Toyota Corolla Review (1987 to 1997)

Quick Summary

You can see why so many private motorists buy them. As a reliable family runabout, this is peace of mind on four wheels.

Overall:

Models Covered:Sixth Generation 1987-1991 saloon, hatchback, liftback, estate: 1.6 [Executive, GTI-16, 4WD Estate]Seventh Generation 1992-1997 saloon, hatchback, liftback, estate: 1.3, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 diesel [Sportif, XL, GS, GL, CD, Si, CDX, Executive, GXi, SRD]

COROLLA STRIKES A COMFORTABLE CHORD

Depending on who you believe, the Toyota Corolla is the world's best selling car. British buyers regularly vote it the most reliable car in the independent annual Top Gear/JD Power survey. In short, Toyota's family hatch has one impressive pedigree.No, it isn't very exciting – but that won't bother those in search of trouble-free, cost-effective long-term service.
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History of the Corolla

The sixth generation model, which arrived here in 1987, was the first to really make an impact on the British market. There were two engine choices - 1.3 and 1.6 - and four body styles; a three-door hatchback, a five-door 'Liftback', a saloon and an estate. All these variants were available in 1.3-litre guise. If you wanted a 1.6, you had to have a Liftback and have it in Executive spec. There was also a sporty GTi-16 three-door 'hot hatch' and a novel 4WD estate; both had 1.6-litre power.In August 1992, the seventh generation Corolla arrived, equipped with a curvier new look and catalysed multi-valve 1.3 and 1.6-litre engines. The range was wider this time, with a five-door hatchback added to the existing line-up (not to be confused with the larger five-door Liftback). There was also a wider range of trim options; originally GL, XL and Executive.In February 1993, a rather restrained hot hatch flagship - the GXi - was launched equipped with a 1.8-litre 16v engine. Diesel versions of the three and five-door hatchbacks appeared at about the same time, while the Liftback also got the diesel option a year later.A driver's airbag was introduced on all models in September 1994, but the real changes came the following summer. The range got a wash and brush-up with a slight facelift in July 1995; poor selling models like the 1.8 GXi were dropped and the popular Sportif special edition was installed as the entry-level model below new GS, CD, Si and CDX trim designations.The current, eighth generation range arrived in the UK in late Spring 1997.
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Toyota Corolla Road Test

The older-model Corollas won't excite you if you're a driving enthusiast. Put simply, if you can operate a payphone, you should have no trouble behind the wheel of Toyota's family favourite.
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Buying a Toyota Corolla

Check for any signs of rust - a tell tale sign of badly repaired accident damage. If the cars is more than two years old, check the shock absorbers for leaks or crashiness over bumps; replacements are expensive. The same goes for exhaust catalysts.
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Toyota Corolla Typical Pricing

Sixth generation first. The earliest 1987 1.3-litre models start very cheap indeed. You're looking at just a few hundred Pounds or less but these are reliable cars so don't let that in itself put you off. Just check each the vehicle over carefully.Prices for seventh generation cars tend to start at around £400 for three-door XL hatchbacks, though a more typical M-registered car would set you back around £700. The spacious five-door Liftback is well worth considering, not much smaller than the larger Carina E. Prices start at around £800 for 1.3-litre GL models (with a 1.6 around £100 more); if you can find one with a diesel engine, prices start at about £1,000.Finally, estates range between £600 for a K reg and £1,000 for an M reg; curiously, the 1.3-litre GL variant was the only one ever offered in that era.
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Toyota Corolla Parts

(approx based on a 1992-1995 1.6 Liftback) Good quality but slightly pricier than the mainstream competition. An exhaust system is about £275. A clutch assembly will be around £90 while front and rear pads are about £20 a set. A new catalyst will be around £350. A starter motor is around £135 and a front wing around £100. A new headlamp is close to £140. A windscreen (non-tinted) should be in the region of £140. Major, intermediate and minor services cost around £90, £150 and £250 respectively.
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