Indigo Ink Pearl 8P4, 2001–2002 An owners' registry (unofficial)

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

2001

Nothing that 2002 lacks.

2002

Nothing that 2001 lacks.

Both years

  • Sought after: Cars that do not burn oil All years One source so far

    Not every engine burns oil. In a BobIsTheOilGuy forum thread, an unofficial source, two owners report theirs uses none, one at about 235,000 miles. Owners' reports (unofficial)

  • Avoid: Oil burning, 1998–1999 and 2002 All years Less sought after

    A published reference reports a flawed piston ring design on the engines without VVT-i, which made higher-mileage cars burn oil. CarComplaints.com, a complaints site and an unofficial source, rates the 2002 the worst Corolla year, with excessive oil use its top problem, and SlashGear says to avoid the 2002 for the same reason. SlashGear, a published reference, owners' reports (unofficial)