5 reasons to buy and not to buy the Toyota Corolla XI

As is well known, here in Russia, Toyota is more than just a brand. It is almost a religion: 'Toyotas never break down!' And if that is the case, then when choosing a used car, it is worth paying attention to this brand. For example, the Toyota Corolla.

The Corolla is Toyota's global best-seller. The model, first introduced in 1966, had already sold more than 40 million units by 2013. During that time, it became iconic both in Europe and overseas, and in 1997 it was the best-selling car in the world.

Twelve generations of the model have come and gone over the years. Official sales of the Corolla in Russia began in 2002, with the ninth-generation cars (E120). The best year for Corolla sales in Russia was 2008, when more than 60,000 of these cars took to the country's roads. Sales then fell to around 30,000 cars a year, dropping to 5,000 in 2015, where they remained until the brand withdrew from the Russian market. What can you do – the imported Corolla proved less attractive than the Toyota Camry, which was built at the company's plant in Shushary.

Meanwhile, the ninth-generation Corolla gave way to the tenth, and that in turn to the eleventh. The latest generation, with the factory code E210, built on the modular TNGA-C platform, was unveiled in 2018. These cars are quite rare in Russia, and there are also few of them on the second-hand market. We, however, are interested in the eleventh-generation cars with factory codes E160, E170 and E180. The Russian market received European versions built in Turkey – the E170/E180 – which differed from the right-hand-drive E160 for the Japanese market. However, genuine 'Japanese' cars (Corolla Axio saloons and Corolla Fielder estates) bought at Japanese auctions turn up on the Russian used market fairly often. It is only among such cars that you will find all-wheel-drive versions, hybrid powertrain variants, and models with the 1.5-litre 1NZ-FE engine under the bonnet.

Russia received cars in both saloon and estate body styles, with three four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine options. Entry-level trims were equipped with the 1.3-litre 1NR-FE producing 99 bhp, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The mid-range and most popular engine, the 1ZR-FE with a displacement of 1.6 litres and 122 bhp, could be paired with either an Aisin CVT or the same manual gearbox, while the top-of-the-range 1.8-litre 2ZR-FAE (140 bhp) came only with the CVT. The suspension is classic for the C-segment: MacPherson struts at the front and a semi-independent torsion beam at the rear.

In 2015-2016, the model underwent a facelift, which affected the front-end styling, the headlights and, to a lesser extent, the interior design. The model also gained a media system with navigation.

The Corolla has always been quite expensive: as early as 2013, prices ranged from 659,000 to 1,026,000 roubles, which was a considerable sum at the time. By way of comparison, a Skoda Octavia could then be had from 590,000 roubles. So it is no surprise that on the second-hand market, where eleventh-generation Corollas are now available in considerable numbers, sellers are asking very substantial prices. For pre-facelift saloons with a manual gearbox, prices start at 700,000 roubles and go up to 1.7 million; with a CVT, from 750,000 to 1.9 million; and for estates, from 890,000 to 1.5 million. Naturally, the younger post-facelift cars cost more. Saloons with a manual gearbox – from 1.23 to 1.76 million roubles; with a CVT – from one to 2.25 million; estates – from one million to 2.3 million. Nevertheless, 'a Toyota is a Toyota', and the Corolla remains highly liquid. But is it worth considering buying a used best-seller that is around ten years old? If you are seriously thinking about it, we suggest you take a look at what real owners write about this car in their online reviews.

None of the owners express unbridled enthusiasm about the looks of the eleventh-generation Corolla. Some simply consider the car 'attractive' and list the design among its virtues, although they do note a lack of originality ('I liked the exterior design of the car, the front looks great', 'The exterior is stylish and modern'). But those who give the 'Design' category a resounding thumbs-down are not just present – there are quite a lot of them. 'Toyota's new design is something else – the cars look as if they were drawn with a ruler and chopped with an axe'; 'I have never liked Toyota's bland design'; 'Toyota reliability has always been top-notch, but the design... Sorry, but it is hideous'; 'There is a black one parked in the courtyard, always opposite the entrance – and every morning I feel queasy when I see it. Toyota and Lexus have, unfortunately, completely lost the plot when it comes to design,' write owners in their reviews. And I have had to skip some reviews altogether, so to speak, for reasons of decency.

Of course, assessing appearance is subjective, so in this matter it is best to rely on your own impressions and feelings. Some, for example, may appreciate that the front end of the Corolla is styled in the same manner as the Camry, which is hugely popular here.

Among the more than one hundred reviews of the eleventh-generation Toyota Corolla that I looked through, I did not come across a single one in which the author complained about excessive fuel consumption. There are also no usual arguments in the discussions – only complete consensus: 'Low fuel consumption, and it runs on AI-92 petrol – the manual says from 91. I tried AI-95, no difference whatsoever, neither in performance nor consumption'; 'Economical on fuel'; 'Low consumption around town, uses a tiny amount of fuel when idling.' And this assessment applies equally to the 'European' cars built in Turkey and to the right-hand-drive cars from Japanese auctions. Of course, the happiest of all are the owners of cars with hybrid powertrains: 'Fuel consumption is around 6 litres, which was a real joy after my previous Subaru Impreza with its 12-13 litres'; 'Consumption of 95-octane petrol is 4.5-6 litres around town, a full tank lasts 700 km.' But owners of cars with the most common engine, the 1.6-litre 1ZR-FE with 122 bhp, are also quite content with life: 'City consumption in traffic jams is 9 litres. On the motorway, about 6-7. If you push it, consumption can reach 10 litres'; 'In winter with warming up, average consumption is 9-10 litres, in summer about 6-7 (in town without jams)'; 'Minimum consumption of 5.3 – I checked! And that included 12-15 km of city driving out of every 100 km. But that is if you don't put your foot down. Maximum is 8.5, I could never get it any higher.' In short, the exact figures may vary depending on conditions and driving style, but the general picture is clear – 6-7 l/100 km on the motorway, 8.5-9 l/100 km in town. Naturally, the 'junior' engine in the range, the 1.3-litre 1NR-FE with 99 bhp, drinks a little less, especially since it was only paired with a manual gearbox: 'Consumption of around 7-8 litres in town. On the motorway – about 6.' What is more surprising is this: versions with the flagship 1.8-litre 2ZR-FAE engine producing 140 bhp, which in the versions supplied to us worked exclusively with the CVT, have almost exactly the same consumption as the Corolla with the 1.6-litre engine: 'Consumption on the motorway – 6-7, in town – 9-10'; 'no more than 10 litres in town and 7 l/100 km on the motorway.' Moreover, despite the minimal difference in power, the car with the 1.8-litre engine feels significantly more dynamic: 'I tested both engines and, without hesitation, chose the 1.8: despite the small difference in horsepower, it feels a whole lot livelier.'

The interior has not earned much praise either. Nevertheless, many are quite satisfied with it: 'The interior is understated but not cheap'; 'The instrument cluster is austere, and the screen is from the last century, but it is perfectly readable in all conditions, with big numerals, as if for the visually impaired. The digital clock is from the same school – not only is it off-centre, but it looks as if it was taken out of a Soviet television set.' There is the occasional word of praise: 'The quality of materials is excellent, giving a feeling of a premium car.' But critical remarks are far more common: 'I dread to bring up the interior – it is dreary and dull, the materials are complete rubbish'; 'The cabin is far too plain, although everything you need is there'; 'The instruments and their controls are certainly boring, but there is nothing superfluous, everything is to hand, everything is convenient.'

Many authors fire critical arrows at the materials used: 'The trim materials are dreadful: the top of the dashboard is, of course, lovely – soft, good-quality plastic – but everything below it is production waste, and the doors are simply a nightmare. I have never come across such a dirt-magnet interior. The black material attracts everything; run a clean hand along the door and there is already a light smear on the fabric and plastic that will not simply wipe off. The seats are comfortable, but there is no adjustment for the seat cushion angle. The seat upholstery fabric is also terribly prone to marking'; 'The quality of materials is not the highest. But I did not expect nappa leather and wood trim in a car of this price segment'; 'There is no glovebox lighting. The upholstery is durable, but any dust and dirt show up terribly. Same for the armrest – although it is soft and non-slip. Glossy plastic around the stereo and gear lever. Dust, smears and fingerprints show up terribly.'

Many mention the rapid wear of the leather on the steering wheel. In short, the cabin reflects a regime of severe cost-cutting: 'The optitron instrument lighting has disappeared; in the manual version, the nice dials are not available at all, only in the top trim. The glossy black plastic insert on the centre console, à la piano lacquer, attracts dust instantly. And those clocks from the 90s with three tiny rubber buttons are a killer. The sunglasses holder was never up to much, and now it is even smaller – you could only store contact lenses in it. It is surprising, of course, how the Japanese strive to save on the little things'; 'Overall, the car gives the impression of maximum economy. I have never seen such a headliner in any car – some on the forums even claim it is made of paper. I don't know if it is paper or not, but it is cheap stuff; at the slightest cleaning it starts to fluff and show wear marks. The dashboard has a huge number of plastic elements – could they not have added some anti-squeak material? On a bumpy winter road, we get an unscheduled concert.'

Yes, squeaks and rattles – what drivers call 'crickets' – are mentioned by a great many owners in their reviews: 'Numerous visits to the dealer about "crickets" and squeaks in the cabin'; 'The "cricket" that appeared a year after purchase is undefeatable and elusive'; 'A squeak... a squeak appeared literally after six months, and it was not fixed under warranty. It squeaks around the stereo.' The sources of squeaks can be not only the interior plastic panels but also the door check straps.

For very many owners, the shortcomings in the interior design and the quality of the materials used are fully compensated by the interior space. Some believe that in this respect the Toyota Corolla can easily compete with the far more popular and larger Camry, which belongs to the D-segment: 'Spacious cabin. My friends were surprised it was a Corolla – they thought it was a Camry. A 1.9 m tall person sat in the front, behind him sat someone 1.85 m tall, and there was still plenty of knee room'; 'The cabin is very roomy; I can sit behind myself comfortably without my knees touching the seatback. Three people can sit in the back in comfort'; 'A huge plus is the enormous cabin, like a D-class car. There is more room in the back than in a Mazda 6 or an Opel Insignia.'

The level of equipment also looks very respectable, especially in the top trims: 'There is a reversing camera, Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, leather steering wheel'; 'The fully loaded "Prestige+" trim is pure convenience – the manufacturers thought of everything to make this car the best in both price and comfort'; 'I can easily compare the fully loaded Toyota Corolla with the Toyota Camry, only the Corolla is cheaper.' But here too, review authors note a certain tendency to economise and express their bewilderment: why, even in the not-so-cheap trims, are only the front windows electric, and why did even top-spec cars require a whole range of media system modules – navigation, for instance – to be purchased separately as options?

The boot, however, is assessed differently by owners. Some consider its volume more than adequate: 'A good boot for a saloon – a pram and plenty more will fit in.' But others are convinced that the Corolla's boot is nothing special: 'The boot is modest – a set of four summer tyres would not fit.' Again, some note the absence of designated places in the boot for a first-aid kit and other essentials needed on the road. Naturally, all this applies only to saloon-bodied cars. The estate is far more capacious: 'The boot area is huge, the floor is flat, the rear seats fold down and there is even more space. You could sleep in it'; 'There is more room in the Fielder for rear passengers – the seats don't slide, but the backrest angle is adjustable. Sitting both in the front and the back is more comfortable and convenient.'

Most online reviewers agree that if you are looking for a car for driving thrills, emotion and excitement, the Corolla is not for you. Even those who are generally quite satisfied with the car admit this: 'If your goal is for the car to get you from point A to point B, and it does so without adventures or incidents, then it is a good car, and you will come to love it'; 'The Corolla is a car for the consumer who chooses with their head, not their emotions'; 'A car for balanced, even-tempered lovers of the Japanese automotive industry.' If the sight of the tail lights of the car in front does not send you into a quiet rage or fill you with the urge to overtake the scoundrel immediately and without compromise, then the Corolla, with any engine, is perfectly suitable for everyday use both in town and on the motorway. And yet many feel the lack of performance: 'The 1.3-litre engine is, of course, a bit weak for this car'; 'The 1.6 engine is a bit underpowered; I would like something stronger.'

There are, of course, those who express themselves rather bluntly: 'A dreary old-folks' car'; 'The Corolla is only good for pensioners and for those who have moved up to it from a Lada. And as for the fairy tales that the 1.6 engine tears away from the lights – tell that to your grandmother.' But let us forgive these authors their maximalism, especially since CVTs indeed cannot 'tear away from the lights' and do not like sudden acceleration. As one owner, completely satisfied with his Corolla, wrote in his review: 'The car is probably not really for young people who expect driving thrills or flashy glamour and gloss. I have defined my main priorities – reliability, comfort (without frills), safety and... reliability once again!'

At the same time, all the quotes above do not mean that the reviewers consider the eleventh-generation Corolla a sluggish Tortoise on the motorway and a complete 'vegetable' in town. No, the car can travel quite quickly, and in city traffic the person behind the wheel does not feel like an outsider at the party of life: 'Dynamic enough for city driving, and it handles confidently on the motorway. Parking in tight spots is also easy thanks to good manoeuvrability.' It is simply that everything in this car – the powertrain and the suspension – is designed for relaxed driving.

The lack of performance felt by many reviewers of the Toyota Corolla XI is almost entirely compensated for by ride comfort. Some note it in passing, while others are openly admiring. 'The suspension is typically Toyota – nice and soft, which pleases. It holds the road very confidently, no floating on the motorway, and the CVT is smooth'; 'At 170 km/h it holds the road beautifully. The suspension is moderately soft, unlike the Koreans. The ride is refined. The engine is not punchy, but it is flexible and pulls well from low revs'; 'The suspension is very comfortable – it swallows potholes, craters and chasms without noticing. There are slight body rolls, but the car is not a racer, so I don't consider that a drawback. The engine is quite sufficient for any manoeuvre. Full torque comes in at 4,000 rpm. It runs quietly and warms up quickly.'

Of course, the softness of the suspension has its consequences: 'At speed bumps you have to brake down to 30 km/h'; 'The suspension has become softer, but it bottoms out sooner.' Nevertheless, owners give a more than positive overall assessment of ride comfort: 'A very easy car to drive and live with, especially in a big metropolis. At the same time, I have had to travel long distances (to St Petersburg, then to Karelia and back). I did not get tired on the way; everything was comfortable'; 'Drove with the family to the south, 2,100 km each way. Comfortable to drive, the suspension swallows all the bumps, so you can happily take this city car on long journeys.' And crucially, the suspension tuning strikes a certain balance: 'The suspension is soft, yet handling does not suffer'; 'The chassis is a superb balance between handling and comfort. The steering is precise.'

In terms of handling, reviewers praise not the car's talents for enthusiastic cornering but its directional stability: 'You drive at 120 km/h on the Moscow Ring Road – the car goes as if on rails. The electric power steering is excellent. No need to make constant corrections or grip the wheel with both hands; there is no sense of fear or constant tension – a complete feeling of safety and control over the car'; 'High directional stability for this class on mountain switchbacks.'

Owners also praise the other components that ensure comfort on journeys – the comfortable seats and the steering wheel adjustable for both reach and rake.

Assessments of the CVT are somewhat more mixed. Some liked how it works with the naturally aspirated engines: 'The new-generation engine with dual VVT-i is very flexible and torquey. The CVT is beyond praise; the 1.6 engine is more than enough for me, and it is economical to boot.' But there are also those who find the CVT's inability to accelerate quickly from a standstill irritating and even frightening: 'I pulled out from a minor road onto a main road in front of a bus, convinced I would make it. But it would not engage beyond second gear, and the bus, rapidly gaining on me, only just managed to swerve around me by a miracle.'

Very many authors note that the almost religious attitude towards the brand has led to many Toyota models being frankly overpriced in our country. In their opinion, the Corolla is one of them: 'Not that quality, not that price, not those driving characteristics. It is not worth that much'; 'A good car, but not worth the money'; 'The price of the car is inflated – the Toyota Corolla is simply not worth that much.' Of course, not everyone thinks so; there are those who write that the car is 'in an acceptable price range' and 'the best option in terms of price/quality ratio.' But for every review listing the price among the virtues, there are at least three or four whose authors list the price among the main drawbacks.

In this case, we are talking about the official prices at Toyota dealerships, and these reviews were written when the brand had not yet left the Russian market. But if you look at today's second-hand market, the situation is exactly the same: a used Corolla costs noticeably more than its classmates from other brands of comparable age and in comparable trim. And the comparison with them does not always favour the Toyota: 'I have no complaints about the car itself; it is just that the same Ceed, C4, Focus and Octavia have a better-quality interior. The Ceed, C4 and Octavia have better sound insulation. In terms of top-speed capabilities, the characteristics are very similar, but the Octavia with its 122 bhp engine is more dynamic. The same C4, Cerato and Elantra can be equipped with 150 bhp engines, and the Corolla has nothing to counter such cars with – let alone the 180 bhp Octavia.'

Very many reviewers emphasise that the Toyota Corolla XI, in any variant, is perfectly suited to the role of a family car. And these 'family values' encompass many of the model's virtues. Some of these virtues we have already discussed; others we will touch upon shortly.

So what matters for a family car? First and foremost – sufficient interior space. Here is what owners write on this subject: 'The boot is capacious; I drove with the family to the south twice, and there was room for everyone and for the luggage with the pram'; 'The car is perfect for a family. Two children do not get in each other's way in the back seat, and two child seats fit perfectly.' The Corolla Fielder estate deserves a special mention: 'The Toyota Corolla Fielder is a very practical family car. Suitable for hauling things and even for travelling.' A fairly important point is that when the rear seats are folded down, you get a flat load floor, meaning that during a trip, parents can settle down for the night in a tent and put the children to bed in the car. Or vice versa.

One thing to bear in mind is that the Corolla does not possess any particular off-road talents, even within its segment. The not-very-generous ground clearance and fragile bumpers demand extra caution when leaving the tarmac. For some, this was a reason to switch to a crossover: 'Because of the limited ability to get to holiday spots (ground clearance and lack of four-wheel drive), I decided to sell it.'

Even the car's interior equipment can affect the peaceful atmosphere within the family: 'Dual-zone climate control is a rarity in this class, and it is very convenient. I get hot, while my wife is always cold – we set the climate as needed: I set 19 degrees, my wife sets 26, and everyone is happy.' Indeed – 'the most important thing is the weather at home.'

Finally, the Corolla fully lives up to its reputation as a car that does not drain the owner's wallet with constant but always unexpected repairs: 'If you need a versatile car that will not squander your family budget, buy it without a second thought'; 'A reliable, high-quality and easy-to-maintain car! Perfectly suited for a family, for outdoor recreation. It truly suits both young couples and those who are older. To the countryside, on holiday, to the dacha, to the shops – anywhere you like..... "Toyota – drive your dream." They are not wrong. It really does help you fulfil your dream.'

Where reviewers are quite unanimous is that the level of sound insulation in the cabin of the Toyota Corolla XI can in no way be called adequate. They simply express this opinion with varying degrees of vehemence. Some write: 'The sound insulation is a bit weak. But that is if you are being picky' or 'Sound insulation is average. I had the wheel arches soundproofed almost immediately. At high speeds, the noise level is not annoying.' Some even note 'excellent sound insulation', but there are literally a handful of those. The majority criticise it, and sometimes quite harshly.

'The wheel arches are completely bare. You absolutely have to soundproof them. Despite the general quietness in the cabin, the sound when hitting a puddle is very loud'; 'The overall noise level in the cabin is astonishing. On the motorway, it feels like being on a plane, with the noise mostly coming from the wheels'; 'On the motorway, you just want to get out of the car – there is no sound insulation at all!'; 'The main source of noise was the wheel arches. The roar from coarse asphalt brazenly filled the entire cabin. And the stones flying up from the wheels and hitting the arch liners made such a racket that it sounded as if only that liner stood between me and the stones,' write owners in their reviews. And these are far from all their critical remarks.

In addition to the wheel arches, owners also cite the engine as a source of noise: 'The engine noise is like a drill – thank the CVT for that: as soon as I went to overtake, it held 6,000 rpm for the entire manoeuvre. Like a fly buzzing in your ear'; 'There is no sound insulation, literally. Under the bonnet, the roof and everywhere else – it is thin Japanese paper made from waste. How stingy these Japanese are!' The CVT also comes in for criticism: 'There is noise in the cabin when accelerating up to 80 km/h from the CVT. It whines constantly, as a Toyota centre employee explained.' Aerodynamic noises are also noted: 'A whistle appeared around the driver's door mirror, and at around 100 km/h it gets much louder and becomes irritating.' Owners try to solve this problem by fitting arch liners and additional sound insulation, but this does not always help: 'I fitted a set of arch liners. It became a bit quieter around the arches, but not significantly.' In a word, owners consider the weak sound insulation to be the model's biggest drawback.

What owners value most about the Corolla, however, is its reliability, and on this they are remarkably unanimous: 'The car is top-notch in terms of reliability!'; 'Reliability and confidence in the car. It is in everything – in every button, in every bulb'; 'Reliability: it is a Toyota (albeit Turkish-built), and that says it all! Nothing, absolutely nothing ever broke! Nothing at all!'.

In the reviews, authors engage in a virtual contest of 'who has the highest mileage with visits to the service centre only for scheduled maintenance', and those who bought the car on the second-hand market also take part: 'I drove 85,000 kilometres with no problems whatsoever, and I was the second owner'; 'Having driven almost 120,000 (240,000 in total), I did not spend a single rouble on the suspension. Everything is alive and working, requiring no investment.' The champion, however, turned out to be the author of a review who used the car for work as a taxi: 'I sold the Corolla. The real mileage was over 323,000 km. You can laugh, but there were no problems at all.'

And in unison with him are the statements of other authors: 'Mileage of 72,000 – I only changed the oil, filters and front brake pads. Nothing else ever broke or needed repair'; 'I drove 120,000 km – did nothing. Scheduled oil and filter changes, changed the CVT oil at 80,000 and changed the pads once all round.'

Of course, there are also reviews from owners who were unlucky and did run into the need for unscheduled intervention: 'Under warranty replacements: CVT replaced at 57,000 km, calipers and pads replaced all round, and little things like the door check straps – replaced three times all round, to no avail, they still squeak'; 'At 95,000 the steering rack went, along with a bearing and the anti-roll bar bushes. Luckily, I made it before the warranty ran out.' According to one discussion participant, 'the steering rack goes on all of them by 100,000 km.'

The rather weak paintwork is mentioned in many reviews, but not as a specific ailment of the Corolla model, rather as a general trend in the modern automotive industry. As for CVT failures, practically no one writes about them: 'People's fear of the CVT gearbox is unjustified! These gearboxes are quite good; the main thing is to service them on time and with proper consumables.'

Very many reviews mention the reliability of the eleventh-generation Corolla in low temperatures: 'It starts at minus 20 from the key fob on the first turn'; 'The Toyota Corolla is a very reliable car, and I would not swap it for a "German" with its mythical quality, whose owners are afraid to use their cars in frosts below -30, because either the seals get pushed out or something else happens.'

Overall, the reliability and undemanding nature of the Toyota Corolla raise no doubts in anyone's mind. Moreover, one reviewer told how he searched for the ideal car: 'The ideal car for me is one that wants nothing more than fuel and scheduled maintenance' – and that he found his ideal in the Corolla. Other authors agree with him: 'With normal daily driving, such a car can be used for 10 years without extra investment'; 'Toyota quality never lets you down, and if you need a car that will do plenty of miles rather than sit in service centres, I recommend it. In six years of ownership, I only changed the pads all round and the cigarette lighter fuse'; 'You could say it is like a wife you have lived with for 20 years and know what to expect from her. You know she will start, get you there and never let you down.'