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Toyota Corolla (10th Gen)

09-13 · Toyota Corolla

91out of 100

The E140 fixed everything the E120 left unfinished, the 2ZR-FE engine is cleaner, ESC is finally standard, and the IIHS went to Good.

Score breakdown

95/ 100Reliability×2.587/ 100True Annual Cost×3.095/ 100Safety×2.081/ 100Practicality×1.5100/ 100Repairability×1.0

Our take

What it really is

A properly sorted compact. The 2ZR-FE replaced the oil-consumption-prone 1ZZ-FE and added Dual VVT-i. ESC became standard in 2009. IIHS upgraded from Acceptable to Good. The E140 is the Corolla that actually deserves its reputation.

Why it's on this list

The sweet spot of the Corolla lineup for used buyers. Cheap enough to be accessible, reliable enough to ignore, and ESC-standard so it passes a modern safety bar that the E120 missed.

The honest trade-offs

Interior quality is still average. The 5-speed manual is crude. 2009 models predate the full 2ZR-FE refinement, prefer 2010+. Fuel economy dropped slightly vs. the E120.

What to buy and what to avoid

11-13 LE or S with automatic. ESC is standard on all trims from 2009. Avoid the first model year (2009) if you can, slight teething issues with the 2ZR-FE were sorted by 2010.

Annual cost of ownership

Fuel (12k mi)
$1,320 (USD)[5]
Maintenance
$362 (USD)[1]
Tires (prorated)
$160 (USD)
Insurance (25yr male)
$1,900 (USD)[8]
Insurance (40yr female)
$1,460 (USD)[8]
Total (25yr male)
$2,382 (USD)
Total (40yr female)
$1,942 (USD)

Key specs

MPG combined
30[5]
MPG city / hwy
26 / 35[5]
Engine
1.8L 4-cyl (2ZR-FE)
Horsepower
132 hp
Torque
128 lb-ft
Seats
5
Cargo max
13 cu ft
Stock tires
195/65R15
Body
Sedan (trunk)
Rear seats
60/40 split

Safety

NHTSA overall
5/5 ★[2]
Rollover risk
15%[2]
IIHS rating
Good[4]
ESC standard
Yes

Rust vulnerability

Overall severity
Low
Frame rust risk
Low

Reliability data

RepairPal annual cost
$362 (USD)[1]
Industry avg annual cost
$652 (USD)[1]
RepairPal rating
4.5/5[1]
Unscheduled visits/yr
0.3[1]
Severe issue probability
8%[1]
250k-mile survival
65%[7]

Repairability

Headlight type
Halogen
DIY replacement cost
$18 (USD)
At major retailer
Yes
Headlight benchmark
10/10

References

Sources used to research and score this vehicle. Superscript numbers in the sections above link here.

  1. [1]dataset
    RepairPal

    Annual repair cost, visit frequency, and severe issue probability. Used in the reliability formula.

  2. [2]government
    NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

    Federal crash test star ratings and rollover percentages. Used in the safety formula.

  3. [3]government
    NHTSA Technical Service Bulletins

    Manufacturer-issued service bulletins flagging known defects. Used in the PPI checklist generator.

  4. [4]dataset
    IIHS Safety Ratings

    Insurance Institute crash test ratings (small overlap, side, headlight quality). Used in the safety formula and the repairability headlight benchmark.

  5. [5]government
    EPA Fuel Economy Guide

    Official combined/city/highway MPG figures. Used in the true annual cost formula.

  6. [6]forum thread
    CarComplaints

    Owner-reported defect patterns by mileage and year. Used in the known-issues list and PPI checklist.

  7. [7]dataset
    iSeeCars Long-Term Reliability

    Probability of reaching 250,000 miles by make and model. Used in the reliability formula.

  8. [8]publication
    Bankrate / Insurify Insurance Estimates

    Full-coverage insurance estimates by driver profile (25M, 40F). Used in the true annual cost formula.

Before you buy

Looking to buy a Toyota Corolla?

Start with our fully customized pre-purchase inspection checklist for you or your mechanic. Three versions: one for buyers who are not mechanics, one for enthusiasts with tools, one for handing off to a professional. Print or save as PDF.

Get the checklist

Modernize this car

CarPlay, backup cameras, blind spot monitoring, TPMS, and dashcams. Researched picks and honest watch-outs.

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