Overview Shoppers seeking safe, reliable daily transportation have long looked to the Toyota Corolla, and its popularity is well-earned for many reasons. Fuel efficiency is high, especially with the optional hybrid powertrain on board, but even the standard nonhybrid setup is designed to save you at the pump. The Corolla is offered in both sedan and hatchback body styles, which helps broaden its appeal. It’s an easy-going compact car with a smooth ride and an easy-to-park profile, but we prefer rivals such as the Honda Civic and the Mazda 3, which offer similar packages with better road manners. What’s New for 2026?The Corolla Hatchback gets the FX treatment this year. Like the FX Edition of last year’s sedan model, the FX Edition hatchback gets exterior styling changes that give it a racier look. A rear wing and white 18-inch wheels are the highlights, and exterior colors include Ice Cap, Inferno, and Blue Crush Metallic. Inside, the FX hatchback features sport seats with suede inserts and orange contrasting stitching on both the seats and the door panels. Only 1600 FX Edition Corolla hatchbacks will be made.Pricing and Which One to BuyThe price of the 2026 Toyota Corolla is expected to start around $24,000 and go up to $30,000 depending on the trim and options.LE$24,000 (est)SE$25,000 (est)Hybrid LE$25,000 (est)Nightshade Edition$26,000 (est)Hybrid SE$28,000 (est)FX$28,000 (est)XSE$29,000 (est)Hybrid XLE$30,000 (est)We’d choose the sporty (by Corolla standards) SE sedan, as its tauter suspension makes it nicer to drive than the setups of the LE and XLE grades. The Corolla SE sedan comes standard with plenty of features to keep us satisfied, including LED headlights, 18-inch wheels and tires, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Corolla uses a 169-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder that sends power to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While all hatchbacks share that same powertrain, the sedan also offers a hybrid powertrain. Our tests of the Corolla SE hatchback and the Corolla XSE sedan proved that although the Toyota twins were quite prudent around town and steady on the highway, getting up to speed requires patience, and hard acceleration produced some uncouth engine sounds that diminished their refinement. Both the Corolla sedan and the hatchback have a pleasant ride quality that adequately isolates all but the worst bumps. Their controlled body motions also provide better agility than previous iterations. The Corolla SE and XSE further separate themselves with a stiffer sport-tuned suspension and the latter’s larger 18-inch wheels (everything else rides on either 15- or 16-inch rims). Still, compared with athletic and engaging rivals, such as the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic, the Corolla’s progressive steering is satisfactory but not exemplary. While neither Corolla body style had impressive results in our 70-mph-to-zero braking test—requiring between 174 and 183 feet—their brake pedals were dependable and responded naturally to inputs.0–60-MPH TimesThe all-wheel-drive hybrid model we tested hit 60 mph in a rather leisurely 9.0 seconds, while the last hatchback model we had in for testing did it in 8.3 seconds. The hybrid’s top speed is governed at 107 mph, while the hatchback’s is governed at 111 mph.More on the Corolla Sedan and HatchbackFuel Economy and Real-World MPG The EPA hasn’t released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Corolla yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings as high as 32 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined for the nonhybrid and 50 mpg city, 43 mpg highway, and 47 mpg combined for the hybrid. The all-wheel-drive hybrid we tested earned 40 mpg on our 75-mph fuel-economy route; the gas-only Corolla XSE sedan with front-wheel drive we tested saw 41 mpg. The hatchbacks we tested earned 40 and 36 mpg, respectively. For more information about the Corolla’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.Interior, Comfort, and CargoInside, the Corolla hatchback and sedan share a streamlined dashboard and soft-touch materials. Most models have passive entry and push-button start. Others can also be upgraded with ambient interior lighting, dual-zone climate control, and heated front seats. Those who regularly have back-seat passengers should consider the sedan over the hatchback since it has considerably more legroom behind the front seats. The Corolla hatchback has 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind its back seat, but it only fit two carry-on bags back there in our testing. However, the new no-cost Enhanced Cargo Space option expands that area by 6 cubic feet (23 total) by replacing the spare tire with a tire-repair kit. While the sedan only has 13 cubes of trunk volume, we squeezed eight bags inside. Both body styles had inferior interior cubby storage compared with some more capacious rivals. Thankfully, there’s a convenient tray at the front of their center console and a useful bin below the armrest.The Car and Driver DifferenceInfotainment and ConnectivityEvery Corolla has an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. A larger 10.5-inch touchscreen is optional. Additional items include four USB-C ports (two front, two rear), one 12v accessory port, and an available wireless charging and upgraded JBL audio system.How to Buy and Maintain a CarSafety and Driver-Assistance FeaturesThe entire Corolla lineup also offers a host of standard driver-assistance technology including automatic high beams and road sign assist. Toyota calls its standard suite of features Safety Sense 3.0. For more information about the Corolla’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance CoverageToyota provides the Corolla with a competitive warranty that’s highlighted by complimentary scheduled maintenance. However, rivals such as the Hyundai Elantra and the Kia K4 offer much longer powertrain coverages that span 10 years or 100,000 miles.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Hybrid components are covered for ten years or 150,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles
SpecificationsSpecifications
2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid SE AWD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $27,610/$28,615
Options: JBL audio, $600; Ruby Flare Pearl paint, $425
POWERTRAIN
DOHC 16-valve 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4, 134 hp, 156 lb-ft + 3 AC motors, 93, 40, and unspecified hp (combined output: 134 hp; lithium-ion battery pack)
Transmission: continuously variable automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 10.8-in vented disc/10.2-in disc
Tires: Dunlop SP Sport 5000
225/40R-18 88V M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 182.3 in
Width: 70.1 in
Height: 56.5 in
Passenger Volume: 89 ft3
Trunk Volume: 13 ft3
Curb Weight: 3218 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 9.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.9 sec @ 80 mph
100 mph: 38.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 9.7 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.3 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.4 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 107 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.80 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
75-mph Highway Driving: 40 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 450 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 44/47/41 mpg
C/D testing explained
2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback SE
Vehicle type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
PRICE AS TESTED
$23,805 (base price: $22,010)
ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port and direct fuel injection
Displacement: 121 in3, 1987 cm3
Power: 168 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque: 151 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic with 1 fixed ratio and manual shifting mode
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 11.5-in vented disc/10.5-in disc
Tires: Dunlop Enasave 01 A/S, 205/55R-16 91H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 103.9 in
Length: 169.9 in
Width: 69.9 in
Height: 57.1 in
Passenger volume: 84 ft3
Cargo volume: 18 ft3
Curb weight: 3029 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 8.3 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 22.4 sec
Zero to 110 mph: 30.6 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 8.7 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 5.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 16.4 sec @ 88 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 114 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 183 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.81 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 29 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 40 mpg
Highway range: 520 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 36/32/42 mpgMore Features and Specs
Source: caranddriver.com
