2023 Toyota Corolla review
Toyota Corolla highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Fuel-efficient
- Comfortable ride
- Intuitive controls
Cons
- Slow acceleration
- Intrusive highway road noise
- Limited rear headroom
Mileage (EPA estimate)
(data not available)
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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The 2023 Toyota Corolla earns praise for reliability and affordability
The Toyota Corolla has been the go-to choice for economical and reliable transportation for over 50 years. The 2023 Corolla continues that tradition in hatchback, hybrid, Corolla Cross SUV, and in the case of this review, the sedan.
For 2023, the Corolla received a rather significant update, with a new infotainment system, improved driver-assist features, and minor styling revisions. The Corolla lineup has also been pared back to only the LE, SE, and XSE trims, all of which get last year’s more powerful engine upgrade, a 169-horsepower four-cylinder. The manual transmission option has been dropped, though.
The Corolla justifiably leans heavily on its reputation for reliability, but it’s not what we consider the overall best in its class. Contemporary rivals such as the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, and Mazda 3 have it squarely beat in a number of areas by being more powerful, comfortable, or practical. Some also meet or beat the Corolla in terms of fuel economy, too.
All Toyota Corolla years
What is new for the 2023 Toyota Corolla?
- The L, SE Apex, SE Night Shade, XLE, and XSE Apex trims have been discontinued for 2023.
- Remote Start and Navigation System features are now available as options on select trims.
2023 Toyota Corolla trims
LE:
- 169-hp, 151-lb-ft of torque 2.0L
- Side Airbags
- Cloth Seats
- Rear View Camera
- Power Mirrors
- Traction Control
- Lane Departure Warning
- Rear Defroster
- Automated Cruise Control
- View our Toyota Corolla LE inventory
SE:
- Includes all features available on the LE
- Rear Spoiler
- Alloy Wheels
- View our Toyota Corolla SE inventory
XSE:
- Includes all features available on the SE
- Sunroofs
- Smart Key
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Power Seats
- Leatherette & Cloth
- Front Seat Heaters
- View our Toyota Corolla XSE inventory
5 reasons to buy the 2023 Toyota Corolla
What We Like
Fuel-efficient: The base LE trim has an EPA-estimated 32 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 35 mpg in combined driving.
Comfortable ride: Small economy cars often suffer from a rough ride due to their short wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) as well as cost-saving measures that don’t allow for more advanced suspension components. The Corolla, though, manages to deliver a pleasantly smooth ride even when it's driving over rougher road surfaces. As a result, both commuting and road trips should be more enjoyable.
Intuitive controls: The Corolla’s simple dashboard layout and design makes its many features intuitive and easy to use. They’re all well placed within reach, clearly labeled, and logically grouped, so you’ll likely never have to consult the owner’s manual. We like that there are plenty of buttons to control the many systems without having to use the more distracting touchscreen.
What Needs Improvement
Slow acceleration: With only 169 horsepower being channeled through a rather lifeless continuously variable transmission, the Corolla needs 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph. The Honda Civic’s base engine is a fraction of a second quicker, while the available turbocharged upgrade gets it there in 7.9 seconds. The Mazda 3 is a relative rocket, with the base model reaching 60 mph in 8.3 seconds and the turbo in only 6.1 seconds. The Corolla isn’t the slowest, though, as the base Hyundai Elantra needs 9.4 seconds.
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Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Toyota Corolla an overall reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Toyota Corolla 1st out of 46 among Compact Cars.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Toyota CorollaToyota Corolla features and specs
LE 2WD 4D Sedan
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automated Cruise Control
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Lane Departure Warning
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Alloy Wheels
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Remote Start
- Smart Key
- Sunroof(s)
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.0L
Horsepower
169
Torque (ft-lbs)
151
Engine type
Gas
Fuel capacity
13.2
Wheelbase
106.3"
Overall length
182.3"
Width
70.1"
Height
56.5"
Leg room
F 42"/R 34.8"
Head room
F 38.3"/R 37.1"
Front tires
P205/55HR16
Rear tires
P205/55HR16
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2023 Toyota Corolla FAQ
The Toyota Corolla received a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks the Toyota Corolla as 0 out of 46 among Compact Car
The 2023 Toyota Corolla has received an average 4.2 out of 5 stars from our customers. If you're in the market for a 2023 Toyota Corolla, check out reviews from customers just like you. 2023 Toyota Corolla Reviews.
Here is what's new for the 2023 Toyota Corolla:
- Remote Start
- Navigation System
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