Apart from the Volkswagen Beetle, no other vehicle has left an indelible mark as much as the Toyota Corolla.
First released in 1966, American buyers had to wait two years before it became available in the US region.
The Corolla’s rise in popularity after it was released was rapid; by 1974, it was already the world’s bestselling car. It also surpassed the Volkswagen Beetle in 2016 as the most-sold vehicle ever, with over 44 million models sold.
We’d advise you to buy a Corolla if you want a simple, practical, and affordable car.
To further aid your Corolla-buying journey, we’ve compiled important facts and numbers concerning this model.
Let’s get right into it!
Table of Contents
How Many Toyota Corolla Have Been Sold Per Year In The US?
The Corolla has been one of Toyota’s highest-selling models since it was released 52 years ago.
While it may not have the highest annual sales among Toyota vehicles, it accounts for a considerable chunk of the company’s sales.
Between 1985 and now, over 200,000 models have been sold on average, with sales peaking in 2016 when 387,388 models were sold.
Here’s a breakdown of annual sales figures for the Corolla since 1985:
Year | No. Of Models Sold |
2019 | 222,125 |
2018 | 280,886 |
2017 | 308,695 |
2016 | 360,483 |
2015 | 363,334 |
2014 | 339,498 |
2013 | 302,180 |
2012 | 290,944 |
2011 | 240,259 |
2010 | 266,082 |
2009 | 296,874 |
2008 | 351,007 |
2007 | 371,390 |
2006 | 387,388 |
2005 | 341,290 |
2004 | 333,161 |
2003 | 325,477 |
2002 | 254,360 |
2001 | 245,023 |
2000 | 230,156 |
1999 | 249,128 |
1998 | 250,501 |
1997 | 218,461 |
1996 | 209,048 |
1995 | 213,640 |
1994 | 210,926 |
1993 | 193,749 |
1992 | 196,118 |
1991 | 199,975 |
1990 | 228,211 |
1989 | 199,975 |
1988 | 216,677 |
1987 | 164,300 |
1986 | 159,458 |
1985 | 163,378 |
What Year Did Toyota Start The Corolla Models?
Toyota started producing the Corolla model in 1966, although it wasn’t available in the U.S. until 1968.
Throughout its history, the Corolla has undergone several changes, especially in terms of design.
It originally started out as a subcompact car and stayed that way until 1991, when a major redesign saw its size increase significantly.
This led to the Corolla moving from the ‘subcompact car’ segment into the ‘compact car’ class.
Another major change for the Corolla came in 2020 with the release of the first-ever hybrid Corolla. It had the same Hybrid Synergy Drive found in earlier Toyota hybrids such as the Prius and the Camry Hybrid.
Also worthy of mention is the addition of a hatchback variant of the Corolla in 2019.
To date, the Corolla has been in production for 52 years, going through 12 separate generations.
How Is the Fuel Economy on a Toyota Corolla?
A big reason the Corolla is so popular among buyers is its remarkable fuel economy.
One of the thriftiest sedans available, it offers, on average, at least 30 mpg (combined) on its models.
Fuel economy on the various Corolla models is subject to factors such as powertrain, engine type, and trim level. For example, 2020 models with Continuous Variable Transmission (automatic transmission) save gas better than manual models.
Similarly, the hybrid Corolla has higher fuel economy figures compared to the gas-powered models.
Higher trims equipped with bigger engines also are worse on gas than the base models with smaller engines.
How Quickly Do Toyota Corolla Depreciate?
For years, the Corolla has been the go-to choice for those looking for a simple, no-frills car that does its job well.
Despite being low-priced, the Corolla offers plenty of features, giving buyers value for money. This, alongside its reliability and practicality, have kept buyer demand for the model high.
The strong demand has led to lower depreciation on existing Corolla models. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average Corolla will hold 40.3% of its original value by the fifth year of use.
This earns it a spot on KBB’s 2020 Best Resale Value (Compact Car) rankings, where it placed third behind the Subaru Impreza and Honda Civic.
Did Toyota Recall Any of the Toyota Corolla Models?
Over the course of its 52-year history, the Corolla has solidified Toyota’s reputation for long-term reliability and dependability.
However, it has had its share of problems, some more severe than the others. On occasions, Toyota has been forced to recall many Corolla vehicles from a particular model year.
The Toyota Corolla has seen a significant number of recalls since it started production. Of these, the 2010, 2009, and 2003 models have been the worst-hit in terms of recalls.
To date, all three model years combined have 43 recalls. Model years tied for the lowest recalls are the 2015 and 2016 models.
The table below shows how many times a model year has been involved in a recall:
Note: The table also includes recalls by aftermarket manufacturers that affect the Corolla models:
Model Year | No. Of Recalls |
2019 | 5 |
2018 | 3 |
2017 | 3 |
2016 | 1 |
2015 | 1 |
2014 | 2 |
2013 | 7 |
2012 | 7 |
2011 | 11 |
2010 | 19 |
2009 | 14 |
2008 | 7 |
2007 | 7 |
2006 | 11 |
2005 | 12 |
2004 | 13 |
2003 | 14 |
2002 | 5 |
2001 | 4 |
2000 | 6 |
1999 | 5 |
How Much Do the Corolla Models Pollute?
The Corolla lineup comprises some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in its segment. Therefore, the models have some of the lowest pollution figures out there.
As expected, the hybrid models shine in terms of environmental impact and have minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Perhaps surprisingly, the fuel-powered models have better-than-average pollution statistics too.
Powertrain and engine size are the biggest factors influencing each model’s pollution. Automatic models have lesser emissions than manual models.
Similarly, the 1.8 L V4 models release lesser CO2 gases than the 2.0 L V4-engined models.
Below is a table showing the pollution figures for the 2020 Corolla models:
Model | Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Emissions Score |
Corolla Hybrid 1.8 L, 4-cyl. [automatic] | 170 Grams Per Mile | 10/10 |
Corolla Hatchback 2.0 L, 4-cyl. [automatic] | 250 Grams Per Mile | 8/10 |
Corolla XSE 2.0 L, 4-cyl. [automatic] | 265 Grams Per Mile | 8/10 |
Corolla 1.8 L, 4-cyl. [automatic] | 267 Grams Per Mile | 7/10 |
Corolla Hatchback XSE 2.0 L, 4-cyl. [automatic] | 266 Grams Per Mile | 7/10 |
Corolla 1.8 L, 4-cyl. [manual] | 266 Grams Per Mile | 7/10 |
Corolla XLE 1.8 L, 4-cyl. [automatic] | 274 Grams Per Mile | 7/10 |
Corolla 2.0 L, 4-cyl. [manual] | 277 Grams Per Mile | 7/10 |
Corolla Hatchback 2.0 L, 4-cyl. [automatic] | 280 Grams Per Mile | 7/10 |
Corolla 2.0 L, 4-cyl. [automatic] | 265 Grams Per Mile | 8/10 |
How Much Can the Corolla Models Tow?
Toyota advises against towing with any of the models made between 2014 and 2020.
Some (not all) Corollas made between 2000 and 2013 can tow up to 1500 pounds.
Be careful to check your vehicle’s manual to see if it’s approved for towing.
How Reliable Is a Toyota Corolla?
When the Corolla was released, it showed the world what a reliable car looked like. Years later, it’s still as reliable as ever.
The Corolla has received top scores from top automotive research sites for its reliability. RepairPal gives it a 4.5/5 reliability rating, placing it atop the entire compact car segment.
JD Power gave the Corolla a 10/10 Vehicle Dependability Score in its 2019 Annual Vehicle Dependability Study. All these mean you can count on any Corolla vehicle to provide trouble-free motoring for years to come.
You can check out our article about the best Toyota Corolla years, here.
How Safe Is a Toyota Corolla?
As always, safety on Toyota vehicles is peerless.
The Corolla has advanced safety features guaranteed to prevent crashes and also give protection in event of one.
The 2020 model received a 5-star rating from NHTSA for its safety capabilities. It was also rated a ‘Top Safety Pick’ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Safety technologies present on the Corollas include adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and many others.
What Is the Typical Buyer Demographic for This Model?
The typical owner buyer demographic for the Corolla models comprises men and women in equal proportions.
Corolla buyers are on the young side, and are aged 49 years on average. Besides, they earn around $52,619, which is lesser than what the average compact car buyer earns ($70,279).
Around 40% of Corolla owners indicate membership of either Generation Y (1980-1996) or Generation Z (1997 – 2012).
Great gas mileage, low servicing costs, and long-term dependability are usually the biggest factors Corolla buyers consider when buying vehicles.
Vehicle uniqueness is less of a concern to them and they consider cars as a means of transportation and nothing more.
Toyota Corolla Theft Numbers
It’s no secret that popular vehicles like the Corolla are big attractions for thieves.
This is usually because there’s a thriving black market for parts of these models. Therefore, a stolen vehicle can be stripped down for parts and sold for a tidy profit.
Corollas are, perhaps, the most-stolen Toyota vehicles in the US. The National Insurance Crime Bureau, in its 2018 Hot Wheels Report, ranked the Corolla as America’s seventh most-stolen vehicle.
According to the NICB, 1,034 Corollas were stolen that year.
Here’s a breakdown of annual theft rates for the Corolla from 1999 through 2014:
Year | No. Of Models Stolen |
1999 | 940 |
2000 | 839 |
2001 | 1201 |
2002 | 690 |
2003 | 786 |
2004 | 602 |
2005 | 864 |
2006 | 653 |
2007 | 740 |
2008 | 374 |
2009 | 632 |
2010 | 615 |
2011 | 215 |
2012 | 304 |
2013 | 566 |
2014 | 466 |
References:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota Corolla
cars.com/research/toyota-corolla/
thecarconnection.com/overview/toyota_corolla_2020
kbb.com/articles/best-cars/best-resale-value-compact-car/
kbb.com/articles/best-cars/best-resale-value-compact-car/
dealerrater.com/recalls/Toyota/Corolla/
fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch/Toyota&baseModel=Corolla&srchtyp=ymm
jdpower.com/cars/ratings/dependability/2019
repairpal.com/reliability/toyota/corolla
iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/toyota/camry-4-door-sedan/2020
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/TOYOTA/COROLLA/4%252520DR/FWD#safety-ratings-side
iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/toyota/corolla-4-door-sedan/2020
nicb.org/sites/files/2020-01/2018%20Hot%20Wheels%20Report.pdf