2023 Toyota Corolla LE / Just Enough

[@CapELarry]

Yup. It’s basic. But that’s what a lot of people want. There are a lot of people who need reliable transportation but don’t care about too many features or handling.

[@theglobalwchannel4951]

Buy the new civic than its too ugly

[@kristiang.9600]

@@theglobalwchannel4951 Same fuel economy. $4K Cheaper. Faster. Better looking rear than the 2023 civic's Jetta lights.

[@nizzisnice5478]

it’s funny seeing people call it basic while i’m coming from a 1998 rav 4

[@johnkonde1975]

@@kristiang.9600 not 4k cheaper. Toyota has raised prices of the Corolla to over 23k including destination for the base LE gasoline model

[@Wrightn221]

@@nizzisnice5478 it's definitely is not basic.

[@beachbum1523]

Just bought a "used" 2023 Corolla LE, with a whopping 208 miles on her when we bought her. Lovin' every minute of it! 😎

[@johnkonde1975]

Still love it?

[@bobdylan-t1r]

Good deal. I still love mine. Already put 10k miles on it.

[@Arsing116]

Before Covid the base Corolla LE was going for $18.5k in my area all day. I keep kicking myself for not getting one.

[@Arsing116]

@Phillip Banes yeah I just bought a new car… paid 3k or more than I would’ve 3 yrs ago with less options than it had 3 yrs ago smh

[@Bonanzaking]

@@phillipbanes5484prices have been ridiculous for 50 years. Really a century if one has been keeping track long enough. My boomer father has been complaining about car prices for 50 years since he bought a mustang new for 3k.

[@DONVITO223]

3 years ago you were able to get a new LX civic for as low as $17,990 MSRP

[@jst_TV]

@Phillip Banes just make sure you change your oil religiously (every 3k miles) and keep ALL service records, Elantra/Sonata 1.8/2.0/2.4 engines love to start drinking oil but Hyundai will replace it under warranty if there's proof the car was maintained.

[@fightnight14]

Seriously? Damn this is sad

[@alengreen589]

reliable 👍, affordable 👍, room inside for 4 adults👍, HP for the price 👍, very low follow-up costs 👍, good MPG 👍, design 👎, thanks bro. 👍

[@theglobalwchannel4951]

Design trash ill trade mine to ugliest car in 2023 people with the new civic they be laughing at me

[@jaysarchive7325]

I agree, one of the ugliest compact cars out there but I’d still get one over all the competition lol!

[@thestranger1164]

@JCS Cant agree. The corolla has always had a eck look to it. Atleast the new civic is more slim now, and isn't 75% plastic like the corolla. Both good cars though.

[@janabsahib5429]

@@theglobalwchannel4951 its not as ugly as the models that came out 10 years ago. There were like 15 years when corollas were the ugliest cars on the planet. Not that bad anymore. Nothing flashy but not awkward looking either. Funny thing is that if you look at the asian version of the corolla, it looks like a lexus. so much better. Seems like toyota has an uglification department that does this to make the lexus models stand out more.

[@jaysarchive7325]

@@thomasb282 ooo that’s nice

[@rayemanuel7460]

Still driving my 2012 Corolla LE with 160K trouble free miles on it. Most reliable car I've ever owned!

[@robovac3557]

Wow, 11 yrs. That's great. Now 7 days later, can you tell us if its still as reliable?

[@briangil2163]

Yep - I have a 2014 L (4 speed auto, no cvt) with 120K - just maintenance. Check engine light went on once - just gas cap seal. Mine has been very reliable too.

[@ApolyonTheSoulRender]

Toyotas are great. My 2012 Prius Plug-In got up to 170k miles with no major repairs outside of brake rotors and spark plugs. Traded it in for a 2017 Prius and I'm expecting this to get up to the same kind of mileage with minimal maintenance too.

[@kristiang.9600]

@@ApolyonTheSoulRender Just curious, I've heard that Toyotas really keep their value even after 8-9 years. How much did they value your 2012 Prius Plug-In as a trade-in?

[@ApolyonTheSoulRender]

@@kristiang.9600 Bought for $9500 at 115k miles in 2018, traded-in at a large chain auto dealer for almost the same price late 2022. Hybrid values (especially Toyota) are crazy inflated now

[@patrarus6097]

Thanks for this straightforward, frank commentary. Please continue with these excellent reviews! I bought a used 2023 Corolla LE recently and am happy with it. I've had frills before; do not need them at this stage of my life. Reliability and safety are paramount for me. I bought this car out of necessity. My 2016 Kia Optima was hit by a truck and State Farm decided to total it. Fortunately, no injuries occurred. The Kia -- though more stylish and definitely more generous with space -- the glove compartment and console seemed almost as deep as the Pacific Ocean by comparison to the Corolla -- the Kia was burning oil, and that was scary! I had 63K miles on the Kia, and the company would have replaced the engine only if forced to do so! I think divine providence intervened before anything really serious happened.

[@jeffmorse645]

I think back to the 80s and 90s and people were driving much more "base" cars. This Corolla LE would be downright luxurious by Corolla standards back then. I get to thinking sometimes about the big push to cut emissions and mandating EVs to do it. If people had just continued to buy smaller more efficient cars like this (a common practice 30+ years ago) it would go a long way towards that goal just by using so much less fuel. I'm not even talking about hybrids either - just efficient smaller ICE cars would have helped. I understand market forces though and the public wanting big trucks and SUVs when gas got cheap again. But something like the Corolla LE would take care of the needs of many/most drivers. Its a great car, but people are spoiled now.

[@markcoopers1930]

Amen brother

[@jeffmorse645]

@BB49 Never heard of that one. Look at any pickup or SUV driving around. Do you see any more passengers in them than a compact car? Its usually one or two.

[@jeffmorse645]

@BB49 I'm talking about the US market and buyers and the justification for pushing EVs in some vain hope of stopping climate change when more efficient ICE engine cars over the decades could have accomplished the same thing. The light truck loopholes in the CAFE rules should have been closed.

[@DrClaw77]

IMO, the "market" pushed trucks and especially SUVs on consumers, because of the profit margins. The EV angle is a cheat code toward CAFE standards to boot. Regular cars are slowly lurching to extinction...

[@auntbarbara5576]

Great point. You said it exactly 👌

[@braetonwilson4296]

Great review Tyler! What's crazy is that the 2023 base Corolla LE with 169 horsepower is faster & more powerful than the 2023 base Honda Civic (158 horsepower), 2023 base Hyundai Elantra (147 horsepower), 2023 base Kia Forte (147 horsepower), and 2023 Nissan Sentra (149 horsepower)! Glad you mentioned Corolla's special CVT with a physical first gear because that not only makes the CVT more reliable, it also gives it slightly better off the line acceleration since that first gear can better capture low end torque than a traditional CVT. Also kudos to Toyota for making 2 rear USB-C ports standard on all 2023 Corollas.

[@braetonwilson4296]

@@thomasb282 Your dad made a very smart decision! Have you driven it? If so, is it fun to drive?

[@jabuti6172]

No illuminated vanity light, changed the suspension to torsion suspension and a lot of other things taken away! Shame on Toyota!

[@silvermom5513]

DavidTepperCoach is currently coaching anyone the secret patterns and the story behind what's happening in the stock market now. Profits: Currently on 6 figures..

[@RobertDoosh]

@@silvermom5513 DIAGF

[@psilocybebae7106]

About to pick mine up Monday! Can't wait 😀

[@BillKinsman]

I have had a 2015 Corolla LE and I still have a 2018 Corolla LE and I love them both. I will probably get another one when this one is worn out. Really good car that blows away the old air-cooled Beetle and the water-cooled Rabbit/Golf for economy, reliability, comfort and every other measurement you can think of. Just excellent!

[@Alaska_Gal]

9/15/23: MSRP is now $21,700. Just put a deposit down today. Sold my 2014 Chevy Spark, so this is a big upgrade for me.

[@johnkonde1975]

Msrp is now over 22k

[@bertblue9683]

This is exactly what we need more of. Simple, affordable and dependable. Cars today are unaffordable pieces of crap.

[@kevinkidneyy]

This is perfect car, Cold AC ,cloth seats . No extra stuff

[@DougMacniven]

A whole lot of useful information in a 9 minute package. Thanks for another terrific review that is a lot like the Corolla itself - everything a viewer needs, nothing he/she doesn't. Cheers and keep at it!

[@martinechols6683]

Simple and affordable. Thats all i need.

[@sea1tie1]

Im grateful for the Corolla. Often times in a car review i hear reviewers try to find any sort of hint of “luxury” in a vehicle. What happened to a car just being able to do its job?

[@Realistick]

The competition happened, a lot car reviewers get caught up with how nice some of the other interiors have gotten for not a whole lot more money. I think it’s something that should be mentioned as it’s important to know how the car stacks up to its competitors, but it’s also important to understand who the car is and isn’t for.

[@mikehusky3967]

The physical 1st gear helps a lot on cvt wear and tear. Toyota engineers are the best

[@19deltascout43]

I own a camaro 2ss 1le. Saying that, when driving my mothers 2023 le its surprisingly quick and comfortable for an economy car. Well done toyota!

[@fasnuf]

Coming from a ZL1, I hope this LE is better on gas!

[@long_fellow]

I went to 3 different dealerships this week and they asking 32k for LE Gas Corolla. Nearly 10k markup. I think I'm gonna wait

[@dproulx222]

MSRP or bust I'm in the process of negotiating $1,000 below MSRP in Canada.... I was told there is a 5-6 month wait if I pre-order.

[@Wrightn221]

I got mine two weeks ago in Underground. Love it! Had my other one for 21 years, and sold it. It had 164K miles on it My 2003 is much faster than the 2023 but didn't have all the technology.

[@johnkonde1975]

How do you like your 2023 LE gasoline model so far?

[@Wrightn221]

@@johnkonde1975 I love it.

[@robme3660]

These times are crazy. I got a 2021 Corolla Hatch SE 6spd manual for 22.9k dollars in November 2020. That's out the door with a 7% Florida sales tax included.

[@SunnyThikasse]

I yesterday bought this 2024 Toyota corolla LE model. But I felt like I'm little bit disappointed. Because before that I used to drive my uncle's 2023 Toyota venza LE hybrid and I'm really not comparing between these two but after driving venza for couple of month, I feel they should at least add remote lock through "Toyota app" and press to start button system in that base model. Then I saw another video that these features are added to the "convenient package" which made me more disappointed. Connecting the car with their "Toyota app" actually does nothing. 💔

[@alvinsimba734]

That vehicle will be cheaper to maintain in the long run. Aftermarket remote starter is the answer. I did that to my 2020 Corolla LE when I got it in 2020 and on top of that even in 2020, blindspot monitor, heated seats and heated windshield was already standard even then here in Canada. The Corolla LE in USA packaging is similar to L trim here in Canada except that the L trim comes with manual parking brake and no BSM either, only thing is from LE trim and going up is where you start getting standard features here in Canada.

[@nrich5127]

The torsion beam rear suspension with be unnoticeable to the average driver so this is a non issue. There are only 3 cars I would ever consider in this range - the Corolla , the Civic , and the Mazda 3. They all have above average reliability with lots of practical features that you actually use.

[@raymondcanessa7208]

torsion beam is better when the car has over 200k miles less stuff to get worn out

[@tommyedodson2412]

Just ordered an LE base one but no way near the 21k price point. Not in this car shortage era. Sure the MSRP may be that but you won't find a dealer selling them for that. Kind of misleading.

[@OneHipSistahDIYcreations]

Still driving my 2010 Toyota Corolla LE with 195,000. Best money I ever spent. Got some engine maintenance recently and hope to push her to 350K (if not better). Also just got a 2012 Toyota Corolla with 85K miles on it for $8,900 so I'm set for a long time. Have no interest in the newer models. My needs are very basic. I just need reliable transportation to and fro for local driving and my older Corollas do that and more. Guys care more about specs on cars, women don't care about all that, we just don't want to be left stranded on the side of the road.

[@Cstoreri]

I’m in Rhode Island/Massachusetts area, good luck trying to get one for this price.

[@HR-wd6cw]

While I don't have a Corolla LE, but a Camry LE (2020, but not much has changed since then) I don't think there are too many compromises in reality. For example, you get power windows and locks (which are pretty much standard on all cars these days), and cruise control (something that isn't necessarily standard on all models, almost most cars and models have this but for some it's an extra option). I think the LE trim level is a good starter/budget level. You have the features you need (cruise, power windows/locks, key less entry) but none of the unnecessary stuff like leather seats or a moonroof, both of which can be problematic as a the car ages. So for $22k the Corolla LE is a good value if value and economy are your primary factors, as well as reliability (although the jury is still sort of out on the CVTs found in the Corollas but they have been doing those since 2014 and I would imagine by now, if there were mass premature failures that occured before an average -- say 150k mile -- life, then we would have heard about it, but this is also one reason I went with the Camry -- the 2020 still uses a "geared" transmission but still gets about the same as the Corolla in terms of gas mileage because it has 8 gears versus the "6 gears" or so that the CVTs -- well none really unless you get the one with the launch gear, but some mfrs make it seem like it they have gears even though they generally don't). But in the end, the Corolla is a good value car. I've rented them before and they were reasonably comfortable for longer trips (they perhaps aren't as nice as a Camry in terms of space but for someone who can't spend a ton on a car -- or like me, who doesn't want to -- they are a good reliable option... a no-frills car unless you start getting into the SE, XLE and XSE trims).

[@DblOSmith]

Jesus.... I remember when a $16,000 Corolla was expensive.

[@CACressida]

Same. I remember my dad specifically ordering a J VIN corolla ce and paying more than a usa se for it lol

[@johnkonde1975]

To be fair, the modern Corolla is a down right luxury sports car compared to the Corollas of 20-30 years ago

[@TripReviews]

lol! Make me laugh! Gee I remember looking at the Carolla new back around…..1974? About $3200 CDN $’s for a 2 door with a 4 speed standard transmission.

[@kt9516]

Your review is one of the very few reviews that noted the change of the LE’s rear suspension to torsion beam. We preordered ours LE in the summer and picked it up around last Thanksgiving. We didn’t realize of the change to torsion beam until I saw your review. Keep up the good work Tyler.

[@Realistick]

Thank you, to be fair, Toyota’s own press materials has it wrong. Only the brochure has it right, congrats on your Corolla!

[@janabsahib5429]

do you feel that the car is worse on bumpy roads?

[@kt9516]

A little more jiggly (up and down motion) on bumpy roads, not bad though.

[@raymondcanessa7208]

@@Realistick torsion beam is better when the car has over 200k miles less stuff to get worn out

[@genzigzag]

I'm helping my niece shop for a new car... we drove a 2020 Corolla .. its a great starter car... we also looked at a 2023 Hyundai Kona base, we even got to the point of negotiating buying one. But in typical fashion the Hyundai dealer forced me to walk away due to their greaseball sales tactics. We're going back to the Toyota dealer and taking a look at the Corolla as the buying experience with Toyota is far better. One more reason Toyota bests their competitors in this class.

[@braetonwilson4296]

Also Tyler, I love love love that you made a special video for the base trim! Such a cool thing to do! Please do review more base affordable new cars like a 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage, 2023 Nissan Versa, and 2023 Kia Rio.

[@Realistick]

Small correction here, the Corolla LE Hybrid AWD gets a ridiculous 48 mpg combined (I wrote a slightly less lucrative, 46)

[@toddgiambruno]

Thank you for an excellent, realistically based review!! If I hear another review where the person is having a breakdown because of hard touch plastic; I'll flip my noodle! This is a great car at a decent price. The focus is simplicity and reliability as well as affordability. We are losing these cars and that's really a shame. We need these cars. Thank you for concentrating your review on what is really important. Great review!

[@billcoates941]

My last car was a Honda Civic . It was by far the most unreliable and horrid car I have owned in my life ..I had it hauled off for scrap in 2021 and bought a toyota and said never ever to Honda again .I love my Toyota ..it's a amazing car

[@MartyLeonXIIIGaming]

Yup, this is the car I'm going to buy. Thanks for the great video!

[@MrWolf2212]

$26k for a base Civic sedan??!!! Good lord, back in 2018 I paid $19500 OTD for the base Civic. Crazy how the prices keep going up and up.

[@Realistick]

In its defense, you get a lot more equipment and aesthetics stuff on a base civic now but it is quite insane, around 2018 or 19 the SI was actually cheaper than the base civic now

[@CC19524]

​@@Realistick Dropping the base LX model in favor for the Sport is a mistake. Entry model now has 18" rims and low profile tires. Thats absurd for a daily driver.

[@alvinsimba734]

@@CC19524 this is where other competitors will take Honda civic for lunch

[@giniolamy]

Everyday

[@HAL-dm1eh]

I have been shocked at the road manners and handling of the torsion beam suspension on my 2010 Corolla. Aside from the absolutely horid electric steering, it's been the most civilized on any car that I can remember. I tightened it up a bit with a front strut tower brace and a 25mm rear sway bar, which also tightened up the steering to a tolerable level, and now it's amazing when I have to throw it in a corner say to enter a slightly bumpy on ramp of an interstate. The car just does not get upset by anything and handles everything you throw at it with ease. I don't understand how they pulled that off with a not quite independent rear but I'm glad they did. With the final drive gear at 4.36:1 (IIRC), if it had at least one more higher gear I'd never consider a newer model.

[@photoreference9429]

It's SUCH a BEAUTIFUL car! 🔥

[@rightlanehog3151]

Thanks for the details. Someone just sent me this link and I am appalled that Toyota has reverted to bad old habits with retrograde torsion beam rear suspension on some Corollas. To my knowledge, this crass cost cutting exercise has not been widely reported and some publications like Car & Driver have out of date information on their web site. Even the Toyota Canada web site is wrong on this subject. Have Mazda engineers infiltrated the company? For the record, Toyota Motor Corporation reported profits of nearly $9 billion in the last quarter so they certainly can afford to equip each Corolla properly. 🤨

[@drivedb7]

My sentiments exactly. It seems like Toyota is just screwing around with this generation. Mazda, too. No matter how they try and package it, putting a torsion beam on anything but a subcompact these days is a low-effort, penny-pinching, flat out cheapskate decision. They both ought to be ashamed.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@drivedb7 That's why I am naming and shaming them.

[@joelthorne7434]

For a novice, what is the problem with torsion beam?

[@drivedb7]

@@joelthorne7434 - It’s not a truly independent suspension. Thus, overall handling is worse, ride comfort is worse, and rough roads make its cheapness very apparent. A torsion beam is barely one rung up from a solid axle with leaf springs and the only reason why automakers use them today is because they’re dirt cheap to make.

[@joelthorne7434]

@@drivedb7 I can see having independent suspension on an off-road vehicle or a super car, but is it really necessary on a Corolla?

[@giniolamy]

I have a 2018 base model Mazda 3. I didn't like it at first. Now I love ❤️ it

[@1976axerhand]

Have 500 miles on my 23 Corolla le with the convenience package, for 22600. And this one was made in Japan....

[@telmorodrigues1093]

How did you do that??

[@1976axerhand]

@@telmorodrigues1093got lucky- in durango colorado it snows a lot, and nobody wants just fwd.

[@afzalshaikh2128]

I didn’t know I needed this review. Love when there are reviews for poor people

[@craigkr7307]

Had a 2014 Honda Civic LX. 265k miles and transmission finally went. Didn’t like the civic sport. Just purchased a 2023 Corolla LE. It’s coming next week.

[@johnkonde1975]

Do you like your Corolla?

[@BDB-ji1ui]

I have owned 2022 Corolla SE update and rented LE 2022. I must say, the LE is pretty solid compared to SE. planning to switch to LE. To me, LE is mostly every day drive than SE.

[@alvinsimba734]

Why you say that....was the SE rough...

[@williamjerseyshore]

SE is sports tuned and has low profile tires. Handles better but the ride doesn’t soak up bumps as well

[@BDB-ji1ui]

@@williamjerseyshore well said!

[@kylesjunkandprojects216]

I’m still daily driving my 1997 Corolla, it is very reliable and costs on average $500 a year to maintain driving 20,000 miles a year. I’m glad Toyota is still making a car for someone like me, who only cares if my car gets me where I need to go and does it cheaply and reliably.

[@devonnewest7990]

I love this kind of presentation. Quick to the point, lots of facts/figures laid out in plain language.

[@fasnuf]

Just ordered mine from a local dealer. I just burn it up going to work and back so why not a base model? Nice review and just all I need. Coming from a Hyundai Accent with 255,508 miles and an Elantrfa with 160,000+ miles and still going, I just wanted to try something different and maybe no cabin squeaks like the Hyundais

[@ak2112]

Hell, for $22k... I wouldn't be able to complain about a thing.

[@lundsweden]

Torsion beam suspension is actually pretty good! I have a Chevy Spark with torsion beam and it handles very well!

[@v60polestar88]

It rides well and is very comfortable, but it doesn't handle well at all. Thats not its purpose. It rolls a lot in corners

[@ethanmellein]

handling and feel characteristics don’t come down to what type of suspension a car has as much as how well integrated it is to work along with the chassis. it’s all in the tuning. cars with torsion beam rear can handle and ride great, where as some independent cars can drive really poorly. the architecture does not determine good handling characteristics as much quality engineering.

[@DabDabGoose]

I think that is more to do with the light weight rather then the cost cutting on the suspension making it handle good.

[@raymondcanessa7208]

@@v60polestar88 torsion beam is better when the car has over 200k miles less stuff to get worn out

[@raymondcanessa7208]

torsion beam is better when the car has over 200k miles less stuff to get worn out

[@tonywong8134]

169 HP for a base level econobox is a lot. Even the older Si models didn't get that much. I remember the Civic that I had was under 100 HP...and that was an EX top of the line trim.

[@itsatrap4986]

But think about the weight. 90s Civics weighs next to nothing. 2,000-2,400lbs. The Corolla comes in at 3,000-3,200lbs. That's heavy in my opinion for a 4 banger compact sedan.

[@masterreach97]

Not at all. Toyota has merely accounted for the increased weight in their econobox. A 1992 Honda civic ex sedan (top trim of that year) has a power to weight ratio of 125:2326. Top trim 2023 corolla's power to weight ratio is 169:3150. That's practically a 1:1 increase, so no its not a lot of power at all.

[@markcoopers1930]

4:41 No party like a launch gear party

[@999benhonda]

I bought a 2016, 2 years ago. It's just a car. It's boring, but only because the intake and exhaust are muffled...as are all commuter cars. It was $14k with 35k miles on it. Even the cheap stuff is expensive...because the cheap stuff is still loaded when compared to cars from the 90s. The weight shows that....the Corolla weighs 3300 pounds...a full 800 pounds more than the similarly sized 06 scion xb I had before.

[@chevelstewart2749]

This going to be my next car, I had the XSE, but I like this car very much.

[@dewdew34]

I can buy an LE hybrid with adaptive cruise, lane assist etc for $24,900 out the door nearby. Seems like a deal.

[@patrickchubey3127]

In Canada it's the Corolla " L " model, which will be my next car. Funny that they call this a basic car. My current car is an older model but my previous car was a 1967 Ford Galaxie. Now talk about basic, it had roll up windows and a 5 button A.M. radio. No cruise, no air conditioning, no anything. In comparison the Toyota is going to seem very, very complicated.

[@alexisc1663]

I just got one a month ago n i haven’t read the manual at all….im going to watch this to see if i agree

[@drivedb7]

Absolutely inexcusable that Toyota chose to regress back to a torsion beam - on any trim level. What’s next? Will rear drums make a comeback? Was considering an LE since it’s priced reasonably and has the M20 as standard now, but this is a huge turn off. May as well buy an ‘03 instead of a ‘23.

[@drivedb7]

@@phillipbanes5484 - Please. This is not Hyundai we’re talking about, and I’ve driven every Corolla going back to the 6th gen. With this change, Toyota is cutting corners and that’s unacceptable - at least for my money.

[@drivedb7]

@@phillipbanes5484 - Read my reply again.

[@xxxblanco]

haha dealers want $30k for a corolla LE here, ordered a model Y instead for the same price after federal and state rebates. Dealers are dying a much deserves death.

[@thisisnothere14]

Now that the base has the same motor as the se/xse... this makes even more sense to just buy this le model vs the more expensive models unless you want that styling etc. I love my xse, but price wise this corolla is excellent value!

[@nickgee7291]

YES! a corolla le review! not the top of the line all options corolla review !

[@wanted-33]

Thank you so much for this video. You given me a lot of good information that I needed. I have a special young lady in my life that I will buying a car for when she turns 16 in '24. She is a no frills girl, and I know she would be excited to have a car this basic Carolla LE as a first car.

[@kaizhu8337]

Corolla is never designed as sport car, it's just a time proven reliable transportation for the mass. If you want excitement while driving, buy a sport car instead. BTW, with the bad traffic in the bay area, how fast can you drive anyway?

[@thecandyman9308]

As for me, still rocking a 2002 Camry LE w/ 210K on it. Maybe in 10 years I'll see if I can scoop up one of these Corolla's used on the cheap. 😄

[@ethanmellein]

had an 02 camry xle v6 since new until recently. 250k miles and the engine burned no oil, had no issues whatsoever, and ran smoother and quieter than most new cars! unfortunately after getting hit 3 times it was totaled twice and not financially justifiable to keep (had some pretty bad body damage & salvage title costed so much to insure). miss that car so much. one of the best ever made by any manufacturer in terms of refinement and reliability in a simple car.

[@thecandyman9308]

@@ethanmellein Always wanted to try one w/ teh V6, since the I4 doesn't exactly pin your ears back. RIP noble metal beast. 😢

[@trevormire7636]

I drive one now it’s solid black I love it it’s smooth and I live in Alexandria Louisiana and it’s smooth

[@johnkonde1975]

Do you still love it?

[@inctru]

Some automakers (like Mazda) make better feeling, riding & handling vehicles with a torsion beam suspension, than other do with their multi-link suspensions. It all depends on how well that vehicle is designed & built around any particular suspension system. With that said, Toyota build-quality has diminished on their newer vehicles, with more corner-cutting than ever.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

I was hoping I wasn't the only one to notice

[@alvinsimba734]

What cost cutting are you thinking of, you mean more plastic use ?

[@DrClaw77]

Ha, I remember Royal in Bloomington. They were once a Volvo dealer long ago. I used to go there as a kid...

[@Realistick]

They actually still have Volvo! It's just a part of a separate Mazda Volvo store.

[@johnnybravo5044]

That was a stupid move to get rid of the rear independent suspension. Why downgrade it when it was standard from the beginning? There was a lot cost cutting on this refresh Corolla.

[@netimage10s]

And the 2.0 dynamic farce engine with an electric water pump and high compression high wear. No thanks!!

[@johnnybravo5044]

@@netimage10s A lot more cars are having this kind of technology. We are being cornered into a wall.

[@alvinsimba734]

I will keep my 2020 corolla LE lol....

[@aca2983]

I'm driving one tonight. Nobody who buys a Corolla gives a darn about a torsion beam rear suspension.

[@aca2983]

It wasn't awful! Smooth, decent visibility. I'm not sure what year it was, it is a rental with 16k miles on it. Not quick from a stop, but good enough on the highway. Instruments and ergonomics good, seats ok. The CVT is fine. If anything, then engine and transmission are unobtrusive, you don't notice them, they just do the job. Very touchy brakes, easy to initiate ABS, and over assisted steering. Not a "driver's car," but perfectly acceptable for 95% of the car buying public.

[@steveoh5281]

What model year and trim? This change was specifically to the 2023 LE, non-hybrid. Plus, if you didn't drive them back to back, how would you know how much of a difference it actually makes.

[@aca2983]

@@steveoh5281 It was an LE. Back to back doesn't make a difference to somebody buying a Corolla new. In average daily driving it doesn't matter. Dealers in my area are upcharging $5k on Corolla LE Hybrids, and $2.5k on regular LE's. I'd consider a Corolla for it's MSRP and no dealer add-ons, but I'm not paying any "market adjustment" so I'll be waiting awhile.

[@steveoh5281]

@@aca2983 You mean it doesn't matter to YOU. Also, local dealers near me are charging MSRP, so we are lucky compared to wherever you are.

[@scarboy6693]

Lack of IRS is a bit of a bummer but given they upgraded the base car from the ancient 1.8 to the 2.0 along with a better head unit. I think it’s a fair trade off especially for the target market

[@Realistick]

Precisely!

[@netimage10s]

1.8 engine is much more reliable, and the independent suspension was much better. I am done with Toyota!

[@johnnybravo5044]

Toyota implemented cost cutting measures. The previous year is better when it comes to the SE model.

[@Realistick]

@@netimage10s No it is not, the 1.8 was pretty average for toyota. Only the LE has torsion beam.

[@Realistick]

@@johnnybravo5044 Only the LE has torsion beam, the new SE and every other trim still has independent, as I reiterated 1932848932893 times in this video!

[@mindspinn311]

I find the same charm in small/cheap cars. The hybrid LE is extremely tempting for the small price increase. Excluding that, Corolla LE or Civic LX?

[@devonnewest7990]

Maybe I'm odd but I like torsion beam rears, they durable as hell and only needs 2-wheel alignments.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

but confort over bumps is worse and bumps in the middle of the corners at high speeds almost makes you lose grip in the back. i drived both torsion beam and multilink rear suspension sedan cars/hatchbacks and i would greatly prefer the second one

[@raymondcanessa7208]

torsion beam is better when the car has over 200k miles less stuff to get worn out

[@raymondcanessa7208]

@@Tonyx.yt. torsion beam is better when the car has over 200k miles less stuff to get worn out

[@maj3d.s]

This car is made to last forever if you keep taking care of it I promise you gonna passed it to your one of children after many years

[@wholeNwon]

The touch screen seems like an afterthought just stuck up there. Think I might find that too annoying to live with.

[@crow_2k11beatsbydre8]

Most modern vehicles have touchscreen infotainment on the dash, so maybe you should stick to vehicles in 2000-2010........

[@wholeNwon]

@@crow_2k11beatsbydre8 Perhaps. What I'll be looking for is better integration not an afterthought. Until then, I'll continue to drive my great '98 LS400.

[@coldspring624]

It is a Corolla. It should have a stick.... period

[@stevecooper7883]

Eh CVT doesn't allow for stick anymore.

[@onpoint1111]

Unfortunately too many compromises, meaning CVT only. I prefer the 6MT of the Honda Civic Hatchback for 2023... $25k but yeah, Toyota took the road most traveled... in the US anyway.

[@osvaldomedina2577]

buenismo video, una gran y detalla descripción del corolla, felicitaciones !

[@bjkjoseph]

I tested this one and the hatchback SE and the hatchback SE drove noticeably better and it’s made in Japan

[@busterscrugs]

I wish they hadn't taken away the IRS and the option to get a leather-wrapped wheel.

[@midnightsunturbo]

Always enjoy base model reviews. If it was offered with manual transmission, I would buy it.

[@MartyLeonXIIIGaming]

Unfortunately no more manual Corolla's since 2023 outside of the GR I believe.

[@Josh-fp2qn]

I am 34 and really do not like the touch screens and all the tech features in modern cars. However, this car seems simple and basic in the interior cabin design and touch screen. I just test drove a 2023 honda civic sport and that seemed complicated even though it is a much sharper looking vehicle. Dealer priced it at 27K after all taxes and fees. Yikes.

[@Realistick]

$27k after taxes? That’s an awesome deal considering the msrp is at least $26k!

[@alvinsimba734]

@@Realistick he got lucky there.

[@virgil3241]

So they took away the LE Upgrade package for the 2023? While the 2.0 litre and manual 1st gear are now standard on all models. the LE upgrade package had a lot of extra toys standard, expect its the 1.8L and just a CVT without that manual first gear.

[@toronado455]

great video!🏆🆗🆒✅ potholes with violent felonies 😂 if you add proxy key to the base LE, do you still have to pop the trunk using the key fob button, or does that add a touch sensor under the trunk lid?

[@Realistick]

Im 90 percent certain that it adds a little trigger there but I don’t want to say for sure until I find one with it!

[@somethingelsehere8089]

@@Realistick The 2023 Canadian spec one in my driveway with a proximity (smart) key has the centrally mounted rubber button/pad that unlocks the trunk if the key is present. Unlock only - no power open/close.

[@milfordcivic6755]

$22K is what I paid for my 2016 Accord Sport when it was new. Now all that buys is a Corolla. SMH

[@GlennLaycock]

.. and the LE production was showing like 4 cars only - so Honda is saying they are getting back to making the base model as Toyota showed it moved to higher model production.

[@tomdixon1213]

I am driving a 2015 Corolla LE, 180,000. Trouble free, but I did change the transmission fluid at 160,000, hopefully to get me to 250,000 - 300,000, my goal while saving for a new one. The only fluids needing a changeout are power steering and brakes, which I plan to do at 200,000, along with spark plugs. Very reliable in very cold and very hot. AC runs cold with no maintenance to date. I bought it at 17,000 in 2016.

[@JeffSayYes]

I'm pretty sure i'm going to pick up an AWD hybrid LE next week for 25300. I was considering Rav4 or the gorgeous Prius but I'd rather have 10k in my pocket. For some reason, now that I am 40 and have a family, all i want is stability. I'm in the city and I don't even want to worry about the car getting dinged on the street. For 25k, i wouldn't be that upset if it got a scratch. I will wait til I have a proper driveway to get the Prius.

[@killemdeader1189]

That's a steal if you can get it. Every dealer in a 500 mile radius from me is selling at a markup and none even have LEs in stock. I've seen pre-owned 21 les with 50k miles going for 28k

[@dproulx222]

@@killemdeader1189 MSRP or bust....

[@killemdeader1189]

@@dproulx222 yea it's gotten better in the past 6 months, not worth going over MSRP now

[@dproulx222]

@@killemdeader1189 I was in contact with 4 Toyota dealers in Calgary, AB as of the first week of 2024. Only one dealership offered me an Out-the-Door price of $34,800 for a Corolla Hybrid SE AWD but I have to put down $1,000.00 refundable deposit. I may have to wait 6 or more months until a car is allocated to the dealership. The total price listed on the Toyota Canada website for the Corolla Hybrid SE AWD is $35.400.91 So I'm looking at $600 savings but a massive $34,800.00 dollar expense.

[@dproulx222]

@@killemdeader1189 For 50 years if people bought at MSRP they overpaid. Now, a person is lucky if they can get MSRP pricing. Dealerships should no longer be in a position to sell cars if they only act as middlemen to raise prices.

[@dropcarve8841]

A point missed is interior options. You can choose something other than all black. I would get one if it had a manual trans.

[@paladain55]

I sat in the back of one of these that an uber had drove at 6'4" and it was a couple inches too short on head room. Kinda pissed me off being stuck back there lol.

[@paladain55]

@LeonL47 no it really is too small now. I have a 2010?prius and can sit in the back just fine like 90% of other sedans

[@johnkonde1975]

You’re extremely tall, taller than 99 percent of people.

[@DougCeleste]

Nice review and thanks for sharing! i heard that the 2024 Corollas will be redesigned? If so, I might wait to get a Corolla this year.

[@TadanoHitohito]

A Corolla costs over $20k now? Things really are going to sh*t.

[@Kikilang60]

I'll go to the dealer, and never see that price.

[@sunnyskiesblue]

Bloomington, IN. I'm from Martin County.

[@aurorayoru5333]

Glad by 1999 Corolla LE has independent rear suspension

[@partyonyou]

the only bad thing about this car is the dealerships that they are sold at

[@lauraandrews8319]

That huge screen sticking up in the middle of the dash, and the Battlestar Galactica grille kill it for me, and the fact that the car in general looks like a Chevy Cruze. Yuk

[@vichetkim5533]

Toyota should remake a rear wheel drive Corolla sedan and hatch. The 2 litre naturally aspirated engine could stay naturally aspirated, but Toyota should get Yamaha to tune it for more power at higher RPM just like they did with the 1980s Celica 2 litre motor.

[@xnopyt13]

They finally got rid of the blue backlights, nice.

[@gs1150adv]

Good luck finding one! Your will pay premium at dealership....WRX Base will be the way to go. SUBARU WRX all wheel drive, manual ...Corolla has none. Price point is driving on Toyota history. Subaru marketing makes sense.

[@Realistick]

I know it can seem bleak but the dealership i just got this at, has another one and they finally listed them at msrp! It’s not impossible.

[@yolandag8436]

This year I bought the corolla xse because I really wanted the seat warmers 😅

[@darthsupmex]

Been looking for a new car and this has been very informative. And thanks for mentioning your height. Same size, so it was very helpful!