Fresh-off from a redesign, the 2021 Corolla brings in further exterior and interior enhancements in the form of black exterior accents and standard Android Auto from this year onwards. The 2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan starts at an MSRP of $20,025 split across 5 trims. The 169 HP-2.0L motor is a new addition alongside the good old 1.8L motor. The former powers the SE Nightshade, XSE, and Apex Editions while the latter powers the base L, LE, and XLE trims.
Toyota also introduces a limited Apex Edition priced at an MSRP of $25,275, which adds a more purpose-built suspension and braking bits, to make it that much more unique. The 2021 Corolla is also available as a hatchback starting at a marginally expensive price tag of $20,565. That said, you can now own a new Corolla for a lease amount of $189/month with just $1,999 due at signing. Financing options are also rewarding with a 0% APR scheme for up to 60 months. Customers can also avail a cashback of $1,000 on all trims.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
Ratings
Pricing And Features
8.5
Engine And Performance
8.0
Fuel Economy
8.5
Interior
8.0
Exterior
8.0
Safety
9.0
Competition
7.0
7.7
OVERALL RATING
Expert Review, Pricing Analysis and Buying Guide
7.7
Overall Rating
The Toyota Corolla sedan is a big step forward - Cnet.com
Coming off a successful stint from last year, the 2021 Toyota Corolla will arrive with a few subtle tweaks on the feature front, the primary of which is the standardization of Android Auto. Nightshade Edition makes its way into the SE trim once again at an MSRP of $23,175, with black-exterior accents. Toyota is also pitching in a limited run Corolla Apex Edition with a custom body kit and an option with a CVT or a 6-Speed manual setup.
That said, with a modern style, crisp engine options, and loaded with technology up to its brim, the 2021 Corolla has clearly stepped up the game against the likes of Honda Civic, Mazda 3, and Hyundai Elantra.
8.5/10 Pricing and Features
8.0/10 Engine and Performance
8.5/10 Fuel Economy
8.0/10 Interior
8.0/10 Exterior
9.0/10 Safety
7.0/10 Competition
2021 Toyota Corolla Pricing and Features
8.5/10
With the 2021 Corolla, Toyota has almost excised all the bland from its diet. - The Car Connection
The 2021 Toyota Corolla will be offered in 6 different trim levels: L, LE, and the XLE variants with a 1.8-liter engine producing 139 hp while the SE, SE Nightshade, and the XSE variants will get a more powerful 2.0-liter engine. It is also one of the few remaining cars in this segment that are offered with a 6-Speed stick-shift.
However, the CVT gearbox of the Corolla comes standard in all the variants, and it's only the SE that can be opted with a 6-Speed Manual. All the variants of the Corolla will have an FWD drivetrain and AWD is not an option.
Trim
L
LE
SE
SE Nightshade
XLE
XSE
MSRP (CVT)
$20,025
$20,475
$22,475
$23,275
$24,425
$25,925
MSRP (6-speed Manual)
-
-
$23,175
-
-
-
Key Features
LED Headlamps with DRL
Adds/ Upgrades to L
Adds/ Upgrades to LE
Adds/ Upgrades to SE
Adds/ Upgraded to SE
Adds/ Upgraded to XLE
15" styled steel wheels
16" wide-vent steel wheels
18" machined alloy wheels
18" black-painted alloy wheels
18" machined alloy wheels
LED DRL accent lighting
6-way power-adjustable driver's seat
Variable intermittent windshield wipers
Dual chrome-tipped exhaust
Black exterior accents
Power tilt/slide moonroof
Dynamic-Shift CVT
Toyota Safety Sense 2.0
8" Touchscreen Infotainment
Sport driving mode
Sport mesh black front grille
Smart Key System
Amazon Alexa Compatible
Even the base L trim for a price of $20,025 flaunts some of the most value-adding features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa Connectivity with SiriusXM. It also gets a 7-inch touchscreen and black front grille with a sports mesh insert. The “XSE” stands as the top-of-the-line trim for the 2021 Corolla and comes loaded with a long list of standard features like heated front sports seats, adaptive front lighting system, and many more.
2021 Toyota Corolla Buying Advice
Which 2021 Toyota Corolla trim should you buy?
For the 2021 Toyota Corolla, we would recommend the SE trim level. It is decently priced at an MSRP of $22,475 and also offers you a choice between a CVT and a 6-Speed MT, which is limited to only the SE trim.
What year is the best Corolla?
And, in case you want to buy a used Corolla then we would recommend them to buy the 2017 model as the car will be in better condition and will save you a good sum of money on its maintenance as well.
The base engine will suffice for getting around town, but it struggles to get the car up to highway speeds with any urgency - Cars.usnews.com
The 2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan can be had with the same trustworthy 1.8L Inline-4 motor that dishes out 139 HP of power and 126 lb-ft of torque. However, the new entrant in the Corolla lineup - a 2.0L Inline-4 engine has renewed life within the aging Corolla - rated at 169-hp and 151 lb-ft of torque.
The rather aged but reliable 1.8L unit talks with the CVT only. No option there.
How fast is the 2021 Toyota Corolla from 0-60 MPH?
With a 0-60 MPH time of 8.2 seconds, the 2021 Corolla’s standard 139-hp 1.8L engine offers decent acceleration but misses out on the excitement that Civic and Mazda 3 pack. If your Corolla's equipped with the more potent 2.0L motor, the 0-60 MPH sprint comes up in 7.8 seconds.
Toyota has ditched the torsion beam suspension and replaced it with a brand new multi-link suspension set up at the rear. As a result, on testing the 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE, the sedan now feels more planted and stable on the ground. Corolla’s steering now has more weight, unlike in the previous generation model as well.
Model
2021 Toyota Corolla
2021 Honda Civic
2021 Hyundai Elantra
2021 Mazda 3
MSRP
$22,275
$25,000
$24,150
$20,500
Engine
2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
1.5L Turbocharged Inline-4
1.6L Turbocharged Inline-4
2.5L NA Inline-4
Drivetrain
FWD
FWD
FWD
FWD
Transmission
CVT
CVT
7-Speed DCT
6-Speed Automatic
Power
169 hp @ 6,600 RPM
174 hp @ 6,000 RPM
210 hp @ 6,000 RPM
186 hp @ 6,000 RPM
Torque
151 lb-ft @ 4,400 RPM
162 lb-ft @ 1,700 RPM
195 lb-ft @ 1,500 RPM
186 lb-ft @ 1,500 RPM
0-60 MPH
7.8 secs
6.8 secs
6.9 secs
8.1 secs
Quarter-Mile
15.5 secs
15.3 secs
14.4 secs
16.0 secs
Top-Speed
120 MPH
119 MPH
116 MPH
131 MPH
The refreshed Corolla gets 10.8-inch rotors up front while at the rear 10.2-inch rotors are standard. Under emergency braking, the new 2021 Corolla sedan should be able to stop from 60-0 mph in a decent 119-ft. The 2021 Elantra is the most powerful car of the lot and makes 210 horses with its turbo 1.6-liter engine.
The Corolla’s fuel economy is good but not best in segment. - Autoblog.com
The new 2021 Toyota Corolla sedan, with a 2.0-liter engine and CVT, is expected to offer 31 MPG in the city, 40 MPG on the highway, and 34 MPG combined fuel efficiency figures. If you prefer the stick shifter, you're sure to lose out on some generosity from the engine, offering 29/36/32 MPG for city/highway/combined.
The less powerful 1.8-liter Corolla engine is rated at 33 MPG combined. That said, the 2021 Corolla doesn’t disappoint in this area as it churns the maximum number of miles on a gallon of fuel in the compact car segment. The 13.2-gallon fuel tank on the 2021 Corolla translates to a highway range of 502 miles, which is the best in the segment.
Model
2021 Toyota Corolla
2021 Honda Civic
2021 Hyundai Elantra
2021 Mazda 3
MPG (City)
31
26
23
26
MPG (Highway)
40
36
33
35
MPG (Combined)
34
30
29
30
Fuel Capacity (gallons)
13.2
12.4
14
13.2
Range (City/ Highway/ Combined) (mi.)
409/ 502/ 448
322/ 446/ 372
364/ 462/ 406
378/ 490/ 420
Emissions (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)
4.4
4.1
5.1
4.9
Rated at 13.2-gallons, Corolla features an above-average fuel capacity which combines with its great gas mileage to offer the highest range in the segment. The Civic and the Mazda 3 line up head to head, blurring any differences between the two. However, the Mazda 3 Sedan's 13.2-gallon fuel tank requires lesser fuel breaks than the Honda in the discussion.
The 2020 Corolla suits up with swell front-seat space; the back seat and trunk pull up shy of rivals. - The Car Connection
The interior of the Toyota Corolla Sedan was re-designed in 2020. The 2021 Corolla is equipped with similar premium quality seats with fabric inserts. Toyota might retain its old habit of stuffing some cheap plastics here and there, but it won't really catch your eyes. In the rear, 6-foot tall passengers might find their hair brushing up against the roof.
The 2021 Corolla has carried over almost all of the existing features like a 6-way power-adjustable driver seat and 4-way power-adjustable passenger seat. Heated seats will still be part of the options list in the 2021 base Corolla trim lineup, although it will be standard in the top-end XSE trims.
What are the tech features included in the 2021 Toyota Corolla?
The 2021 Toyota Corolla is sure to get an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display that sits in the center of the dash. Earlier Android Auto was absent but Toyota has finally included Google’s mirroring tech in the 2021 Corolla sedan. You get a six-speaker audio system to keep you entertained inside. However, eight-speaker JBL audio systems and navigation is still an option.
Model
2021 Toyota Corolla
2021 Honda Civic
2021 Hyundai Elantra
2021 Mazda 3
Seating Capacity
5
5
5
5
First Row (Head/ Shoulder/ Leg) (in.)
38.0/ 54.0/ 42.0
37.5/ 56.9/ 42.3
38.8/ 56.2/ 42.2
38.0/ 55.7/ 42.3
Second Row (Head/ Shoulder/ Leg) (in.)
37.1/ 51.7/ 34.8
36.8/ 55.0/ 37.4
37.3/ 55.3/ 35.7
37.3/ 53.5/ 35.1
Trunk Capacity (cu. ft.)
13.1
14.7
14.4
13.2
Toyota Corolla gets a trunk of 13.1 cubic feet which is decent in absolute numbers but in comparison to its rivals, it falls short. The 2021 Civic sedan offers the best cargo space of 14.7 cubic feet in the compact sedan segment, although it is certainly not the car you'd want if rear space is a matter of concern for you.
The latest Corolla sips some styling caffeine, but not more than it can handle. - The Car Connection
The 2020 update gave us the most radical-looking Corolla, which is why the 2021 Toyota Corolla comes unchanged in this department. The only noticeable change is seen on the limited-run Apex Edition, which starts at an MSRP of $25,275, which gets a more aggressive body kit along with blacked-out elements.
Although the 2021 Corolla has seen some subtle improvements and tweaks on the outside, nothing much will tell it apart from the outgoing model. Notable exterior features of the 2021 Corolla are Chrome tipped dual exhaust, Fishhook all-LED headlights, Rear spoiler, 18” machined alloy wheels, and LED Taillamps.
Model
2021 Toyota Corolla
2021 Honda Civic
2021 Hyundai Elantra
2021 Mazda 3
Curb Weight (lbs.)
2840
2762
2767
3071
Length (in.)
182.5
182.8
181.9
183.5
Width (in.)
70.1
70.8
70.9
70.7
Height (in.)
56.5
55.5
56.5
56.9
Ground Clearance (in.)
5.1
NA
5.5
5.5
Wheelbase (in.)
106.3
106.3
106.3
107.3
Nevertheless, all the competitors stack up against each other similarly with each one losing out on some factor or the other. The Elantra is the shortest in length which does add sportiness to the performance but takes away the luxurious factor that it was aiming for.
2021 Toyota Corolla Safety
9.0/10
The Corolla’s crash-test scores are nearly ideal. - The Car Connection
Is the 2021 Toyota Corolla safe?
The new 12th generation 2020 Toyota Corolla earned the 2020 Top Safety Pick award from IIHS and the highest "5-star" ratings in almost all the crash tests conducted by the NHTSA. Since the new Corolla is mostly unchanged, and as it is based on the same platform itself, the 2021 Toyota Corolla also earns the Top Safety Pick award from IIHS.
Toyota has bundled the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which will be offered as standard with the 2021 model.
This safety suite comprises of-
Pre-Collision System with Daytime/Low-Light Vehicle
Pedestrian Detection, plus Daytime Bicycle Detection
Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (CVT only)
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Road Edge Detection
The pricing of Toyota Corolla also makes it a tempting choice for entry-level cars with the most value. But the Civic is more powerful, faster, has a better set of brakes, and also offers more space on the inside. If you can sacrifice on fuel efficiency a bit and spend a few extra bucks, the Civic is the livelier choice to go for.
2021 Toyota Corolla vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra is powerful, faster, and spacious in all its forms. That said, the Toyota Corolla comes back into the game and makes a stronger statement with the best-in-class ride quality, miles better fuel efficiency, and the sheer space inside. Not to forget, its unmatched reliability and safety quotient.
This simply puts your needs into perspective. The 2021 Corolla, according to us, should make a better deal of the two considering the priorities of a family man. If you've just got yourself into a college, the Elantra should appeal to you more.
2021 Toyota Corolla vs 2021 Mazda 3
The Mazda 3 Sedan is yet another compact car that beats the Corolla on all fronts except fuel efficiency and reliability. The Mazda 3 Sedan also looks better than the Corolla. If you don’t really crave the fuel economy numbers then we would suggest you opt for the Mazda over the Toyota. Moreover, one place where the Toyota lacks - the tech part, is the USP of the Mazda 3.
That said, if you're looking for a sedan that can compel you to take the longer route, the Mazda 3 Sedan is what you need. And as far as Toyota is concerned, you shouldn't even need to convince yourself to buy one!
2021 Toyota Corolla Final Verdict
The 2021 Toyota Corolla is the jack of all and the master of none. It gets beaten by most of its rivals in terms of energetic driving performance and 2nd-row seating space yet it outsells all of them. Mostly, because it makes it to fleets who want frugal engines and reliable performance. We could say it wouldn’t be a bad buy but given the fact that there are better cars in the market in terms of driving, you should consider them first before you go straight and buy the Toyota Corolla.
Does Toyota offer the Corolla with an AWD drivetrain?
No. Toyota Corolla in all its forms is available with a standard FWD drivetrain configuration.
What type of gas does a 2021 Toyota Corolla take?
Regular Gasoline. Toyota Corolla gives great MPG figures of 32, 29, 36 combined, city and on the highway respectively, with the manual transmission, partnered with the 2.0L naturally-aspirated inline-4 motor.
Is Toyota Corolla a reliable car?
The Toyota Corolla Reliability rating is the best in the compact class segment. The 2019 Corolla manages 85 out of 100 in the JD Power Predicted Reliability report - happens to be the highest-scoring car in the segment.
Which year Corolla is the best?
The 2016 Toyota Corolla is the best-rated model in terms of safety, and reliability. The highest 5-star safety rating from NHTSA and overall “good” safety score from IIHS makes it a perfect choice in the evaluation.
Pros - "•gets me from place to place
•I can listen to the radio
•it’s a reliable car"
Cons - "•does not have cruise control
•does not have Bluetooth
•it has a lot of miles on it"
It is a good purchase and well worth the money paid for it. I am able to drive long distances without any trouble. It sometimes take a while to shift to the last gear when I start driving it. In other words, downshifts are not the best part about this years corolla. Still going like a champion and better than most of the newer cars Radio, electric windows It’s a little claustrophobic. Outward visibility is good. I like the style of the car. The car has been in many accidents and I’ve been fine through all of them. I think it’s pretty reliable. I have had to get it towed before, but it was an easy fix. $10,800 in 2015. I think it’s a good deal because I’ve gotten over 250,000 miles out of it. They offered a value for money proposition. I got a good deal for the money.
Pros - Color, leather Interior ,6 disc cd changer.
Cons - No Sunroof\Gps , Larger trunk and car space
Highly recommended a toyota of any make or model Great value made to last years and years high mileages Cant wait to add another toyota looking at a 2018/2019 toyota hatchback or toyota camry to lease unless i find another deal on a toyota brand can trust Good first or family car, drives smooth great on fuel gas saver. Low maintenance Love my corolla. I was lucky to find one with some of the bonus features leather ,multi disk changer ,tinted windows many of the other features im looking for are available in models now in my next toyota im looking to lease. Comfy inside, great visiblity, lighting inside and bright high low beams outside and storage space interior and trunk space. Clean sharp exterior smooth chose to keep it clean no added trim, trunk spoiler ,no rims, low invisible antenna wanted keep it plain and simple now looking foward next toyota to add those extra details Feel safe ,secure driving in my toyota corolla built strong to last great handle sturdy airbags high quality parts built Great value ,reliable, easy maintenance and have no worries in this car compared to all other vehicles been in suv, truck or owned. Value for price i went in looking to lease but happened to be a toyota as is cash special paid for it 6500.. Under 100,000 miles and Have had no issues with it. Keep up with regular maintence My experience was great was treated nicely very professional
I love this car because it’s reliable and affordable and I love Toyota! Because they last long. Engine still runs great, can fit a family in there, great trunk space. Overall it is a good car in every sense. Radio, trunk space, mpg, tires It’s airy! What does that mean? Well, I feel very comfortable in it and it is very spacious too. So, no one should feel claustrophobic. I really like the design. It is just the perfect size for me. And i really like the front fascia. It looks really good. Airbags work, don’t like seats, seatbelt works Very reliable. At least always up for fun Got it for free as a gift and it was a great deal Not applicable I got it for free from family members
It is a good purchase and well worth the money paid for it. I am able to drive long distances without any trouble.
by Naomi Cassell
8
User Overall Rating
Trustworthy, Reliable Vehicle
Highly recommended a toyota of any make or model Great value made to last years and years high mileages Cant wait to add another toyota looking at a 2018/2019 toyota hatchback or toyota camry to lease unless i find another deal on a toyota brand can trust
by Desiree
8
User Overall Rating
Classic white Toyota Corolla
I love this car because it’s reliable and affordable and I love Toyota! Because they last long.
by Arielle Tarver
10
User Overall Rating
Starter Car
It is a wonderful starter car for someone who is a first time driver like myself. I learned to drive in this car as well. So I guess that helps.
by Zahir Byam
8
User Overall Rating
Toyota Corolla
This is a very good purchase and if I ever had the choose again I would definitely buy it again. It works for students and families.
