Used 2021 Toyota Corolla for Sale near Illinois

Compare 2021 Toyota Corolla Trims

The 2021 Toyota Corolla offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to more feature-rich models, all with impressive fuel efficiency.

• Starting at $16,179
• Best MPG/MPGe: 31 city / 40 hwy
• Most Popular: LE FWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

L FWD — "Who It's For"

The L FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a budget-friendly option without paying for extra features.

• Avg. market price: $16,642 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 30 city / 38 hwy
• Inventory: 52 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View L FWD listings

LE FWD — "Who It's For"

The LE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded compact car with popular features at an accessible price.

• Avg. market price: $16,179 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 30 city / 38 hwy
• Inventory: 10,146 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View LE FWD listings

SE FWD — "Who It's For"

The SE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sportier driving experience without stepping up to a higher price tier.

• Avg. market price: $17,773 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 29 city / 36 hwy
• Inventory: 2,637 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View SE FWD listings

SE Nightshade Edition FWD — "Who It's For"

The SE Nightshade Edition FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a stylish look with excellent fuel efficiency.

• Avg. market price: $18,823 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 31 city / 40 hwy
• Inventory: 61 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View SE Nightshade Edition FWD listings

XLE FWD — "Who It's For"

The XLE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want luxury features without going fully loaded.

• Avg. market price: $19,057 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 29 city / 37 hwy
• Inventory: 50 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View XLE FWD listings

SE Apex FWD — "Who It's For"

The SE Apex FWD is the pick for shoppers who want sporty performance with added features at a reasonable price.

• Avg. market price: $18,941 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 28 city / 36 hwy
• Inventory: 38 listings — lower availability; may limit negotiating room
• View SE Apex FWD listings

XSE FWD — "Who It's For"

The XSE FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a fully loaded compact car with premium amenities.

• Avg. market price: $20,933 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 31 city / 38 hwy
• Inventory: 413 listings
• View XSE FWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — LE FWD

With 10,146 active listings, the LE FWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse LE FWD listings

Best Budget Option — LE FWD

At $16,179 avg market price — below the lineup median of $18,823 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse LE FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — SE Nightshade Edition FWD

With an impressive MPG/MPGe of 31 city / 40 hwy, this trim is ideal for fuel-conscious shoppers.

Browse SE Nightshade Edition FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 5, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Toyota Corolla cost?

Prices have softened 2.92% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,184 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2021 Toyota Corolla a good car?

Generally — the 2021 Toyota Corolla earns a 4.4/5 user rating and a 7.8/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Technology and Safety.

Owners consistently praise its reliability, excellent gas mileage, and the high number of features packed into the car. The review also points to its stylish design and city-friendly appeal, which fit well with the Corolla’s practical, affordable, efficiency-first mission.

The trade-offs are familiar: the expert review calls out noise and outdated technology. Even so, the SE and XSE trims add a more engaging driving character, so you can choose a version that feels less like a basic commuter and more like a compact car with personality.

With 32.3% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Toyota Corolla reliable?

Owners rate it 4.4/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner feedback highlights reliability, and the expert review reinforces that with language about affordability, reliability, and efficiency. It also describes the Corolla as dependable and thrifty, with a reputation for bulletproof reliability and easy resale when you’re ready to move on.

Toyota also includes a free maintenance plan for two years or 25,000 miles, which helps reduce early ownership costs. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is making sure the specific car you choose has been cared for properly, especially if it has prior damage or heavy use.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Toyota Corolla?

At 60.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been in a collision or shows uneven wear. Focus on condition details that matter in daily use, including interior wear, seat comfort, and how well the technology and driver-assistance systems operate.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The SE and XSE add sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a matching diffuser panel, a subtle body kit, a twin-outlet exhaust, and 18-inch aluminum wheels, while the Apex Edition adds a track-tuned sport suspension, a lowered ride height, revised steering calibration, a sport exhaust system, and lightweight 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels with optional summer performance tires. The SE is the better value if you want the sportier look without paying for the XSE’s extra equipment.
• Powertrain: The SE and XSE use a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, paired with a Dynamic Shift CVT, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. A six-speed manual with downshift rev-matching is available on the SE.
• Safety package: Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and more. Rear side-impact airbags are standard this year, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning is available.
• Infotainment: Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio are standard. The SE gets an 8-inch touchscreen, while the XSE adds Service Connect and Remote Connect, plus dynamic voice recognition, dynamic navigation, and Destination Assist.
• Fuel efficiency: The XSE is rated at 34 mpg in combined driving, and the review notes an observed 31.1 mpg on a mountainous route.

Which 2021 Toyota Corolla trim should I buy?

The 2021 Toyota Corolla is offered in 3 trim levels: L, LE, XLE.

Here's the short version:

The data here points most clearly to the SE as the best-value choice, but the trim roster explicitly identified in the review text is limited to L, LE, and XLE for the standard commuter-oriented lineup. If you want the sportier personality described in the review, the SE and XSE are the trims that add the more engaging styling and driving character, while the SE is the one the review recommends for value because it keeps the look and much of the appeal without the higher price.

The safety package is standard across the lineup, which helps keep even the lower trims appealing if your priority is value and peace of mind.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Toyota Corolla?

This looks like a moderate, selective-buyer market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,184 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.92% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 60.4% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,496, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Toyota Corolla's resale value?

The current average of $16,972 sits slightly below last year's $17,483.

That softer pricing can help you buy in at a more favorable point, but it also suggests the market has already adjusted downward. If you plan to resell later, the Corolla’s broad appeal and reputation for reliability should help support demand, even if the current trend is a little weaker than it was a year ago.

Because the model is still viewed as practical, efficient, and easy to live with, it should remain attractive to future used-car shoppers. Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.4/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Toyota Corolla safe?

The 2021 Corolla’s standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and more.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Toyota also adds standard rear side-impact airbags for 2021, and the available blind-spot warning system gains rear cross-traffic warning. The expert review notes that adaptive cruise control can brake unevenly at times and that lane-centering assistance may occasionally need driver override, so the system is strong overall but not flawless.

Should I buy a 2021 Toyota Corolla or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 32.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 60.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 2.92% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.4/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 adds standard rear side-impact airbags and a stronger safety package.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $16,534, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $16,972 average.
• It adds style and a bit of enjoyment to the Corolla formula.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $18,382, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $16,972 average.
• It adds more body-style, transmission, and powertrain choices.

The bottom line: If you want the best balance of price, safety, and current-market availability, the 2021 is the smart default. If you’re especially price-sensitive, the 2020 can save you money, while the 2022 makes sense if you want more configuration flexibility and don’t mind paying more.

How does the 2021 Toyota Corolla compare to the 2021 Honda Civic?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2021 Toyota Corolla:

• Pros: Standard advanced safety features, Fun to drive, Manual transmission available.
• Cons: Noisy, Outdated technology.

2021 Honda Civic:

• Pros: Stylish design, Multiple body styles, Fun to drive.
• Cons: Underwhelming base engine, Outdated technology, Interior materials feel cheap.

Our experts score the 2021 Toyota Corolla 7.8/10 and the 2021 Honda Civic 7.2/10. The Corolla has the edge in expert scoring and stands out for standard safety features and a manual transmission option. The Civic counters with more body styles and a stylish design, but its base engine and interior materials are weaker points. Both have outdated technology, so your choice comes down to whether you value the Corolla’s safety-and-value focus or the Civic’s broader body-style appeal.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.