These days, the American automotive consumer’s tastes are swinging more and more into the SUV and pickup truck camp. There are a few reasons for this, and when it comes to the SUV specifically, the segment has continued to offer more and more versatility while also providing a more and more comfortable, car-like ride. In other words, the crossover SUV in America can be compared to the Fiat 500 in ’50s-era Italy: it ticks all the boxes.
However, while the crossover SUV continues to dominate in the States, there are a few outliers that continue to do well in a crossover-dominated market. One such model, the Toyota Corolla, has steadily showcased an ability to defy the odds and put up strong sales numbers. A litany of reasons factor into this phenomenon, with one of the largest being Toyota’s peerless knack for making reliable cars that also provide excellent value for money.
Related
You have $25k to spend on a new small sedan: Are you taking the Mazda3, Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla?
These three Japanese sedans are closely matched, but I’d go for the Mazda. It has the most premium design inside and out, is more powerful than its rivals, and handles well for what it is. Which of the three would be your choice?
We’ve chosen the Toyota Corolla for this write-up due to its ability to continually showcase strong sales numbers in the United States, whereas some of its competitors have suffered a decline in popularity.
The Little Car With a Big Following
Toyota Corolla Key Points
- Currently in its 12th generation
- Introduced to the United States in 1968
- Toyota shifted 232,908 examples in 2024
- Sales of the GR Corolla, a high-performance variant, began in 2022
In order to put the Toyota Corolla’s popularity in the States into perspective, we only need to mention a few other compact cars that have gone to the wayside over the past decade. The Ford Focus, once an extremely popular compact car in the US, was discontinued at the end of the 2010s due to extremely poor sales. There’s also the Chevrolet Cruze, the Dodge Dart, and even the Kia Rio, which have also met their fate in the American market.
Yet, the Toyota Corolla lives on. It’s not the only compact to continue fighting, but with the proverbial deaths of so many other members of the disappearing segment occurring recently, it speaks volumes regarding the Corolla’s popularity and value for money. Its sales numbers don’t lie, as only popular cars can put up nearly a quarter of a million annual sales in the United States. While the Corolla’s 2024 sales figures pointed to a period of stagnation, staying relatively the same as the previous year is preferred to diminishing sales.
Year-on-Year Toyota Corolla Sales Figures 2020–2024
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Annual Sales Total |
237,179 |
223,215 |
222,216 |
232,369 |
232,908 |
*Info courtesy of GoodCarBadCar.net
Sales of the Corolla have enjoyed a relatively stable ebb and flow since 2005, with the highest number sold occurring in that timespan in 2006 with a total of 387,388. The Corolla’s worst year over the past two decades occurred in 2022. Of course, the Corolla is not immune to the gradual cooling of the compact car market in the US, but its relatively strong sales figures point towards a stable near-future for the little sales titan.
Specs And Features
While there are myriad engines offered across the Corolla’s worldwide market presence, we only get to see three in the US. The vast majority of Corolla and Corolla hatchbacks in the US take advantage of a 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder mill which lacks a turbocharger. A hybrid model is offered with a slightly smaller gasoline engine, and the high-performance “GR” Corolla variant employs the use of a 1.6-liter inline-three mill equipped with a turbocharger.
We’ll break down the detailed specs of each powerplant in the table below:
|
2.0L NA Inline-Four |
1.8L NA Inline-Four Hybrid |
1.6L Turbocharged Inline-Three (GR Only) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
169 hp |
138 hp |
300 hp |
|
Torque |
151 lb-ft |
105 lb-ft |
295 lb-ft |
|
0–60 mph Time |
8.2 seconds |
9.0 seconds |
4.9 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
111 mph |
107 mph |
143 mph |
|
Bore x Stroke |
80.5mm x 97.6mm |
80.5mm x 88.3mm |
87.5mm x 89.7mm |
|
Compression Ratio |
13.0:1 |
13.0:1 |
10.5:1 |
|
Curb Weight |
3,150 lbs (XSE) |
2,850–3,250 lbs |
3,274–3,347 lbs |
*Specs courtesy of Toyota
Transferring power from the 2.0-liter mill seen in most current Corollas is a standard CVT-transmission with “Direct Shift” capability, meaning it offers the ability to simulate a nine-speed semi-automatic transmission with a dedicated launch gear. Hybrid models take advantage of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive eCVT, and GR models carry a standard six-speed manual, with an optional eight-speed automatic having been recently added to the GR Corolla’s offering list as of 2024. Currently, there is no manual transmission option for any Corolla in the US apart from the GR variant.
Trims And Pricing (2025 Model Year)
-
Sedans
- LE: Starting at $22,325
- SE: Starting at $24,765
- FX: Starting at $26,650
- XSE: Starting at $27,080
- Hybrid LE: Starting at $23,825
- Hybrid SE: Starting at $26,265
- Hybrid XLE: Starting at $28,190
-
Hatchbacks
- SE: Starting at $23,780
- Nightshade: Starting at $24,780
- XSE: Starting at $27,080
- GR: Starting at $38,860
*Pricing courtesy of Toyota and does not include potential fees
New Boy On The Block: The GR Corolla
In 2022, Toyota decided to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Honda’s Civic Type R with the GR Corolla, another addition to the fast-growing Gazoo Racing family. In order to help separate the GR Corolla from the rest of the lineup, Gazoo Racing included a unique, three-cylinder engine that was made specifically for the GR Corolla and GR Yaris, the latter of which is not sold in the US. It also sports its own unique six-speed manual transmission that isn’t shared with the rest of the Corolla lineup. Even its eight-speed automatic is unique to the GR variant.
To give the GR Corolla another leg up, this time over the famously-front-wheel-drive Civic Type R, it comes standard with an all-wheel drive system, another major system shared with the GR Yaris. A total of three trim levels are available for the GR Corolla, beginning with the base “Core” iteration. Its mid-range version is called the “Premium”, and the “Premium Plus” tops off the domestic range.
Toyota Also Makes America’s Favorite Sedan
For the past 22 years, the Toyota Camry has maintained its place as America’s best-selling sedan. It would have been 27 years had the Honda Accord not won the title in 2001. Pedantics aside, the Toyota Camry has proven itself to be great value for money, along with being fastidiously reliable, with many owners reporting total mileages in excess of 250,000 or even 300,000 miles. Even higher numbers have been reported.
These days, the Toyota Camry is larger and more sophisticated than it’s ever been. It’s also a hybrid-only model as of 2025, ditching conventional ICE power in favor of a hybrid-assisted powertrain. Because of this, the 2025 Camry can manage an estimated combined fuel economy of up to 51 mpg in the front-wheel-drive-equipped LE grade. For the 2025 model year Camry, J.D. Power recently awarded an 86 out of a possible 100 points for its projected reliability. As cars continue to become more complicated mechanically and electronically, a score like that bodes very well for the Camry’s future as a whole.
Sources: Toyota, GoodCarBadCar.net, FuelEconomy.gov
