2021 Toyota Corolla Review

Name: 2021 Toyota Corolla Review
Brand: Toyota
Price: 13571 USD

Toyota Corolla SE Nightshade Sedan Exterior

+433

The Toyota Corolla is a smart pick in the small sedan class. We give it high marks for its smooth ride comfort, high-quality interior, and comprehensive list of advanced safety features. Holding it back is a smaller-than-average trunk and slow acceleration.

Used Corolla for sale

$13,571 - $25,998

435 listings

See Cars for Online Purchase See All for Sale

Appraise This Car

Toyota Corolla model years

Toyota Corolla for Sale

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

2021 Toyota Corolla Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

Pros

Long list of standard advanced safety features
Easy-to-use controls
Comfortable ride quality
High fuel economy

Cons

Slow acceleration
Too much road noise on the highway
Less rear headroom than most rivals

What's new

New Apex Edition with sport suspension and available summer tires
Android Auto compatibility is standard
New rear-seat side airbags for Corolla sedan
Automatic engine stop-start feature
Part of the 12th Corolla generation introduced for 2020

Overview

Toyota redesigned the Corolla last year, giving this typically competent but dull small sedan a much-needed upgrade. The new Corolla gained a considerable amount of style without losing the high levels of comfort and efficiency it's known for.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$130/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Changes are few for the 2021 Toyota Corolla. The biggest one is the new Apex Edition. This trim level's upgraded suspension, as well as optional sticky summer performance tires, should liven up the Corolla's handling. Overall, the Corolla is worth considering alongside other top-rated rivals such as the Honda Civic, Kia Forte and Mazda 3.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Corolla drive? Acceleration is a bit underwhelming for the class (0-60 mph took 8.8 seconds in our testing), which means you'll likely be flooring the pedal when getting onto highways. Passing slower traffic requires a little extra planning and a heavy foot. Emergency braking performance is adequate, however, and braking force is easy to control for smooth stops.

We tested the Corolla XSE, which is supposed to be the sporty trim level. Alas, we quickly discovered that it's not that sporty. It leans a lot when you go around turns, and its tires don't offer much grip. But as a routine daily driver, the Corolla does just fine. It's easy to maneuver around town, and the operation of its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is generally unobtrusive.

Comfort

7.0/10

How comfortable is the Corolla? The Corolla's ride quality is smooth over a variety of road surfaces, and the front seats are comfortable. Whether you're tall or small, there are enough adjustments and sufficient range within those adjustments to find your preferred position. We do prefer the cloth seats since they breathe better than the available simulated leather on hot days.

Road noise is ever present. It gets so loud on the highway that you'll have to crank the stereo to overcome it. The engine sounds labored under hard acceleration, but the continuously variable transmission's simulated gear changes help reduce the droning sound that is otherwise typical for a CVT.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? The Corolla's interior benefits from a simple, easy-to-use layout. The controls are right where you want them and are logically grouped. The number of buttons is sensible, with just enough to be useful but not so many that it looks cluttered.

It's also easy to get in and out of the car. Front passengers have plenty of room, and the driver has clear sight lines to both the front and rear. Seating for rear passengers is tighter, especially with regard to headroom. Adult occupants' heads might be close to the roof. The Honda Civic is better in this respect.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? Toyota's recent infotainment systems have never managed to win us over, but this latest version is a marked improvement. That said, it's still not as intuitive or visually appealing as rival systems. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now both standard.

Many advanced safety features are included as part of the standard Toyota Safety Sense suite, and almost all are well tuned to be as unobtrusive as possible. The lane departure warning system is the outlier, and it can be oversensitive and annoying with its frequent beeping. The adaptive cruise control is praiseworthy for its smooth braking and acceleration.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The Corolla has a slightly smaller trunk (13 cubic feet) than its primary competition. And it should still be enough for typical use. Unfortunately, the rear seatbacks don't fold flat with the trunk floor, which could complicate loading longer and bulkier cargo.

Storage for personal items is also on the small side. There are just enough places for your phone and the like, but many competitors give you more. On the plus side, there seems to be ample space for infant and child safety seats. The clearly marked car seat anchors should help with installation.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rating for the Corolla XSE with the 2.0-liter engine and CVT automatic (the car we tested) is 34 mpg in combined driving (31 city/38 highway). That's a strong showing from what is the most powerful engine in the Corolla lineup. On our 115-mile evaluation route, the Corolla easily exceeded that estimate, returning an impressive 40.2 mpg.

The less powerful 1.8-liter engine is rated at 33 mpg combined. For the ultimate in mileage, check out the Corolla Hybrid.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Corolla a good value? The Corolla is competitive against the top entrants in the small sedan class. The cabin is upscale and is solidly put-together. Toyota's reputation for reliability figures into most shoppers' decisions, but there are other aspects to consider. You also get two years of free scheduled maintenance, which is unusual in this class.

Wildcard

7.5/10

The latest Corolla brings a fresh and modern style without unnecessary trinkets and vents. It's also more enjoyable to drive than before, but other sedans in the class are noticeably more entertaining. The overarching themes are capability and competence.

The sleek and modern styling of this current generation makes the previous Corolla seem generic by comparison. The more aggressive body treatments for the XSE trim make it even more attractive.

Which Corolla does Edmunds recommend?

The Corolla is a model of affordability and efficiency. But for a small price increase over the base L or LE trim level, we'd take the SE trim. We like the more powerful engine and its longer list of standard features. It also gives you more flexibility for adding options.

2021 Toyota Corolla models

The 2021 Corolla is offered in five main trim levels: the L, LE, XLE, SE and XSE. In addition, there's also the SE Nightshade and the new-for-2021 Apex Edition. All Corollas are front-wheel-drive.

Some options, such as an upgraded audio system, keyless entry and rear cross-traffic alert, are bundled in packages for several trim levels. Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 suite of driver aids, which includes lane departure warning and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, is standard. Feature highlights include:

L
Starts you off with:

139-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine
Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
LED headlights
15-inch wheels
Power door locks
7-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility

All Corollas also come with:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Corolla and the car in front)

LE
Adds a few more features, with:

Heated side mirrors
Automatic climate control
USB port for rear passengers
8-inch touchscreen

XLE
Adds a few premium features:

Upgraded LED headlights
16-inch alloy wheels
Remote keyless entry with push-button start
Blind-spot monitoring
Sunroof
Upgraded driver information display
Heated front seats
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Simulated leather upholstery

SE
Has the LE's features but with:

2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (169 hp, 151 lb-ft)
Available six-speed manual transmission
18-inch alloy wheels
Sportier exterior trim accents
Sport front seats

SE Nightshade
Offers unique styling with:

Blackout exterior trim
Unique 18-inch wheels

XSE
Combines the SE and XLE's feature upgrades

Apex Edition
Adds sporty performance to SE and XSE trims with:

Upgraded suspension components
Lower ride height
Optional summer performance tires
Black and bronze exterior trim

Some of the features that come standard on the higher trims can be ordered as options on the lower trims. A premium JBL sound system is optional on the XLE, SE and XSE trims, and adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) are optional on the XLE and the XSE.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4.5/5Excellent

#1 out of 46 among Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Toyota Corolla from 2008-2022.}

$308/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.6x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

6.9%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Toyota Corolla.

5 (65%)

4 (6%)

3 (13%)

2 (10%)

1 (6%)

4.1

48 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 48 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

The best Corolla in 20 years

Victor S, 11/26/2020

2021 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT)

I just got a 2021 L model and being the most basic trim level I am very surprised how smooth and comfortable it is to drive it. I have had the 1997 & 2017 models before and I clearly notice they have improved its maneuverability, suspension is awesome compared to the previous years, comfortable seats and good control location, it also has a more quiet muffler (thing that I adore), and …

Best corolla ever!!

al, 10/21/2020

2021 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT)

Had my 2006 corolla LE for 15 years no issues. finally it was time for an upgrade and I made the right decision the new corolla LE with premiun package looks like a lexus!!

New 2021 Corolla

Ken Franck, 09/03/2020

2021 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT)

A very beautiful sporty car. Have owned Corollas for the past 35 years. They are the most cost efficient reliable car on the road. Now finally very sporty also. It is over a year later and i still love this car. It is has many safety features and is fun to drive.

Lovin’ my new ‘21 Corolla!

A. Knight, 12/13/2020

2021 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT)

It has ALL the things I was looking for. Great gas mileage, comfortable, roomy for everyone, one of the smoothest rides I’ve experienced!

See all 48 reviews of the Toyota Corolla

Write a vehicle review

2021 Corolla Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$20,025
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$130/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Corolla models:

Pre-Collision System: Warns if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time.
Lane Departure Alert w/Steering Assist: Warns if you are drifting out of your lane and corrects the steering if you don't respond in time.
Automatic High Beams: Activates high beams automatically on dark roads and deactivates them when the system detects an oncoming vehicle.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

People who viewed this also viewed

Honda Civic
4.8 average Rating out of 39 reviews.
Starting at $23,950

See Honda Civic Inventory

Toyota Camry
4.0 average Rating out of 21 reviews.
Starting at $26,420

See Toyota Camry Inventory

Toyota Corolla Hybrid
4.4 average Rating out of 9 reviews.
Starting at $23,500

See Toyota Corolla Hybrid Inventory

2021 Toyota Corolla Review

2021 Toyota Corolla Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Corolla does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Toyota Corolla models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

The best Corolla in 20 years

Best corolla ever!!

New 2021 Corolla

Lovin’ my new ‘21 Corolla!

2021 Corolla Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 Toyota Corolla info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Toyota

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}