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Family Hatch · Japan · 1996-Present

Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla — spec data and generation history.

press photo
Verdict
B
Years
1996-Present
Generations
5
Segment
Family Hatch

The world's best-selling nameplate of all time, briefly absent from the UK as the Auris (2007-2018) before returning under its proper Corolla name. E110 (1995-2000) and E120/E130 (2000-2006) hatched / saloon / estate, then E140/E150 (2006-2012 in some UK form via Auris); E170 (2013-2018) was the global Corolla saloon that ran alongside the European E150 Auris hatch (UK still got the Auris-badged hatch separately). The current E210 (2018-Present) is the proper UK return - hatch, saloon and Touring Sports estate, hybrid-only on the UK forecourt with 1.8 (140 bhp) or 2.0 (196 bhp) e-CVT setups. Bored your dad and his dad and his dad - and that is the point. The Mk5 hybrid is the rational hatch buy of the decade.

What changed

Era-to-era deltas

E110 1995-2000 → E120 2000-2006
BHP +10 bhp
MPG +5 mpg
Auris-era E150 2006-2018 → E170 saloon 2013-2018
Body Saloon only
BHP +0 bhp
MPG +5 mpg
Cabin Modernised
E170 saloon 2013-2018 → E210 2018-Present
BHP (hybrid) +45 bhp
MPG (hybrid) +10 mpg
0-60 mph (2.0 hybrid) -2.0 s

Generations

Click any generation for the full deep dive

press photo
1995-2000

E110

→

1.6 VVT-i - 110 bhp, 0-62 in 11.0s.

Verdict
C
BHP
110
0–60
11.0 s
Top
116 mph
MPG
30 mpg
Used
$400-$1,900
  • + Indestructible drivetrain
  • + Cheap as chips now
  • − Rust
  • − Cabin dated
press photo
2000-2006

E120

→

1.6 VVT-i - 110 bhp, 0-62 in 10.6s.

Verdict
C
BHP
110
0–60
10.6 s
Top
118 mph
MPG
33 mpg
Used
$600-$3,200
  • + Sharper styling than E110
  • + Verso MPV variant added
  • − 1ZZ-FE oil burning issue
  • − Cabin grey
press photo
2006-2018

E150 (Auris)

→

1.8 HSD hybrid - 134 bhp, 0-62 in 10.9s.

Verdict
B
BHP
134
0–60
10.9 s
Top
112 mph
MPG
58 mpg
Used
$1,900-$13,000
  • + Hybrid Synergy Drive 1.8 the reliability winner
  • + Burnaston-built
  • − UK called it Auris not Corolla
  • − CVT drone
press photo
2013-2018

E170 saloon

→

1.8 (M20A-FKS) - 138 bhp, 0-62 in 9.7s.

Verdict
C
BHP
138
0–60
9.7 s
Top
121 mph
MPG
33 mpg
Used
$4,400-$13,000
  • + Saloon body in Corolla family during Auris-only UK hatch years
  • + Bombproof drivetrain
  • − Saloon body limited UK availability (grey-import territory)
  • − Cabin grey
press photo
2018-Present

E210

→

2.0 hybrid - 196 bhp, 0-62 in 7.5s.

Verdict
B
BHP
196
0–60
7.5 s
Top
112 mph
MPG
48 mpg
Used
$15,000-$41,000
  • + Hybrid-only UK lineup - 1.8 or 2.0 e-CVT
  • + TNGA-C platform stiffness
  • − CVT drone under load
  • − Boot smaller than rivals (PHEV variants none in UK)

Known issues by generation

Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.

1995-2000 - E110
  • Rust on rear arches
  • 4A-FE oil leaks
  • Pre-cat fragmentation
2000-2006 - E120
  • 1ZZ-FE oil consumption
  • Rear arches
  • Dashboard rattles
2006-2018 - Auris (E150/E180)
  • 1.4 D-4D injectors
  • Hybrid 12V battery (Auris HSD)
  • Dashboard cracks
2013-2018 - E170 saloon
  • CVT shudder cold-start
  • A/C compressor early units
  • Touchscreen fade pre-2016
  • Dashboard rattles
2018-Present - E210
  • Hybrid 12V auxiliary battery
  • Brake squeal regen blend
  • Infotainment slow pre-2023 facelift

Rivals

Volkswagen Golf · Ford Focus · Honda Civic · Hyundai i30