1999 Toyota Corolla Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Very little changed for the 1999 Toyota Corolla. The VE model now came standard with a cassette player, and the LE came standard with a few more features as well.
The 1999 Corolla came with an aluminum 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, putting out 120 horsepower. Fuel economy was about 31-38 mpg. The base-level VE came minimally equipped, with just about every conceivable feature available only as an option. The midlevel CE got nicer upholstery and a few more features, and the high-end LE came comfortably equipped.
The 1999 Toyota Corolla had earned fans due to its thoughtfully designed controls, roomy trunk, good gas mileage, and Toyota dependability. Owners complain that the 1999 Corolla comes standard with very few options, and many find the car's appearance overly conservative.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1999 Toyota Corolla
Write a reviewUser rating:
by Liliana B
Jul 03, 2014
Dark colors make cars be hotter inside, but the Toyota Corolla's A/C works well.
Overall, the car is reliable. The motor is still new even though has been used for a little bit. I had no problem since I purchased the vehicle.Jul 03, 2014
by Anonymous
Apr 18, 2014
I like that it's affordable. My initial purchase of the car was fairly cheap and it was and still is in good condition. I bought it to commute to work and school but have driven it on 850 mile trips. It runs very well and is reliable. I've been very happy with it and the gas mileage it gets.Apr 18, 2014
by Anonymous
Dec 20, 2013
i purchased this car new-ish.. it was a leftover that no one wanted because it was a stick. It was also a weirdly optioned stick, as it didn't have the spoiler, the fog lights, alloys, but had leather and a moon-roof. When i purchased this i had leased it with the intention of keeping it. I was working on Long Island and living in NJ, so my commute daily was killer. The miles poured on, and in 3 years i had done 100K miles. i owned the car for an additional 3 years in that time i put on over 300K miles.
I had figured that this car would run as long as my 85 camry, however it did not..
There are some issues with this car to which you should keep in mind..
1. The 1zzFe engine in the 98-99 corolla is not the same as the 1zzfe used in the 2000 - 2014 models. There is no variable valve timing. (VVTI) as a result the parts are different between this one and the new ones, which means they are a little more expensive.
2. The clutch in the manuals sucks..
3. The DRL have a design flaw, so you will eat through bulbs like water
4. The power window regulators suck, and do not close right.
5. The O2 sensors are expensive, and this model had an issue with eating them. (i pulled the check engine bulb and gave up, drove another 100k miles and didn't care)
Aside from that, i am certain you cannot kill these cars..
I know as once i got to 250K miles, i decided to rip it apart and make a tuner.
This was a cheaper investment than a Honda, and the outcome was brutal fun..
at 250K miles.
Motor was replaced with a 2zzGE(gen1) with forged internals (9200RPM redline)
The transmission was replaced with a (gen1) 6speed from a celica gts
The clutch was replaced as well as all the linkage.. with a stage 4 clutch and lightened flywheel. (Added LSD)
The interior was gutted two racing seats installed
Added coil-overs 17in Rota's and street slick summer tires.
Sold the car at 304K miles after having some fun. (got 7k)
ran a 13.2 on all motor and still got 30mpg..Dec 20, 2013
User rating:
by Liliana B
Jul 03, 2014
Dark colors make cars be hotter inside, but the Toyota Corolla's A/C works well.
Overall, the car is reliable. The motor is still new even though has been used for a little bit. I had no problem since I purchased the vehicle.Jul 03, 2014
by Anonymous
Apr 18, 2014
I like that it's affordable. My initial purchase of the car was fairly cheap and it was and still is in good condition. I bought it to commute to work and school but have driven it on 850 mile trips. It runs very well and is reliable. I've been very happy with it and the gas mileage it gets.Apr 18, 2014
by Anonymous
Dec 20, 2013
i purchased this car new-ish.. it was a leftover that no one wanted because it was a stick. It was also a weirdly optioned stick, as it didn't have the spoiler, the fog lights, alloys, but had leather and a moon-roof. When i purchased this i had leased it with the intention of keeping it. I was working on Long Island and living in NJ, so my commute daily was killer. The miles poured on, and in 3 years i had done 100K miles. i owned the car for an additional 3 years in that time i put on over 300K miles.
I had figured that this car would run as long as my 85 camry, however it did not..
There are some issues with this car to which you should keep in mind..
1. The 1zzFe engine in the 98-99 corolla is not the same as the 1zzfe used in the 2000 - 2014 models. There is no variable valve timing. (VVTI) as a result the parts are different between this one and the new ones, which means they are a little more expensive.
2. The clutch in the manuals sucks..
3. The DRL have a design flaw, so you will eat through bulbs like water
4. The power window regulators suck, and do not close right.
5. The O2 sensors are expensive, and this model had an issue with eating them. (i pulled the check engine bulb and gave up, drove another 100k miles and didn't care)
Aside from that, i am certain you cannot kill these cars..
I know as once i got to 250K miles, i decided to rip it apart and make a tuner.
This was a cheaper investment than a Honda, and the outcome was brutal fun..
at 250K miles.
Motor was replaced with a 2zzGE(gen1) with forged internals (9200RPM redline)
The transmission was replaced with a (gen1) 6speed from a celica gts
The clutch was replaced as well as all the linkage.. with a stage 4 clutch and lightened flywheel. (Added LSD)
The interior was gutted two racing seats installed
Added coil-overs 17in Rota's and street slick summer tires.
Sold the car at 304K miles after having some fun. (got 7k)
ran a 13.2 on all motor and still got 30mpg..Dec 20, 2013
by Anonymous
Oct 28, 2013
The car is best that I have ever had.I have had for six months and I don't intend to give it up for any price. The car that owned before this one was a Pigeout 1979 which made me a regular guest at the mechanic's. This one has caused no problems so far.Oct 28, 2013
by Anonymous
Mar 13, 2012
It's a compact car. Don't expect midsize from this. Get a good set of Michellins on it and it'll run smooth and quite for years. It's sharp looking. Handling is great, steering smooth, engine has pep. Love the car. Owned for 10 yrs. Our second Corolla. Mar 13, 2012
by Sax S
Jan 09, 2012
Do not underestimate, This little baby has power. I love the siZe when I'm in the city, great for parking. In this economy with crazy gas prices, I can fill up the tank & still pay rent. Low maintenance and repair cost.Jan 09, 2012
by Matt J
Dec 21, 2011
good commuter car. nothing special as far as performance or build quality goes.
the hubcaps really make the car stand-out and gives it a sharp look. fun car to
drive but not the greatest car to go joy riding in.Dec 21, 2011
by Lolu A
Oct 03, 2011
The car is pretty cramped, but it produces decent acceleration and sustainable
top speed on the open road, plus you can always depend on the brakes. Because
of the age, there are some squeaks from the suspension and some repairs
needed every now and then. The styling both inside and outside are decent,
nothing spectacular. It has great gas mileage and the maintenance cost is pretty
low. It is a car one can get attached to, even if every now and then I dream of a
newer model.Oct 03, 2011
by Alberto F
Mar 12, 2011
This is a great car to drive.... not much in the HP department, but it brakes and
handles just fine (and I need to change my brakes, so that's saying something).
It's built like a Toyota is supposed to be - cheap and reliable. Couple of
vibrations and squeaks coming from the engine department, mainly due to
looseness. It has minor cosmetic damage, and looks pretty damn cute for a
Corolla lol. The gas mileage is absolutely outstanding - like 30 something mpg
hwy, and the gas could last for at least 2 weeks. Cost of ownership is very low.
This is a very fun and practical car to drive and I recommend it for anyone
looking to save at the pump and drive a reliable piece of machinery.Mar 12, 2011
by Anonymous
May 14, 2010
Great little car. Maybe not the most attractive car on the lot. Performance is great if you're talking about longevity and maintenance requirements, however there's little power. Very fun car to poke around in. I wish it had ABS, better crash rating and cruise control. May 14, 2010
by Lorenzo L
Aug 28, 2009
20 valve RXI, light on fuel and a high revving motor with 45mm Throttle Bodies, after market fuel management system, Dicktator EFI installed. Also has a 50mm Stainless Steel Free Flow Exhaust system, with an induction kit. Makes very good power for a 1600, +/- 130Kw.Aug 28, 2009
by Kenny R
Jul 14, 2009
I see to many elderly people driving it. Quality is very high, have not had to many problems with vehicle. The cost of ownership is cheap. Does not have to many squeaks or rattles, and has been a very reliable car. Jul 14, 2009
by Matias B
Jul 09, 2009
This is my 99 corolla, it's a stock car exept the rimms and the air intake filter. The build quality is good, in the 4 years i have had the car there hasn't been any problems, there are some minor squeaks in the interior plastics if i drive on a rough road. The gas mileage is? I do not have a clue, i just go fill up when i start to run out of gas, but whit the 1330cc engine it doesn't drink a lot of gas. The performance isn't good whit 86 bhp, it accelerates poorly, the braking is okay and the handling is allso okay with the wider summer tires.The interior is terrible, well it's a little better now when i have painted the gray plastic parts black, before it looked like an old persons car weeery booring. The exterior i like, it "just" needs a new paint job and i want to lower the suspension a bit. Overall it's a good everyday car but if you wan't to have fun this isn't the car to buy, i can recomend this car to people who only wan't to get from one place to another and don't care about performance or how fun it's to drive. Jul 09, 2009
by Glenn W
Jul 08, 2009
I really like my Toyota Corolla. The fuel mileage (35 mpg) is a plus. It accelerates and brakes really well and it also has great handling for everyday driving. The car has a good exterior but the interior is plain, although it doesn't bother me. Overall, I really like this car.Jul 08, 2009
by Jeremy N
Nov 11, 2008
so i had this corolla for about a year and off roaded it everyday. it made it thru everything from puddles, to motor cycles tracks. the e brake was also spectacular. while it was not the bet at handling or acceleration, it made up for it in sturdiness. i truely beat the hell outta this car and it took it like a man.Nov 11, 2008
by Justin B
Oct 01, 2008
1999 Corolla VE 1.8L, ~44,500 miles
My trim was the lowest trim option available...has manual windows and locks and no ABS. The transmission is a 3-speed auto without overdrive.
Performance: The engine seems to have pretty good acceleration for a 1.8L four, handling is pretty good. The brakes do stop the car very well but of course if you mash the brake pedal down the wheels will almost instantly lock due to lack of ABS. Gas mileage is around 20-24MPG all the time, even if you drive it hard.
Build Quality: My car seems to have pretty good build quality, and has not needed any major repairs as of yet. Still on the OE brakes, and tire wear isn't bad at all. The engine seems to be in pretty good shape with no oil burning or extraneous gas consumption. However, the engine has been idling at higher RPMs than usual and doesn't seem to back down until a few minutes pass. Transmission is still in good shape, but shifts kind of hard if you are giving the engine a little too much gas. The interior is still in good shape too, but some vinyl door trim has shrank and peeled off from the heat, and the beige cloth driver's seat is turning black from use.
Appearance: Pretty basic interior styling because it is a budget compact sedan, but it was expected.
Ownership costs: Gas mileage is good at 20-24MPG, and routine maintenance is cheap unless you need a new fuel filter. I say this because the fuel filter and pump are inside the gas tank, so a mechanic will have to remove the tank and change the filter.
Fun factor: Going the governor (112.5MPH) as your 1.8L screams at 6000 RPM on your 3 speed transmission (insane how 3rd gear goes from 45-112MPH).
Conclusion: A great economical car for a first time driver or money conscious person.Oct 01, 2008
by Anonymous
Aug 15, 2008
Performance - Not good.
Build Quality - Just needed routine maintenance for the 8 years I owned it.
Appearance - It's a family sedan...what do you expect?!
Cost of ownership - Good gas mileage, low maintenance costs.
Fun Factor - It's just a nice sensible car. I didn't buy it for fun.
I would recommend the newer model of Corolla. It's better looking, has better performance, does not cost more than the model I owned, is reliable, and still has good gas mileage.Aug 15, 2008
by Sachal R
Jul 31, 2008
I currently own this car in Pakistan. The Overall Performance is excellent and i quite like its acceleration. Although its a 1.6 but the pick is really fast. The Buiild Quality is also good but not excellent. Both the interior and exterior is also very well styled. It is a nice car to live with.Jul 31, 2008
by Phil G
Jul 26, 2008
Small ass engine makes 0-60 sometime next year. The manual tranny makes the drive bearable, and even fun sometimes. Great on gas, and I usually average 30+ miles per gallon. Durable as all hell, and have only had to replace the clutch once in its life (130,800 miles so far), and the headlights. Styling is decent, but I don't expect much for an economy car.Jul 26, 2008
by Ntombi P
Jul 11, 2008
Of course, the best things about the Corolla are that the gas mileage and reliability are almost unparalleled. It requires only routine maintenance, and keeps going and going and ... Well you get the picture.Jul 11, 2008
by Ntombi P
Jul 11, 2008
Not the most exciting car in the world, but it was amazingly reliable, and when I was T-Boned by an F-250, it protected me so well that I bought another just like it!Jul 11, 2008
by Austin C
Jun 20, 2008
It gets me where I need to go and doesn't look too bad doing it; great gas mileage [30+ city & highway], great manual
only 4cyl = no acceleration, Jun 20, 2008
by Brad B
Apr 01, 2008
Mine is rebuilt from a crash, but the quality is still incredible. Car is sleek-looking, interior is well-designed and spacious, though the car is small and light. The trunk is huge. There are also plenty of places to store stuff. The engine is small and fairly weak, but does the job.Apr 01, 2008
by Anonymous
Feb 11, 2008
Bottom of the list model. But hell, the car takes me here and there in a long distant ride without any problems! Especially when i drive over an hour to work 6 days a week!Feb 11, 2008
by Kamil N
Jan 03, 2008
The car's not that old and there's a guaranteed failure every once in a while. Not a very solid build.Jan 03, 2008
by Ingrid K
Dec 27, 2007
Basic car, good family car, good on gas.Dec 27, 2007
by Anonymous
May 08, 2007
good little car. great on gas. had to replace starter otherwise very reliable.May 08, 2007
1999 Toyota Corolla Pricing
Original MSRP
$12,638 to $15,288Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
