Used 2019 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla has long been one of Toyota’s most popular models — indeed, one of the world’s best-sellers — and it has continued to find a place in an American market that has rapidly shifted from sedans to SUVs and crossover SUVs. To help maintain momentum, Toyota is introducing a 4-door Corolla Hatchback for 2019, but that car is all-new, completely different, and reviewed separately. But the 4-door Corolla goes into the new model-year entirely unchanged. It still has plenty to win over buyers, including an attractive design, a comfortable and reasonably roomy interior and lots of features for the money, particularly when it comes to the standard Toyota Safety Sense package including an impressive list of standard features such as pre-collision warning and adaptive cruise control.

While there’s plenty to like about the Toyota Corolla, it is not the car for folks who want aggressive driving dynamics. It offers what often is called a “boulevard ride.” For those who aren’t looking to take corners hard, however, that’s a definite plus. The Corolla offers a smooth ride that is comfortable over long drives. It doesn’t wallow, however, and the current model has much more responsive steering than earlier versions of the sedan. The base engine, a 132-horsepower 1.8-liter inline-4, has reasonable power, but the upgraded LE Eco takes that up to 140 horsepower. Acceleration is on the low end of the compact spectrum, especially compared to the likes of the latest Civic or Mazda3. Meanwhile, cabin noise is relatively low, except when you’re pushing the pedal to the floor.

Toyota took some hits for interior design in years past and it’s taken that to heart. The latest-generation Corolla may not set a benchmark but it has adopted an attractive design featuring quality plastics and soft-touch materials. Despite the sedan’s coupe-like roofline, there’s plenty of interior space, front and rear, as well as lots of room for cargo. The front seats are supportive yet comfortable over long distances, and drivers will appreciate the 2019 Corolla’s outward visibility.

The latest version of the Toyota Corolla has adopted a much more handsome exterior shape, moving away from its bland, utilitarian roots. The 2019 sedan offers two visual variants, with the L/LE/XLE/LE Eco models opting for a more conservative look than the sporty SE/XSE packages, with their vertical front vents, LED fog lights and all-red taillights.

STANDARD TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE-P
No other compact car offers the standard safety equipment found in the 2019 Toyota Corolla. The Safety Sense-P suite includes pre-collision warning and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning and assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams. Better still, the system is standard on every trim level.

INTERIOR DESIGN
For an entry-level compact, Toyota’s 2019 Corolla sedan offers a rather pleasing interior. An elegant dash design is bolstered by extensive use of soft-touch materials and quality plastics throughout the roomy and comfortable cabin.

We’ve already mentioned the array of active-safety systems now standard on even the base 2019 Toyota Corolla L. Beyond that the Corolla L offers LED headlights, a rearview camera with path projection, air conditioning, cruise control, and a tilt-telescope steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth controls on the spokes. There’s a USB port for phone recharging and audio integration, and a 6.1-inch touch-screen display audio system includes Toyota’s Entune multimedia bundle and Siri Eyes Free. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren’t available at all. The 6-way-adjustable driver’s seat and the rest of the interior are upholstered in comfortable cloth.

New Corolla LE models get automatic climate control, a multi-information display (MID) between the gauges, and nicer interior trim. The XLE and XSE get faux-leather seating surfaces and an 8-way-power driver’s seat, nicer instrumentation with a color MID, and push-button start and keyless entry. If you want a “sporty” Corolla, the SE can be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. SE models are generally equipped a little better than LE models, offering a color MID among other things. XLE, XSE and SE manual Corollas get a standard 7-inch infotainment system, which can be upgraded with an integrated navigation system.

There are two versions of the same 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine for Toyota’s 2019 Corolla. The one used in nearly all models offers 132 horsepower, routing it through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), or in the case of the SE, an available 6-speed manual transmission. The Corolla LE Eco offers a 140-horsepower version of the same engine, but it’s no hot-rod, instead being tuned for better fuel economy. Fuel economy is good, especially with the Eco getting up to 40 mpg on the highway, but these days that’s par for the course instead of class-leading. Some 2019 models may show slightly lower fuel-economy numbers due to changes in EPA testing.

1.8-liter inline-4 (L, LE, SE, XLE, and XSE)
132 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
128 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/35 mpg (SE 6-speed manual), 28/36 mpg (CVT, 16-inch wheels), 28/35 mpg (CVT, 17-inch wheels)

1.8-liter inline-4 (LE Eco)
140 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
126 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 30/40 mpg (15-inch wheels), 29/38 mpg (16-inch wheels)