Toyota Corolla pricing
Prices for the Toyota Corolla start at $23,676 drive-away for a 1.8-litre petrol Ascent trim hatchback with a six-gear manual transmission. The seven-speed CVT automatic gearbox costs $2,100 extra.
The most expensive model is the ZR hatch, which is only available as an automatic cog swapper. This model features a range of added luxuries like heated and adjustable front seats with lumbar support and electrically heated wing mirrors that automatically fold away. The ZR hatch retails for $33,803.
A number of car reviewers highly recommend the hybrid model, which sells for $31,238.
Any other colour than the flat Glacier White incurs an additional charge of $450. There are eight colours to choose from, including metallic and pearlescent colours.
Prices are drive-away for postcode 2000. Prices include 12 months rego, a year’s compulsory third party insurance (CTP), the maximum possible dealer delivery charge and stamp duties. Toyota calculates these figures based on a vehicle parked in a garage, with a “rating one” driver, aged 40.
The Toyota Corolla range
Click on the price below to see repayment amounts across a range of car loan products.
Overview
Toyota sells heaps of Corollas each month, and it is usually the third best-selling overall car in Australia. The engine line-up is generally well received for its mix of solid fuel economy and performance, although the hybrid presents the best overall choice for most testers. The Corolla received universal praise for its good looks, excellent value, lowest in class servicing costs and forward thinking smart driving assists. It was only really marked down for having an average-sized boot, the lack of a turbocharged engine option and the omission of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. It is unlikely you’ll regret opting for a Corolla.
| Cars Guide |
- Great looking hatch.
- Excellent value.
- Loaded with advanced safety kit.
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- Noisy and sluggish CVT automatic.
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
- No true sports model.
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“{The Corolla isn’t} as pretty or engaging to drive as the Mazda3, but the car's reputation for reliability and durability, its good value-for-money, it's easy to drive nature, and the advanced driving equipment make it a sensible and smart purchase.” |
| WhichCar |
- Hybrid offers solid economy.
- Smart driving assists available.
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- Blandness.
- No turbocharged engine option.
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“If you are comfortable with the added complexity, the Corolla Hybrid Hatch represents exceptional value. It is by some margin the best Corolla you can buy in Australia.” |
| CarAdvice |
- Drives “quite nicely at high and low speeds”.
- Affordable.
- Comfortable.
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- Not quite best in class for equipment.
- Less spacious than some rivals.
- Boot is smaller than competition.
- CVT auto is slow up hills.
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“[The Corolla] has sporty looks and decent road manners, and it now comes with new optional safety tech – but it's still a bit short of the best in class. |
| Drive |
- One of the most affordable hatches on the market.
- Capped service pricing.
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- No volume knob for radio.
- Average boot size for hatchback.
- Labours on hills.
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“This latest generation is trading off that reputation for reliability and dependability. In general the Corolla is a step behind its rivals in terms of its presentation and dynamics.” |
Engine and performance
If you hate making decisions, then the limited Corolla engine and gearbox line-up might appeal to you. You have the choice of a 1.8-litre petrol either with a manual or automatic or a hybrid model. Hybrid Corollas also have a 1.8-litre petrol engine, but leave the factory with a Synergy Drive automatic CVT transmission.
Hybrid models derive 73kw/142Nm from the standard petrol engine, while a 60kW electric motor supplements the torque output, adding 207Nm. Many car reviewers were pleasantly surprised by the off-the-line acceleration of the hybrid models, saying it had plenty of oomph. A few even went as far as saying it would be their pick of the line-up.
The rest of the range, perhaps confusingly, has the exact same petrol engine. The confusing part is the sporty ZR hatch shares the same motor as the lower spec Ascent. All non-hybrid models have 103kW and 173Nm. In practice, journalists described the Corolla line-up as docile and respectable, but way behind many of its direct rivals.
It’s a bit of a puzzle why Toyota omitted to bolt on a turbo. Most of the competition and international spec Corollas boast turbochargers for increased performance and efficiency. Several reviews picked up on this.
Almost unanimously, journos disliked the CVT automatic transmission. Words like droney and sluggish were bandied around. The six-speed manual was favoured as a better companion for the engine, with more immediate acceleration.
Features and Statistics
- Engine type
- - Direct injection, with 16 valves and a Double Overhead Cam plus Dual- Variable Valve Timing.
- Optional hybrid drivetrain
- Drivetrain
- - FWD
- Engine size/displacement
- - 1.8L, 1,798cc
- Fuel type
- - Petrol or hybrid
- Cylinders
- - Inline four
- Fuel tank capacity
- - 45-50 litres
- Max. torque
- - 173Nm @ 4,000rpm
- Fuel consumption (best model Hybrid) – urban
- - 4.1L/100km
- Max. power
- - 103kW @ 6.400rpm
- Combined CO2 emissions
- - 96g/km (hybrid) - 149g/km (1.8 petrol)
- Acceleration
- - N/A
- Emissions standard
- - Euro 5
- Top speed
- - N/A
- Security
- - Engine immobiliser
- Transmission
- - 6-speed manual transmission, 7-speed CVT or hybrid CVT
- Towing capacity (braked/unbraked)
- - 1,300kg (braked), 450kg (unbraked)
Fuel efficiency
The Toyota Corolla is a pretty frugal car, which sips fuel sparingly. Surprisingly, the manual transmission car boasts the worst fuel economy, using a combined 6.7L/100km of petrol. The CVT automatic transmission returns 6.1L/100km, while the hybrid model burns an impressive 4.1L/100km.
Those figures are direct from the Toyota specifications list for the Corolla, derived from an ADR81/02 fuel consumption test. In practice, real-world figures are always slightly higher due to traffic, road and weather conditions.
For an SX model, one media outlet saw an increased 8.4L/100km fuel usage, 2.4L/100km higher than the factory figures. Another journalist achieved 9.2L/100km, much higher than Toyota’s claimed stats, but in reality, very much middle of the road in its class.
The hybrid Corolla in real-world conditions delivered a much closer 5.5L/100km, just one extra litre over factory numbers.
Hybrid Corollas hit such impressive fuel usage by blending an electric motor together with a petrol engine. The system also recycles conventionally wasted braking energy to top-up the battery. Around town, where you brake a lot, and sometimes quite heavily, this can make a world of difference.
Toyota decided not to include stop/start technology on the Corolla.
Handling
The general consensus is that the Corolla is pretty decent to drive. According to testers, engineers have done a solid job of creating a car that is nimble. The steering feels nice and light and is described as accurate. This light steering also makes parking a lot easier, especially on confined metro streets.
Others found the ride to be comfortable, evening out road bumps nicely, but not particularly exciting in any way.
One thing to note about motoring journalists, they like to enthuse about a car’s handling, but you should take this with a pinch of salt. After all, the Corolla isn’t a sports car and most buyers will only ever use theirs on public roads. For everyday driving, it is perfectly fine. It’s a sensible and comfortable option, and that’s all that matters to most owners.
Toyota knows their market very well and reviewers agree this is the best Corolla they’ve made to date. There’s a reason the Corolla is Toyota’s second best-selling model and consistently ranks in the top three overall cars sold each month. It’s because the car perfectly blends value for money, low-servicing costs and a reputation for reliability and longevity with a pleasing form factor and sturdy build quality.
While critics may not have pegged this as the best in class, it does everything very well, with few compromises.
