Since 1994, the Corolla and the Honda Civic occupied the marketing slots that the original Camry and Accord did. Once very much entry-level cars, Corolla and Civic offered a range of amenities and performance that raises them far above the entry level. This is not completely true of some of their supposed competitors like the Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Sentra. The car's real major competitor was the sister-under-the-skin Geo Prizm, built with the same mechanicals and on the same production line in Fremont, California.
Corolla would later compete with other small cars such as Dodge/Plymouth Neon, Ford Escort and Suzuki Esteem.
A modern-day Toyota Yaris is about the same size as a 1993-1997 Toyota Corolla, except a little bit taller and more expensive.
Year-to-year changes[]
1995[]
The Corolla is unchanged for 1995 except for new colors. Corolla is available as a sedan or wagon, both 5-passenger, with either 1.6- or 1.8-liter engines, 5-speed manual transmission and 3- or 4-speed automatics. Like most Toyotas, the Corolla is exceptionally solid. Ride is soft and handling predictable. Performance with the 1.8-liter is respectable; just adequate with the 1.6. The Corolla has had dual airbags since last year. Three trim/equipment levels are available: base, DX and LE. The station wagon comes in DX trim only. Base car gets the 3-speed automatic; the 4-speed auto is an option. LE has the 4-speed standard. DX and LE levels get the 1.8-liter engine.
The base car has air conditioning and power steering as options, body-color bumpers are standard. The DX gets two outside mirrors, rear headrests, optional power windows and locks plus cruise control. LE has power windows/locks, cruise control and air conditioning standard. ABS is an across-the-board option.
1996[]
Updates to the '96 Corolla include revised front and rear styling, three new paint choices, new wheel covers, revised interior trim and a shorter throw for the manual-transmission shifter. A new fabric design has been introduced in the Standard (base model), while the midline DX sedan acquires an optional built-in child safety seat. The base 1.6-liter dohc engine has been revised in the interest of reduced exhaust emissions. Rigid body construction lends predictable handling to a suspension that has been tailored for general runabout use.
The top-of-the-line LE trim has been deleted, leaving the hardcore Standard, the DX 4-door sedan and the DX wagon. The base car has the 1.6-liter engine and 5-speed manual transmission as standard, with a 3-speed automatic optional. DX models are outfitted with a 1.8-liter dohc engine coupled to either the 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.
The base car has power steering as an option. Air conditioning is available across the board. The DX comes with a split fold-down rear seat (sedan only), wipers with an intermittent setting, front and rear stabilizer bars, power steering, rear-window defogger and, on wagons, power cargo-door lock and cargo cover. Wagons offer 64.8 cu. ft. of space to hold your stuff when the rear seat is down. All Corollas are equipped with dual airbags, side-impact door beams, child-proof rear door locks and 3-point safety belts. ABS is optional.
1999[]
After the Toyota Tercel was discontinued, the Corolla temporarily became the company's entry-level car only for this model year.
Retail prices[]
Model year(s) | Trim level | Body style | List price | Destination charge | Effective date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992.5 | Base | 4DR Sedan | $9,718 | $295 | February 14, 1992 |
1992.5 | DX | 4DR Sedan | $10,738 | $295 | February 14, 1992 |
1992.5 | DX | 4DR Wagon | $11,428 | $295 | February 14, 1992 |
1992.5 | LE | 4DR Sedan | $12,978 | $295 | February 14, 1992 |
1992.5 | DX (AWD) | 4DR Wagon | $13,098 | $295 | February 14, 1992 |
1993.5 | Base | 4DR Sedan | $11,198 | $325 | February 5, 1993 |
1993.5 | DX | 4DR Sedan | $12,298 | $325 | February 5, 1993 |
1993.5 | DX | 4DR Wagon | $12,978 | $325 | February 5, 1993 |
1993.5 | LE | 4DR Sedan | $15,218 | $325 | February 5, 1993 |
1994 | Base | 4DR Sedan | $11,918 | $385 | September 2, 1993 |
1994 | DX | 4DR Sedan | $12,998 | $385 | September 2, 1993 |
1994 | DX | 4DR Wagon | $14,088 | $385 | September 2, 1993 |
1994 | LE | 4DR Sedan | $16,088 | $385 | September 2, 1993 |
1994.5 | Base | 4DR Sedan | $12,098 | $385 | January 3, 1994 |
1994.5 | DX | 4DR Sedan | $13,188 | $385 | January 3, 1994 |
1994.5 | DX | 4DR Wagon | $14,298 | $385 | January 3, 1994 |
1994.5 | LE | 4DR Sedan | $16,328 | $385 | January 3, 1994 |
1995 | Base | 4DR Sedan | $12,378 | $397 | August 26, 1994 |
1995 | DX | 4DR Sedan | $13,488 | $397 | August 26, 1994 |
1995 | DX | 4DR Wagon | $14,618 | $397 | August 26, 1994 |
1995 | LE | 4DR Sedan | $16,678 | $397 | August 26, 1994 |
1995.5 | Base | 4DR Sedan | $12,498 | $397 | January 26, 1995 |
1995.5 | DX | 4DR Sedan | $13,618 | $397 | January 26, 1995 |
1995.5 | DX | 4DR Wagon | $14,768 | $397 | January 26, 1995 |
1995.5 | LE | 4DR Sedan | $16,848 | $397 | January 26, 1995 |
1996 | Base | 4DR Sedan | $12,728 | $420 | August 25, 1995 |
1996 | DX | 4DR Sedan | $13,908 | $420 | August 25, 1995 |
1996 | DX | 4DR Wagon | $15,058 | $420 | August 25, 1995 |