The Toyota Corolla is offered in five basic trim levels, with several sub trims for various drivetrain configurations. The Base L version of the Corolla comes standard with a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine making 139 horsepower, sending that power to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission-- a first for the Corolla. The hybrid version is available on the next level up, the LE. The hybrid Corolla uses a gasoline engine in conjunction with an electric motor to produce some great fuel economy numbers, with a claimed combined 52 mpg. The SE and XSE get a brand new 2.0L engine that makes a robust 169 horsepower, for a more fun driving experience along with slightly better fuel economy than the base 1.8L engine. For those who want the most fun driving experience out of the Corolla, the SE is available with a 6-speed manual transmission.
Standard features on the Base Corolla L include LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights, an integrated backup camera, wi-fi, Amazon Alexa Connectivity, Toyota's Lane Tracing Assist system, a 7-inch touch-screen with Apple CarPlay compatibility and Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 Suite of safety features. That means all versions of the Corolla come with a pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure warning with steer assist, Automatic high beams, road sign assistance and a blind spot monitor.
Stepping up to the LE adds just $450 to the bottom line. It adds 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, remote keyless entry, a bigger 8-inch touch screen and a premium fabric for the seats.
The SE comes with sporty looking 18-inch wheels, grey metallic side rocker panels, a rear spoiler, LED accent lighting for the greyed-out grille, a sport mode and of course the bigger, more efficient engine.
The XLE comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, SofTex trimmed front seats with a heating function, a nicer sound system, a power tilt and sliding sunroof with a sunshade, a 7-inch multi-information display in the dashboard and Toyota's Connected Services with a 3 year subscription.
The top of the line XSE combines the sporty exterior appearance of the SE with the more luxurious interior from the XLE. Available option packages on the XSE includes a connectivity package with Sirius XM satellite radio, a nicer stereo, more USB ports, voice recognition and a Siri Eyes Free mode among other things. Even adding all available packages, the Corolla still falls well short of costing anywhere close to $30,000.
Exciting New Styling
Available Hybrid Drivetrain
Standard Safety Features
Legendary Toyota Reliability
Fun To Drive
The Toyota Corolla is totally redesigned for 2020, meaning the world's best-selling automobile is brand new from the ground up. The most obvious difference is the styling, that while the Corolla has evolved over the years, this new design is much more dramatic than ever before. The Corolla is now one of the best-looking compact cars out there, featuring a large, sporty grille and a more aggressive rear end. Inside, the new car rides better and offers more usable room for drivers and passengers. This year, Toyota have added a hybrid system to the Corolla, borrowing technology from the legendary Prius to offer some truly eye-opening fuel economy numbers.
The Corolla continues to be the excellent value proposition that has made it a hit for more than five decades. With a base price of under $20,000, the Corolla offers virtually everything a car owner realistically needs. But of course, the Corolla is far more than basic transportation these days, offering a big dose of entertainment along with a good amount of luxury should buyers want that. Despite this, even the most expensive trim level, the XSE has a base price of just over $25,000, proving that value can be found everywhere in the Corolla lineup.
