The most notable change to the 1982 Corolla was an upgrade from a three-speed automatic to a four-speed, which was unusual for an economy car of that era. Otherwise, the 1982 Corolla remained largely the same from the previous year.

The 1982 Toyota Corolla came in many body styles with several trim levels. The two- and four-door sedan came as a standard, DX or E5. The hardtop coupe came as a standard or SR5, and the sports coupe came as a SR5. The wagon came as a standard or DX. The liftback came as a standard and SR5. The 1982 Toyota Corolla had a 75-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.

Owners of the 1982 Corolla speak very highly of it, some even saying it is the best car they ever owned. The cars are reliable and need very few repairs if maintained regularly. Some drivers complain that rust can be a problem, and that the seats are not very comfortable.