2023 Toyota Corolla LE / Just Enough 

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

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.

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

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

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!

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Simple and affordable. Thats all i need.

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.

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.

great video. the switch to torsion beam for the bare ones trim is odd, but mazda did that for their mazda3 hatch too. my preference is independent suspension with a sway bar and it proves to be reliable in the long run as well

Great video!

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

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

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.

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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.

Mine's coming in around the middle of this month. Base model with no packages or options. It'll be a reliable car that gets me where I need to go. Great video.

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?

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

I bought this. I keep seeing it everywhere. At least 2-3 a day when driving. I will say that when it snows the sensor upfront will easily get blocked

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.

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

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).

It's SUCH a BEAUTIFUL car! 🔥

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

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

Excellent review, great car 👌 Thank you!

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.

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. 💔

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

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.

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

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?

$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.

4:41 No party like a launch gear party

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.

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

What is the LE stands for? Luxury edition?

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.

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

Can someone help me put this in design language. When you look at the car on a 45 degree angle or less from the front it looks like the car slopes down in the back. But when you look directly from the side you can see that the back end is actually in line with the car. The panel lifts up toward the trunk door but simultaneously curves down an bowes out toward the bumper. What is the industry or design term for this optical illusion. And the back end is all one piece, not quarter panels so expensive to replace in an accident.

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

I’m looking for a hoopty Corolla that is in good shape and not over 150K miles. If you have one, please, reply.

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.

.. 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.

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. 🤨

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

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

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!

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.

Hi, I live in Australia and am really disappointed that blind spot monitoring isn't available as standard you have to get the convenience pack for an extra thousand also it doesn't have rear sensors. Have they fixed the CVT so it doesn't make that terrible noise as you descend a hill if you apply the brakes. Cheers.

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.

what is the RPM @ 66mph ?

Unfortunately this is the only one that doesn’t get the refreshed headlamps. Silly could just get the LE hybrid and have the refresher

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.

Bloomington, IN. I'm from Martin County.

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

I checked Toyota canadian website. The L/LE/SE model have same rear suspension (double wishbone)?

That look you gave at 4:35! Bwaaaa.

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.

This will be my next car

Do they overheat

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

Does the 2023 corolla LE also have a launch gear now that they upgrade the engine to 2.0L??

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

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.

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.

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

Thanks for the insights. The LE hybrid MPG seem odd. Hwy and city both down 2 moving to AWD but combined down 4.

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.

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.

beautiful

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.

Glad by 1999 Corolla LE has independent rear suspension

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

Does it have the traditional mechanical key entry option?

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

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?

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

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.

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. 😄

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.