Everybody has a Toyota Corolla story. This compact car made Toyota a household brand in the U.S. well before there was a Camry, a RAV4 or a Tacoma, making a name for itself with its dependability, fuel efficiency and practicality. Those traits continue to define the modern Toyota Corolla, which gets numerous updates for the 2023 model year.
The hot news for 2023 is the introduction of the rally-inspired GR Corolla. We cover this high-performance hatchback in a separate review, so if the standard Corolla looks a bit tame to you, the GR should be exactly what you're looking for. Toyota also expands the Corolla Hybrid lineup for 2023, adding several trim levels to make that high-mileage version of the sedan more appealing. You can read all about it in our separate review of the Corolla Hybrid.
Here, we're focused on the volume-selling Corolla sedan models. In addition to styling updates, the 2023 Corolla gets some technology enhancements. Toyota has upgraded the touchscreen interface to include a lot more features than the prior system. There's available navigation, more robust voice command capabilities for many of the car's features and controls ("Hey, Toyota" is the prompt), and the ability to receive over-the-air updates for new features and upgrades. It also supports wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
The Corolla will also come equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the latest driver assistance software suite from the automaker. This is a step forward from the 2022 model, which features the previous generation of the suite. Feature sets are similar, but Toyota says the system is better at detecting hazards.
Additionally, the popular LE trim level now serves as the entry point to the lineup and adds a more powerful standard engine for 2023. With the arrival of the GR Corolla, Toyota has also discontinued the Apex Edition versions this year. Fans of manual transmissions will no longer be able to get one with the Corolla SE trim level either.
Otherwise, the 2023 Corolla sedan continues as a solid pick for a small sedan. In addition to its appealing, easy-to-drive nature, the Corolla excels in the areas of reliability, efficiency and practicality. But there are also some more highly rated sedans that are worth considering, such as the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda 3.
[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's Corolla and modified from what we know about changes for 2023. We'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Corolla is offered in four trim levels: LE, XLE, SE and XSE. Feature highlights include:
LE
Starts you off with:
All Corollas also come with:
XLE
Gives the Corolla more premium features such as:
SE
Based on the LE trim level, the SE is the sporty Corolla sedan thanks to:
XSE
Combines the features of the SE and XLE
Some features that come standard on the XLE and XSE can be ordered as options on the LE and SE. Additionally, 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 available on the XLE and the XSE.
2023 Toyota Corolla
2022 Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra makes a strong case for itself in a competitive class with its combination of excellent fuel economy, long list of standard features, and roomy interior. As with the Corolla, we're not enamored with the Elantra's underpowered base engine but other more powerful engines are available. Toyota enjoys a reputation for reliability, but Hyundai's longer warranty should be factored in as well.
With its recent redesign, the Honda Civic has kept its place as Edmunds' highest-ranked small sedan. It boasts pleasing interior design and good fuel economy and it's more fun to drive than the Corolla. It also has a larger trunk and a more spacious interior. But if you're on a tight budget, the Corolla might win you over with its lower starting price.
With an interior that is genuinely more upscale in both design and materials than those in many entry-level luxury cars, the Mazda comes off as the more premium small sedan of the two. The Mazda is also fun to drive and offers a class rarity of all-wheel drive. But the Mazda can get expensive, especially with its more powerful engine, making the Corolla a better budget-conscious choice.
The Corolla is the versatile entry-level model in the Toyota family of vehicles. It comes in many flavors, ranging from economically packaged (small sedan) to fully packaged (Apex) to hotly rumored and far from confirmed (GR). It's also been around for a long time, as it entered its 12th generation in 2020.
Toyota teased the GR Corolla (GR for Gazoo Racing, Toyota's performance division) on Instagram. It's a slightly chunkier version of the GR Yaris available in Japan, which bolstered rumors of production spawned from the usual places (low-resolution photos leaked on the internet). The Yaris is powered by a 268-hp 1.6-liter engine. We don't know for sure which engine a Corolla GR would get, but it's rumored the same powerplant will appear in a Corolla GR.
Edmunds saysToyota has never messed with the Corolla's successful formula despite years of tweaks at the margins. The 2023 Toyota Corolla remains a solid value as a reliable small sedan with great fuel economy and sensible styling. That's given the Corolla tremendous staying power alongside rivals like the Honda Civic, Kia Forte and Mazda 3 over the years.
