2003 Toyota Corolla Reviews, Pricing & Specs
Overview
The Toyota Corolla was redesigned for the 2003 model year, and the new version was significantly larger than its predecessor and looked...
The Toyota Corolla was redesigned for the 2003 model year, and the new version was significantly larger than its predecessor and looked closer in appearance and size to its big brother the Camry than ever before. The biggest improvement was to the interior, which no longer screamed "economy." The dash was redesigned to be ergonomic, the seats were made more substantial, and even the base level came with a CD player and air conditioning.
The 2003 Toyota Corolla carried over the aluminum 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine from the previous year, but this time it was upgraded to 130-horsepower. Fuel economy was about 28-40 mpg. The 2003 Corolla came in three trim levels, staring with the base CE. The sporty S came with identifying features such a spoiler, larger tires and integrated fog lights, along with interior features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob. The top-of-the-line LE came with high-end features like remote keyless entry and faux-wood accents.
Owners of the 2003 Toyota Corolla find that it offers a smooth, quiet ride, excellent gas mileage, and the security of the Toyota reputation. Some drivers still find the interior to be too small, and many recommend upgrading the tires.
What owners say
"Overall, drivers appreciate the 2003 Toyota Corolla for its reliability, excellent fuel economy, and smooth driving experience, making it a practical choice for city use. However, many find it lacks excitement and power, with some noting its handling and braking performance as areas for improvement. Reviews highlight that while it's a solid and durable car, the interior could feel somewhat cheap and its performance is not particularly thrilling."
22 years old with only 102k and well cared for, I find it fun to drive! Maybe its nostalgia, but to get over 30 mpg on a naturally aspirated non-hybrid is awesome.
January 6, 2025If you are looking for a cheap car with few frills and no refinement, the E120 Toyota Corolla may be your cup of tea. It isn't mine. This compact sedan seems to have the pretensions of being an upscale car: Sleek modern styling, faux wood trim, and an interior that coddles you in a cocoon of comfort. But the illusion dissipates the moment you turn the key in the ignition. The engine starts with an quiet clatter. As the car accelerates, the quiet clatter becomes a much louder clatter. Acceleration is underwhelming until about 4000 rpm where the torque finally kicks in. Which is slightly unfortunate because by 3500 rpm your eardrums will have already shattered. The accelerator pedal is another problem. It takes a noticeable amount of effort to start it moving along its unusually short travel, but offers little resistance once "unstuck" (physicists: there is a clear difference between its static and dynamic friction). Because of this, speed regulation is a bit of a chore. In fact, so is steering. Control is direct and precise, but this comes at the expense of weight. There is a bit of power assist, but not as much as most people are accustomed to in modern cars. When it comes time to slow down, your foot will go halfway to the floor before you feel anything at all After that the brakes respond quite smoothly, but there is no excuse for such a massive control dead-zone. Despite the problems, there are some compelling reasons you might want this car. First, it is incredibly cheap. When you purchase an E120 Corolla, you are getting a car that looks decent inside and out for very little money. Secondly, the car handles competently, and has acceptable acceleration and braking for a car in its class. The build quality is excellent, and I can guarantee it will rarely need repairs if you treat it right. On my example the only thing that ever went wrong is a hubcap that fell off. Thirdly, the gas mileage is amazing at 32 city, 38 highway (my own figures). On the other hand, this is not an exciting car, and doesn't feel unique in any way. You may also be turned off by the ride, which is noisy and bumpy at any speed. I would recommend this car to anyone who doesn’t mind the lack of refinement and wants a small practical car that will probably last forever.
July 9, 2008This is the kind of car my brother has. He doesn't care about cars and doesn't really take care of it and it's never had even one mechanical problem. Ever. The Corolla is everything you'd expect, and nothing you wouldn't. Its exterior styling, performance, and interior are as bland and sensible as any church-going suburbanite could hope for. And, it gets great gas mileage. If you never think about your car when you're not driving, the Corolla is perfect for you.
April 12, 2009What owners say
22 years old with only 102k and well cared for, I find it fun to drive! Maybe its nostalgia, but to get over 30 mpg on a naturally aspirated non-hybrid is awesome.
January 6, 2025If you are looking for a cheap car with few frills and no refinement, the E120 Toyota Corolla may be your cup of tea. It isn't mine. This compact sedan seems to have the pretensions of being an upscale car: Sleek modern styling, faux wood trim, and an interior that coddles you in a cocoon of comfort. But the illusion dissipates the moment you turn the key in the ignition. The engine starts with an quiet clatter. As the car accelerates, the quiet clatter becomes a much louder clatter. Acceleration is underwhelming until about 4000 rpm where the torque finally kicks in. Which is slightly unfortunate because by 3500 rpm your eardrums will have already shattered. The accelerator pedal is another problem. It takes a noticeable amount of effort to start it moving along its unusually short travel, but offers little resistance once "unstuck" (physicists: there is a clear difference between its static and dynamic friction). Because of this, speed regulation is a bit of a chore. In fact, so is steering. Control is direct and precise, but this comes at the expense of weight. There is a bit of power assist, but not as much as most people are accustomed to in modern cars. When it comes time to slow down, your foot will go halfway to the floor before you feel anything at all After that the brakes respond quite smoothly, but there is no excuse for such a massive control dead-zone. Despite the problems, there are some compelling reasons you might want this car. First, it is incredibly cheap. When you purchase an E120 Corolla, you are getting a car that looks decent inside and out for very little money. Secondly, the car handles competently, and has acceptable acceleration and braking for a car in its class. The build quality is excellent, and I can guarantee it will rarely need repairs if you treat it right. On my example the only thing that ever went wrong is a hubcap that fell off. Thirdly, the gas mileage is amazing at 32 city, 38 highway (my own figures). On the other hand, this is not an exciting car, and doesn't feel unique in any way. You may also be turned off by the ride, which is noisy and bumpy at any speed. I would recommend this car to anyone who doesn’t mind the lack of refinement and wants a small practical car that will probably last forever.
July 9, 2008This is the kind of car my brother has. He doesn't care about cars and doesn't really take care of it and it's never had even one mechanical problem. Ever. The Corolla is everything you'd expect, and nothing you wouldn't. Its exterior styling, performance, and interior are as bland and sensible as any church-going suburbanite could hope for. And, it gets great gas mileage. If you never think about your car when you're not driving, the Corolla is perfect for you.
April 12, 2009This is my car. I've had it about six months, and put around 4,500 miles on it; considering it had about 143,000 when I bought it, it still runs beautifully. And it should be good for another 100K+ so long as it's maintained. It's a 4-cylinder manual transmission, but you wouldn't know that from the way it handles, even uphill and from a stop, and as a result it gets great mileage. Plenty of trunk space too, which is going to be handy once I'm finished school.
March 28, 2008A great family car, flexible and solid as a rock.
January 22, 2008I love my car!!! Never had a problem, except when I accidentally hit that dog :( And then that ended up messing something else up but that was my fault not the car's! Would recommend a Toyota Corolla to any one!
September 29, 2009This is my mom's car sence 2002, I drove it before got my own car. It's auto slushbox, 1.8L VVT-i variable timing engine, very economical. Car is light weight, interior is a littlebit cheap, but the engine is very reliable, ofcorse because its a toyota heh. The handling may be an issue to someone, the steering feel is rather unstable, compare to the 626 I have right now. Car like to roll over when cornering.. Anyway it's a family sedan not a race car. I'd give a final score 3.5/5
March 23, 2008Toyota did an overhaul in 2002 with the new Corollas and what a job they did. The car is great for the city with gas mileage unsurpassed in its class (unless you drive a Hybrid). The only thing it needs is a bit more guts.
February 20, 2008Corolla 2003 is a great car, with a good engine, nice breaks and good interior, it handles nicely, you just buy one and properly maintain it, it will not give you any problem plus it gives you good mileage as well, so overall its a really good car, one worth spending your money on..
September 18, 2008This car is a very good every day car that has 130hp and 125 pounds of torque which gives it a good acceleration (0-100 in 8.2sec). The handlng is quite good compaired to other cars in its class, and its a very smooth ride. Interior is roomy and has a nice look to it, yet the centre part of the dash under the radio can be fragile.
January 12, 2008Trims & specs
Base MSRP $15,165 | Seating 5 |
Engine 1.8L 130 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 32 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $15,000 | Seating 5 |
Engine 1.8L 130 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 32 | Drivetrain FWD |
Base MSRP $14,055 | Seating 5 |
Engine 1.8L 130 hp I4 | Cargo Capacity 0.0 cu ft |
Combined MPG 32 | Drivetrain FWD |
Pricing trends
MSRP range
$14,055 - $15,165
Current avg. market price
$5,349
Trending up by 1.9% this month
May 2026 - July 2026
