Practical, reliable, and likely the car model that will be your upcoming Uber ride, the Toyota Corolla is an automotive legend, holding the prestigious record of being the best-selling vehicle in the world.
The Toyota Corolla took the world by storm in 1966 and has sold over 40 million vehicles across the world! No wonder the name Corolla translates to 'small crown' in Latin. Toyota has introduced several updates and facelifts to the Corolla throughout the years, each continuing the tremendous success of the Corolla name.
South Africa is no different when it comes to sharing the love for the Corolla model, with it regularly featuring in the top five best-selling cars locally, as seen on the NAAMSA Vehicle Sales Reports.
First introduced in 1966 in Japan, the Toyota Corolla (E10) was powered by a small 1100 cc engine with rear-wheel drive. This is a rare feature in today's budget automotive market due to increased production costs that have led to the preferred front-wheel drive alternative.
The first-generation Corolla remained in production from 1966 until 1970, after which the second-generation Corolla (E20) rolled off the production line. Featuring the same engine with modified specifications, it wasn't until September 1970 that Toyota offered the 1400 cc and 1600 cc versions.
Toyota continued using the same sedan-styled recipe for the Corolla until the ninth-generation (E120) model of 2000, which was introduced with a hatchback version. This proved highly successful as it helped the Corolla model surpass the Volkswagen Beetle in July 2013 as the best-selling car in history with 40 million sold internationally.
The current model, the 12th-generation (E210) of 2018 to present, is offered in sedan, hatchback, and station wagon (Touring Sports) variants.
Toyota South Africa offers the Corolla model in three variants: the Corolla Sedan, Hatch, and Quest, which is the previous generation model reintroduced as a new addition to the range.
Toyota's Corolla model is available at all of their 200 dealerships in South Africa, along with their other vehicles such as the Hilux, Quantum, and RAV4.
You can book a test drive on the Toyota South Africa website if you want to find out for yourself what makes the Corolla so popular. You can also hire just about any Toyota model from various car rental services in South Africa if you are not yet looking to buy.
Financing is available using Toyota's in-house financing solution, Toyota Financial Services Limited, which helps customers create financing plans that fit their budgets. Toyota also offers an online financing tool with which customers can spec their vehicles and receive an estimated quote.
The entry-level Toyota Corolla Quest retails from R222,900.
The base model Corolla Sedan retails from R280,100.
The base specification Corolla Hatch retails from R336,800.
Toyota offers their brand-backed and approved Toyota Genuine Warranty. It comes with a number of services including 24/7 Toyota Roadside Assistance, a competitive premium, and access to Toyota Genuine Parts. The carmaker also offers their Genuine Pre-Owned Warranty solution, which provides an additional two years or 250,000 km extension.
If you prefer to shop around to find the best deal for your vehicle's warranty, you can use the hippo.co.za comparison tool to compare warranty quotes and look at service plans from a range of financial service providers.
Because Corolla models are so popular, Toyota has a vast parts and service network. This is great news if you need to get a personal car insurance quote, as this can lead to lower insurance premiums.
Toyota also offers their own MyToyota Insurance which covers against risks such as hail damage, hijacking, theft, and accidental damage, while offering roadside, medical, and legal assistance.
If you're buying a Toyota Corolla, make sure to compare multiple insurance quotes so you know you're getting the best deal and cover for your car.
Sources: Toyota South Africa, Wikipedia, Naamsa
Information provided for informational purposes. Prices quoted correct at the time of publishing this article.
