1987 Toyota Corolla Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Sit in any 1987 Corolla at your local Toyota dealership and you’ll find hard, yet seemingly durable, plastics on almost every surface you can touch, and primary controls laid out within easy reach of the driver. The Sport Coupe treats occupants to a unique gauge cluster, a tilt steering wheel, and front bucket seats with lumbar and bolster adjustments.

Those are nice upgrades, but the bulk of buyers will be looking at the Corolla sedan. This is home to comfortable reclining front seats that are easy to get in and out of, a rear bench seat that can accommodate up to three adults in a pinch, and ample headroom. Some of us with chubby fingers grumbled a bit when using the small radio buttons, and we prefer the softer cloth upholstery standard on upper trims, but the DX’s vinyl seats should be easier to clean.

With the exception of the sporty GT-S, all versions of the 1987 Toyota Corolla use a 1.6-liter, single overhead cam (SOHC), carbureted, eight-valve four-cylinder engine (designated 4A-GE by Toyota). Most models come with the buyer’s choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic with an easy-to-reach overdrive button (a change made to last year’s Corolla). Oddly, the DX hatchback is only offered with a standard three-speed automatic.

That little powerplant produces 74 horsepower and 86 pound-feet of torque, output that is underwhelming but works hard to get the Corolla moving. Without more muscle on tap, you’ll need to build up some momentum before tackling steep inclines or be prepared to mash the gas pedal when merging into fast-moving highway traffic. Fortunately, the Corolla’s engine sounds and feels fairly refined at higher revs. Our suggestion is to opt for the manual gearbox that will provide more control over power delivery, but the four-speed automatic does offer smooth shifts for those who prefer their compact car without a clutch pedal. According to the EPA, drivers can expect to see up to 33 mpg on the highway with the manual or 30 mpg with the automatic.

Shoppers on the lookout for a bit more performance will want to check out the Corolla GT-S models. The FWD FX16 GT-S also employs a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, but this one is fuel-injected with dual overhead camshafts (DOHC, also referred to as twin cam), 16 valves, and 108 hp. That engine is also under the hood of the RWD Corolla GT-S Sport Coupe, though here it puts out 112 hp. The five-speed manual is the only available transmission. In either configuration, this powertrain is a joy to put through its paces, with crisp shifts and acceleration on par with a FWD Volkswagen GTI.

The same can be said for the Toyota Corolla GT-S’s handling. All versions of the Corolla offer optional power steering, but the GT-S ups the game with a limited-slip rear differential (LSD), front and rear anti-sway bars, and disc brakes on all four corners. Unlike other Corollas, which provide a somewhat stiff yet compliant ride, the GT-S models are eager to spend a day attacking curvy roads.

Despite its small size, the Toyota Corolla delivers an abundance of functionality. The car’s cabin features useful door pockets, a glovebox, and a small cubby below the instrument panel, not to mention an ample trunk that in sedan and liftback form provides a low floor that makes for easy loading and unloading. Those body styles also offer the added benefit of a fold-down rear seat that expands the cargo space, and the hatchback’s wide-opening back door is especially helpful when you need to transport large, bulky items.

All 1987 Corollas include handy trunk and fuel-door release tabs by the driver’s seat, but cupholders are reserved for the upper trim levels.

If you think the 1987 Toyota Corolla is little more than a stripped-down economy car, prepare to be surprised. Depending on trim level, available creature comforts include an AM/FM radio with four speakers, an auto-reverse cassette player and equalizer, intermittent windshield wipers, rear window defroster, cruise control, and air conditioning. A tachometer is standard on some Corollas, as are coolant and oil pressure gauges. To meet growing demand, Toyota offers power windows, locks, and mirrors as part of an upgraded option package.

Technology is also found behind the scenes in the Corolla’s relatively refined powertrain, the GT-S’s upgraded suspension, and in whatever secret sauce the company has concocted to make its vehicles particularly reliable.

Like all passenger cars, the Toyota Corolla features a third brake light that was federally mandated for the 1986 model year. In addition, all versions are equipped with front adjustable head restraints, integrated rear head restraints, and all but the Corolla DX include standard driver- and passenger-side exterior rearview mirrors.

Drivers can take comfort in knowing that every 1987 Corolla rolls off the assembly line with front power disc brakes that deliver confident stopping power. Lower trims get drum brakes out back, whereas the Corolla GT-S comes with standard rear discs.

As with all vehicles, prices for the 1987 Corolla vary based on trim levels and equipment. The most affordable of the bunch is the base Corolla FX16, which starts at about $8,000. From there, shoppers can dish out another $200 for the Corolla DX sedan, a total of $9,300 for the LE sedan, or more than $10,500 for a fully equipped GT-S Sport Coupe.

By comparison, the Chevrolet Cavalier starts at about $7,300 and climbs to approximately $10,000 for the V6-equipped Z24 trim, basic versions of fellow Japanese Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra models can be had for roughly $6,000, and the Volkswagen Golf’s prices go as high as $11,900 for the GTI. Within Toyota’s own ranks, base Camry and Celica models start at about $10,500, or the same cost of a loaded Corolla.

Those numbers indicate that the 1987 Corolla’s prices are in line with its direct competitors. The same can be said for the car’s fuel economy, though Honda does offer a Civic variant that achieves nearly 40 mpg on the highway. As mentioned above, the Corolla tops out at 33 mpg.

And then, there is the issue of reliability. This one is more difficult to quantify, but Toyota continues to build a reputation for selling some of the most dependable vehicles on the market. For many considering the purchase of a 1987 Corolla, that may be the most important factor.