Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A blue 2024 Toyota Corolla XSE Hatchback driving in the rain

The Ultimate Corolla Buyer’s Guide

When it comes to a car you can always count on, there’s nothing quite like the Toyota Corolla. This compact sedan (and hatchback) offers drivers a safe, reliable ride, not to mention outstanding fuel efficiency and easy maneuverability. It’s affordable, practical, and drives like a breeze, making it a Toyota best-seller for years now. You may be looking for a Toyota Corolla for sale, interested in your options, and believe me—you have plenty. From a sedan configuration to a hatchback, gas-only powertrain to a hybrid, the Corolla comes in many flavors, continuing to appeal to a wide array of drivers, especially in an age where SUVs are taking over.

Let’s take a look at what the Corolla arsenal has to offer drivers to make any experience behind the wheel better than you ever expected. Don’t let this compact cruiser fool you. It’s an absolute winner in its segment, appealing to everyone from new drivers to commuters, small families, and everyone in between. Check out this 2024 Corolla buyer’s guide and see how this superstar has been enhanced for its latest year on the streets.

Powertrain Options

The 2024 Toyota Corolla can be enjoyed with a gas engine or a combination gas/electric powertrain, otherwise known as a hybrid. For its gas-only powertrain, you can expect a 2.0L Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), making for a smooth and agile ride, allowing you to enjoy your travels wherever they take you. With 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, the Corolla is energetic off the line, zipping from 0-60 mph in less than 9 seconds. It’s not a sports car by any means, but that’s not what its demographic is searching for. They’re searching for a compact car that’s easy to handle, good on gas, and reliable, which is exactly what you can expect from this award-winning model.

Speaking of being good on gas, you’ll want to opt for the Corolla Hybrid if you want to enjoy even better fuel efficiency. This model features a 1.8L four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, which can get an EPA-estimated 53 MPG in the city and 46 MPG on the highway—talk about impressive. Its gas-only powertrain can offer up to 32 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway, for reference, so if fuel economy is a priority, you’ll want to take a closer look at the Corolla Hybrid. The hybrid model also offers available Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive, which allows you to easily take on lousy weather, hazardous road conditions, and bumpy terrain.

The gas-only and hybrid models offer drivers various drive modes to impact the ride. Three available drive modes add excitement to your ride, with Sport Mode focusing on acceleration, Eco Mode enhancing efficiency, and Normal Mode harnessing an exceptional blend of performance and efficiency. If you’re looking for a car that provides options for how you wish to enjoy your time behind the wheel, rest assured that the 2024 Corolla does just that.

2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Nightshade parked near city lights at night.

Trim Levels

This small-size sedan offers drivers plenty of options for enjoying their time on the streets. In the gas-only lineup, you’ll find the XSE as the top-of-the-line trim, offering a leather-wrapped steering wheel, paddle shifters, and a power moonroof to accentuate its cozy cabin feel. Outside, the Corolla sports 18-inch alloy wheels with a graphite-colored finish, side rocker panels, and a spoiler to elevate its energetic appeal.

New for 2024 is the Nightshade model, which adds a sultry flair with premium sport seats with sport fabric inserts, blackout badging around the interior and exterior, and other dark, night-themed visuals to give your Corolla a mysterious, sleek appearance. If that isn’t your thing, then the Corolla’s mid-level trim, the SE, is a great place to start. It offers drivers plenty of features to maximize their ride, like a sport-mesh front grille, LED accent lighting, the various drive modes discussed prior, and a sporty, athletic feel inside and out. The Corolla’s base LE model provides drivers with the ideal blend of affordability and comfort, with features like 16-inch steel wheels, an available power moonroof, and other modest comforts that appeal to more cost-conscious travelers.

Conversely, you’ll find an extraordinary selection of versatile trims in the hybrid lineup, like the top-tier Hybrid XLE. This trim features SofTex-trimmed heated seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an abundance of tech, like an available JBL Premium Audio system, Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and the Toyota Audio Multimedia suite featuring an eight-inch touchscreen to heighten the feel of the ride. You’ll also find the sleek Nightshade model in the hybrid’s lineup, as well as the SE and LE, which boast comfort features to enhance your time behind the wheel like never before. There’s a Corolla in the lineup for everyone, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for to elevate your time in the driver’s seat.

Connectivity and Safety

The 2024 Corolla isn’t just a breeze to drive and undeniably efficient; it’s also loaded with features to make your time on the road connected and protected. An eight-inch multimedia display resides right on the dash, providing you access to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as available navigation and more so that you can travel with absolute certainty. Take advantage of the seven-inch fully digital gauge cluster available in the hybrid arsenal, which has all the important aspects of your ride right in front of you, including safety alerts, vehicle diagnostics, and more. Push button start, multiple USB ports, and available wireless charging capabilities can also be found to make any ride an all-around better experience.

True to Toyota’s reputation, the Corolla is indeed exceptionally safe, which is why you see so many of them smoothly cruising past you on the highway. In addition to offering ten standard airbags and a durable build, the 2024 Corolla is armed with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which provides you with a number of advanced safety features to help keep you protected while in transit. You’ll find everything from a Lane Departure Alert, a Pre-Collision System, and a Blind Spot Monitor to Automatic High Beams in this arsenal, allowing you to feel completely confident that your vehicle is watching out for you at every turn. When you want to be sure that your vehicle offers you the safest ride possible, rest assured that the Corolla does just that, making it a frequent Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Close-up of the infotainment screen in a 2024 Toyota Corolla SE for sale.

The 2024 Toyota Corolla: Designed for the Everyday Driver

Whether it’s fuel efficiency you’re seeking or optimal reliability, easy driving dynamics, or superior safety, you’ll find all of this and more inside the 2024 Toyota Corolla. With two powertrains in the lineup, plus many diverse trims shared between full-gas and hybrid models, you will surely find the Corolla that will make your journey better than you ever imagined. Plus, with state-of-the-art tech and one of the most trusted safety suites in the business, the Corolla will guarantee that your ride will be safe, enjoyable, and exactly what you’re looking for to handle the daily drive.

As more SUVs and pickups take over the roadways, the few sedans left need to stand out, and the Corolla does so with flying colors. Whether you’re searching for a vehicle to handle your commute into the city, one that’s perfect for the new driver in your home, or an efficient option for work trips across the state, we can assure you that there’s a Corolla in the current lineup to satisfy your needs.