Toyota Corolla review

Our opinion on the Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla no longer leads the family hatchback segment when it comes to practicality, but this globally best-selling car can still hold its own against newer, slicker competition. Thanks to great refinement, a comfortable ride, fantastic build quality and handling that’s precise and controlled (if not the last word in driving pleasure), there’s very little to dislike about the Corolla.

What’s more, mid-life upgrades have brought subtle improvements to the Corolla's performance, with no effect on the car’s impressive efficiency. It also received a welcome overhaul of the infotainment system and on-board technology, resolving one of our original gripes with the 12th-generation Corolla. Overall, this British-built hatch is still as solid a family car as ever.

About the Toyota Corolla

Now in its 12th generation, the Toyota Corolla is built in the UK at the Japanese brand’s Burnaston factory near Derby. It was refreshed in 2023 with new technology and a revised hybrid powertrain.

It uses the same TNGA platform as Toyota's C-HR SUV and the latest Prius. The Corolla is hybrid-only, and you have the choice of 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines paired with an electric motor and a standard CVT automatic gearbox. There’s no plug-in hybrid version, unlike with some of its key family hatchback rivals such as the Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308 and Volkswagen Golf. The latest Honda Civic is perhaps the Corolla’s most direct rival now, having also gone all-in on hybrid power for the 11th-generation model. 

Used - available now

2022 Toyota

Corolla

17,779 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £21,194

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2022 Toyota

Corolla

21,445 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £23,078

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2022 Toyota

Corolla

51,841 milesAutomaticPetrol1.8L

Cash £16,266

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2022 Toyota

Corolla

15,199 milesAutomaticPetrol1.8L

Cash £17,167

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Unlike the Civic, though, the Corolla is available as either a hatchback or estate car. This review focuses on the Corolla Hatch, but we also have a dedicated in-depth review of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports. As well as choice of body styles and engines, buyers can also pick one of four trim levels: Icon, Design, GR Sport or Excel.

Toyota Corolla prices and latest deals

Pricing for the entry-level Icon trim starts at a little under £29,500. In the middle of the line-up, the fancier Design and sportier GR Sport both sit around the £32,000 mark, while the top-of-the-range Excel is around £34,500.

Whichever trim level you fancy, you can save an average of up to £3,300 if you build your perfect Toyota Corolla via the Auto Express Buy a Car service. You can also choose from a variety of new Toyota Corolla deals, as well as a large selection of used Toyota Corollas. We can also help you sell your car.

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Toyota is yet to confirm whether we’re getting the fiery GR Corolla in the UK, but despite its ‘self-charging’ hybrid powertrain and CVT automatic gearbox, the regular Toyota Corolla is a sportier car than you might think. There’s more good news for driving enthusiasts, too, as the updated model rides and handles surprisingly well.

The updated Corolla feels more refined, too. There’s not as much of the droning you used to get from older CVTs, and although it hasn’t been completely eradicated, the benefit is quieter cruising. Toyota has also made some tweaks so the throttle response is much more direct now. Acceleration on the whole is brisk enough.

The electric side of the Corolla’s powertrain was also reworked as part of the car’s mid-life update. With the old battery being replaced by a redesigned, lighter lithium-ion unit that’s more energy dense, meaning it weighs 14 per cent less yet delivers 14 per cent more power. It supplies an electric motor that offers more torque, thus creating the fifth-generation of Toyota’s hybrid technology.

Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed

The total power from the 1.8-litre hybrid powertrain is 140bhp; enough for a 0-62mph time of 9.1 seconds. If you go for the 2.0-litre hybrid, total power output rises to 178bhp, which cuts down the 0-62mph time to 7.4 seconds. 

When the engine is worked really hard, it still makes a loud drone because the CVT transmission causes the revs to rise at a rate that doesn’t match the road speed. However, the extra electrical assistance of facelift models means this rev spike occurs less frequently than before. 

Town driving, visibility and parking

At low speeds, silent EV mode makes for relaxing progress. Refinement is such that when the petrol engine does kick in, it’s fairly unobtrusive when trundling around town. If you spend the majority of your time on congested streets, the Corolla will prove very easy to live with. Regenerative braking also takes a bit of effort out of stop-start traffic, but we found this system to be a bit too unpredictable at times.

Parking is a pretty stress-free affair because every Corolla comes with a reversing camera and rear sensors as standard. These make up for the somewhat restricted visibility out of the rear window, but we had no issues seeing both the road ahead and what was going on beside us during testing.

Country road driving and handling

It’s primarily a sensible and efficient hatchback, but the Corolla is a better driver’s car than its looks might suggest. We’re not about to compare it to a Honda Civic Type R, but the TNGA underpinnings feel sophisticated and allow for a great balance between ride comfort and body control. The steering is precise and well weighted, with the Toyota turning into corners well and providing reassuring grip.

Motorway driving and long-distance comfort

Both the 1.8- and 2.0-litre powertrains provide enough grunt to get up to motorway speeds with little fuss. Some software tweaks also allow the facelifted car’s engine to run at lower revs at a cruise, making the Corolla a quieter long-distance companion than pre-update models, aside from a bit of tyre roar. 

The Corolla is even easier and smoother to drive at low speeds than before. The one exception is the adaptive brake regeneration, which changes the level of deceleration based on road and traffic conditions. We found its unpredictable nature hard to get along with.” - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer.

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The Corolla range lacks the plug-in hybrid technology offered in its key rivals like the Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308 and Volkswagen Golf, but Toyota’s faithful ‘self-charging’ hybrid running gear continues to promise lower running costs and superior fuel economy compared to the traditional petrol hatchbacks, and some diesel models, too.

According to Toyota, the 1.8-litre hybrid in the Corolla hatchback can return up to 64.1mpg, while the 2.0-litre hybrid with its larger petrol engine can return 62.7mpg. All figures are measured using the latest WLTP regulations, so you might not achieve those exact figures on the road. However, based on our own testing, you should easily see more than 50mpg in everyday driving.

For instance, when we tested the 1.8-litre Corolla hatchback against a Honda Civic and a Kia Ceed, the Toyota was the most economical, returning 54.2mpg compared to the Honda's 50.3mpg and the 43.5mpg we saw from the Kia. And after covering more than 6,000 miles in our Corolla long-term test car, which included a lengthy family road trip to the West Country, we averaged a similarly impressive 53.2mpg.

MPG figures for previous journeys can be displayed in simple-to-understand bar graphs in the Toyota, which is handy if you want to monitor your fuel economy in great detail.

Toyota claims that up to 80 per cent of trips can be completed on electric power alone, and we have no reason to doubt that if you mostly drive in and around town. Over a mixture of driving environments, including some B-roads and dual carriageways, our average was 65 per cent.

Insurance groups

The Toyota Corolla is relatively cheap to insure when compared to some of its hatchback rivals. The line-up sits between insurance groups 17 to 21, whereas the Honda Civic resides in groups 26 and 27. 

Check if your car needs an MoT and view its complete history with our MoT History Checker...

Tax

Although it’s only available as a hybrid, the lack of a plug or significant electric-only range means the Corolla doesn't bring any major VED road tax or Benefit-in-Kind company car tax savings. On the plus side, the starting price means you’ll dodge the luxury car tax supplement, even if you go a bit mad with the options list.

Depreciation

Our experts predict that both the Toyota Corolla hatchback and estate will retain between 48 to 50 per cent of their original value after three years and 36,000 miles come trade-in time. 

In comparison, the Honda Civic should hold onto roughly 48 to 51 per cent of its list price, while the Volkswagen Golf keeps between 38 and 46 per cent of its showroom cost after the same period.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our free car valuation tool...

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The Corolla might have a soft, rather rounded silhouette, but at the front, Toyota has given its family hatchback a distinctive, sharp facia that takes cues from the larger Toyota Camry saloon and Mk1 C-HR SUV, and was left mostly untouched by the Corolla’s recent mid-life facelift. It did receive some tweaks to the headlight units and the front bumper, so it’s still as handsome as ever.

There are various alloy wheel designs across the range, ranging from 16- to 18-inches. Other styling choices include black, red and chrome trim packs. Solid ‘Pure White’ is standard, while a range of metallic and pearlescent paints are available for around £650 to £950. Top-spec Excel models get the option of a two-tone paint job for roughly £950 or £1,250.   

For those wondering, the GR Sport version isn’t the same as the full-fat GR Corolla sold in North America. The GR Sport carries some unique cosmetic enhancements, but no changes are made to the engine or suspension set-up. 

Interior and dashboard design

Inside, the Corolla boasts a modern design that’s clearly laid out. It’s not luxurious, but it certainly eclipses the harsher, plasticky-feeling interior of the current Volkswagen Golf. We also like that Toyota has stuck with physical buttons for the climate controls, and made some much needed improvements to the infotainment system with the addition of a revised 10.5-inch touchscreen and a fully digital dash.

Materials and build quality

As is often the case with Toyota’s cars, the Corolla generally feels very well made. Like we mentioned, the interior is mostly a case of form over function because it can’t match the premium feel of an Audi A3, BMW 1 Series, or Mercedes A-Class. But as a durable family car, we’re willing to bet that the Corolla will stand up to whatever your loved ones are willing to (or perhaps literally) throw at it.

Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo

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Thanks to its mid-life facelift, the Corolla now features the information system from the Toyota bZ4X running on a 10.5-inch central touchscreen. This is a step up from the eight-inch display earlier versions came with. The newer setup is more responsive, offers better resolution, and the menus are much simpler to navigate. 

Despite the significant steps forward, many people will still prefer to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which work as well as you’d expect and come as standard on all models. You also get sat-nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth and voice activation, not to mention a configurable 12.3-inch digital dash.

The digital driver’s display is a big improvement over the previous part-digital instrument panel because you can set it up to show a variety of different information, including trip data, hybrid energy flow, along with navigation instructions. It’s controlled by buttons on the steering wheel similar to the Volkswagen Golf, although the set-up in the Corolla isn’t as easy to use when you’re on the move, taking more steps to configure what’s on display which can be distracting while you’re driving.

“While the interior fit and finish can’t match premium competitors, it’s a nice place to sit. Mostly, the bits you have to touch have a well-engineered feel.” - Chris Rosamond, former consumer editor.

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The Corolla hatchback isn’t the most practical family hatchback in its class, so those who need to transport children in child seats and bulky buggies might find that the more versatile Corolla Touring Sports estate is a better fit. 

All round visibility is good, with the large glasshouse and relatively high-set driver’s seat making for a good view out. However, boot space in the hatchback isn’t quite as generous as you’ll find with the Corolla’s closest rivals, including the Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 308 and Vauxhall Astra. In our opinion the cubby spaces could be better thought out, too.

Dimensions and size

The Corolla hatchback is actually the same height and width as the Touring Sports estate; – 1,460mm and 1,790mm respectively. There are of course variances in length, though, with the hatch measuring 4,380mm long and the estate 4,670mm. These figures are very similar to the Vauxhall Astra which is 4,374mm long in hatchback form.

Seats & passenger space

Compared to some newer rivals like the Honda Civic, Vauxhall Astra and Volkswagen Golf, rear cabin space in the Corolla is noticeably tighter and as a result, it doesn’t feel as spacious as it once did. The Corolla is also narrower across the cabin than the Civic, so it’s a little cramped for three.

Those looking for the last word in rear passenger space in this class will be better served by the Skoda Octavia, but the Corolla is still okay in this department and easily a match for the Peugeot 308.

There is at least generous head, leg and elbow room up front. You also get Isofix mounting points on the outer rear seats and decent access to the rear seats in both the hatch and estate, which should make fitting a child seat less of a hassle.

Boot space

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The hatchback has a 361-litre boot when fitted with the 1.8 litre petrol engine, but this shrinks to 313 litres in the 2.0 litre version thanks to the 12v battery being relocated to the boot area, taking up space. There’s also a big lip when you fold the rear seats down. 

The Corolla hatch is easily bettered in terms of boot space by the Honda Civic’s 409 litre capacity (1,220 seat-down litres). The Skoda Octavia hatch is still one of the best in this class, though, with 590 litres or an almost van-like 1,580 litres with the back seats down. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, those looking for the most space available in the Corolla range are best served by the estate. It stands at 581 litres for 2.0-litre models and 598 litres for the 1.8-litre. The load area is a nice square shape to make packing easier, and it boasts a low load lip.

Towing

Both the 1.8- and 2.0-litre models can tow 750kg of braked weight or 450kg unbraked. The Honda Civic, meanwhile, manages 750g braked and 600g unbraked.

“The door pockets struggle to hold a reusable bottle, but our main gripe is that there’s nowhere useful to hold a smartphone if it’s plugged into the USB port , which positioned in an odd place on the underside of the dash.” - Alex Ingram, chief reviewer.

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Historically, Toyota has been a very strong performer in the Driver Power owner satisfaction survey. However, the most recent results saw the brand only manage a 14th place ranking out of 31 in the best manufacturer results. It’s worth noting, though, that Lexus (Toyota’s luxury arm) landed in second place. The Corolla itself managed a 23rd place finish out of 50 models in the best cars to own results, which is okay rather than incredible.

The Toyota Corolla received a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2019, with strong scores for adult and child occupant safety (95 and 84 per cent, respectively). Pedestrian safety also fared well with a mark of 86 per cent. There’s an impressive list of on-board safety equipment as standard, including automatic headlights, adaptive cruise control, reversing camera, lane departure warning and Toyota’s lane trace system, plus a driver attention alert system.

But you can never have enough safety tech, it seems, because Toyota added even more as part of the Corolla’s mid-life facelift. The biggest addition was Toyota T-Mate, which combines the latest version of the brand’s Safety Sense set-up with other active driving and parking assistance systems. Higher-spec Excel versions also get, among other systems, a Safe-Exit Assist that will trigger a warning to stop passengers from opening a door into the path of a vehicle or cyclist.

• Best buy: Toyota Corolla 1.8 Design

The 1.8-litre Toyota Corolla in mid-range Design trim is our pick of the bunch as it offers the best blend of economy and kit, which includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a reversing camera and a 10.5-inch central touchscreen with built-in sat-nav, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Toyota Corolla alternatives

While the Corolla is still a fine choice thanks to its efficient hybrid system, we still think the Skoda Octavia remains our pick as the best family car. It’s far more practical, and while our preferred 1.5-litre petrol choice isn’t quite as economical, its lower starting price helps to balance out the running costs.

If you still want a hybrid you don’t need to plug in, the refreshed Honda Civic packs in a little more versatility and a sharper drive.

Company car drivers will be better off considering either the plug-in hybrid or all electric versions of the Peugeot 308 and Vauxhall Astra. If value is your thing, the Citroen C4 provides plenty of bang for your buck and can also be had in fuel-sipping hybrid or full EV forms.