2002 Toyota Celica Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The 2002 Toyota Celica changed very little, with the exception of the new "Action Package" available on both trims, which included an adjustable rear spoiler.
The 2002 Toyota Celica was available only as a hatchback, which came as a GT or sportier GT-S. The GT came with a 1.8 liter, 140 horsepower engine. The sportier GT-S, which had distinctive exterior and interior styling, came with a 1.8-liter, 180 horsepower engine. This generation was also the first Celica to come available with a six-speed manual transmission. The GT engine got about 27/34 mpg, and the GT-S engine got about 23/30 mpg.
Drivers love the 2002 Celica's appearance. Many appreciate that they can get a sporty-looking car that can still be used as an economical commuter car. Many drivers find the interior to be too small, and others find that there is poor visibility out the rear window.
Published Aug 8, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 2002 Toyota Celica
Write a reviewUser rating:
by Marco g
Jul 31, 2021
The car us super clean and nice. Rust here and there but its not that bad. It drives smooth and was a great price for it. No complaints. Jul 31, 2021
by Anonymous
Jun 01, 2014
Overall great car. Good first car or second car. Great fuel economy. Love this car. The power at 140+/- HP for a small car is great but could be better. The handling is great along with the styling. Which Toyota still makes this car.Jun 01, 2014
by Marc L
Mar 11, 2012
Fantastic car. Great gas miliage. Acceleration is there. Braking, you can stop on a dime. Handles like a BMW. Definately in control while driving it. It's a blast to drive. Never raced
it, but I would love too. Hate to sell it but I just bought a new Ford Escape XLT because I
needed more room!!!!Mar 11, 2012
User rating:
by Marco g
Jul 31, 2021
The car us super clean and nice. Rust here and there but its not that bad. It drives smooth and was a great price for it. No complaints. Jul 31, 2021
by Anonymous
Jun 01, 2014
Overall great car. Good first car or second car. Great fuel economy. Love this car. The power at 140+/- HP for a small car is great but could be better. The handling is great along with the styling. Which Toyota still makes this car.Jun 01, 2014
by Marc L
Mar 11, 2012
Fantastic car. Great gas miliage. Acceleration is there. Braking, you can stop on a dime. Handles like a BMW. Definately in control while driving it. It's a blast to drive. Never raced
it, but I would love too. Hate to sell it but I just bought a new Ford Escape XLT because I
needed more room!!!!Mar 11, 2012
by Matthew G
Oct 21, 2011
140hp for a lightweight car which is OK. Could do with a little more power at times but it is a front wheel drive vehicle so more and more power will only create different problems.
Good low, coupe looks with a surprisingly spacious boot. Has a fairly good soundtrack for just a 1.8ltr and given the right conditions the exhaust has been known to make a rather cool crackling noise.
6 geared box which I love but in all honestly only the 1st and 2nd are any fun. I'm not sure if it's just the cheap crappy tyres I have on or if the car just handles like this in general but the car doesn't tend to let you control where you want to go in a slide and sliding by mistake is as a simple as going 40mph+ and turning the wheel a tad too far too quickly.
Good driving position and amazing standard bucket seats make it a very comforting place to be and help you feel secure enough to try stupid things on a regular basis.
All round a good starters car for someone coming out of their one point nothing baby hatch but after nearly two years of ownership the appeals starting to wear off a bit and I'm craving a bit of none front wheel drive now with a bit more power to it.Oct 21, 2011
by Scott W
Aug 21, 2011
I love this car even though it is totally impractical....I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. Horsepower is a little low, but the throttle response is pretty good. Replacing the engine SUCKED, but at least I won't have that problem anymore.Aug 21, 2011
by Vik S
Sep 08, 2010
hp:200+
0-100km/h: 6.2s
Handling: Stiff with low body roll and good road feedback
Appearance: Supercar
Gas mileage: 25+ mpg
Loads of fun and adrenaline boost above 6000 rpm... The Yamaha 2zzge screams
while the rpm needle goes up to 8200Sep 08, 2010
by Derek E
Aug 18, 2009
it has a great build quality
good performance from a 4 banger
the exterior looks great with the action body kit that was available from dealer
very light car only around 2600-2700 pounds
fun car only downfall is that its fwdAug 18, 2009
by Grant H
Aug 18, 2009
Good performance, not blistering but steady away.
Great build quailty, its a toyota,
Apperance, bit girly unless you have the body kit on & 17s
Cheep to run, unless your in the VVTi
Great to drive, you can fling it into any corner you want.Aug 18, 2009
by Jason O
May 31, 2009
Always starts, never hesitates, utterly reliable, great on gas 37 mpg, fun to drive, rev happy, asks to be driven hard and very cheap to maintain. Has never needed any mechanical repairs, just routine maintenance. Very spacious trunk makes it pretty practical too.May 31, 2009
by Ivan K
Jan 29, 2009
Love this car, might do better with more power. Handles like its on rails, looks freaking awesome, but kinda shoddy build quality. Very fun to drive, yet a gas miser. Many problems, but willing to deal with them, as its worth it!Jan 29, 2009
by Sherrie A
Nov 25, 2008
I love this car! I've had it for years and its still running strong. It has also been in an accident and held up very well!! I was very surprised! It doesn't pick up very fast from a dead stop, but its quick once it gets going. Also, I get great gas mileage. The celica is a great looking car with the action package and I get compliments on it all the time. It now has over 150k miles and I have no complaints.Nov 25, 2008
by Trixie M
Sep 05, 2008
Love this car. A bit sluggish as its automatic but still goes ok. It looks very hot and is very flashy. Pretty expensive considering it is a 2002 model but I definately do not regret buying this car. I can say that this is my dream car and I cant imaging driving anything else!Sep 05, 2008
by Vlad K
Aug 23, 2008
I love this car .. i simple love it because of how i can trust it on relyablity and how the prefromance is. this car i have owned for aout 1 year and i have no problems with it at all . this car is very fun to drive every time i pull up on a stop light i gun it and get good speedAug 23, 2008
by Hani D
Aug 13, 2008
great car, with great performance, breaking is a bit poor give the fact that it hasn't got ABS, handling is great, even if TCS isnt included in these cars. alot of tuning can be made in this car, in its engine and the exterior. parts are a bit expensive. other than that great car all in allAug 13, 2008
by Anonymous
Jul 31, 2008
Appearance is amazing (exterior)...performance is
jacked, good on mpgs though. Overall a cool car if
your looking for the ladies attention, but not so good
if your not a fan of being passed up by other cars with
a little more horsepower under their hoods. Car cost
anywhere from 10k-14k, if your big on performance
just get a GTS which has lift and trust me, you'll
appreciate it. Jul 31, 2008
by Stefani M
Jul 05, 2008
I like it's performance, looks, and is built very well. It has great gas mileage and is a blast to drive and for being a sports car has a reasonable amount of space in the back and in the trunk.Jul 05, 2008
by Jake B
Jul 03, 2008
i love my car, it goes quick, i feel in control, i've driven it like mad and it uses next to no gas
only problems: visibility is kind of eh, and the rear seats don't like having people, specifically feetJul 03, 2008
by Benjamin L
Jun 19, 2008
Lack of performanceJun 19, 2008
by Steve H
Jun 18, 2008
reliable yet stylish, good responses, solid feel, 6-speed manual, solid braking power, stiff and responsive handling, interior and exterior styling is great still to this day, good mileage but uses premium which stinks in this day and age, very few repairs needed, the biggest was the water pump needed to be replaced, the gas lifters on the liftgate don't hold it up anymore along with some other small signs of wearJun 18, 2008
by Mike R
Jun 16, 2008
I love everything about my car except that, after 1993 Toyota cut down the size of the engine, took out the turbo, and Killed the AWD! But I think that the 7th generation is the best looking of all, and I cant wiat to see if Toyota decides to re-launch the Celica in the next few yearsJun 16, 2008
by Vick C
Jun 14, 2008
Gas good!!!!!
Big Girls will slow down the car and make it scrape!!! Jun 14, 2008
by Andrew S
Jun 09, 2008
I've had the car for 4 years and all things considered I haven't had to put
a whole lot of money into it. Jun 09, 2008
by Daniel B
May 17, 2008
Great small car with good pep. Only drove it a few times.May 17, 2008
by Mark C
May 07, 2008
I hated this car. Drove it for its first 11,000 miles without an oil change. 5,000RPM clutch dumps about 100 times... tried to kill it but it just wouldn't die. Every plastic piece in the interior did manage to break though!May 07, 2008
by Jackie S
May 02, 2008
Loved this - this was my first non-company car for years - and the first time I had ever bought a brand new car rather than a second hand one. Loved it - but had to sell it after it gave me a sore back! Mind you - I think a lot of that was down to driving up and down to Scotland from Worcester every bloody weekend!May 02, 2008
by Irena S
Apr 10, 2008
I love itApr 10, 2008
by Matthew W
Apr 04, 2008
This was my baby. Car was wicked fast. Sweet ride.Apr 04, 2008
by El D
Mar 31, 2008
Mine looks betterMar 31, 2008
by Sam C
Mar 29, 2008
I love the looks of my 2002 Celica GT. This car is not the fastest at all but its super reliable decent gas mileage and really fun to have and drive.Mar 29, 2008
by Joel N
Mar 15, 2008
Car handles great in the rain and the dry. seats are comfortable and a little bit race inspired cause they grip you during high speed cornering. performance is very good for a 1.8L four cylinder , great gas mileage. car is very reliable it has never broke down on me. I would buy again if they still made them!!!!!!Mar 15, 2008
by Josh J
Mar 06, 2008
Mine was just short of a show car. i put so much work into that thing!Mar 06, 2008
by Jamie L
Feb 03, 2008
i loved this car. i only sold it cuz i have kids now and had to get a family car.Feb 03, 2008
by Jeremiah H
Jan 22, 2008
its kinda of peppy, intiors is nice and comfortable seatsJan 22, 2008
by Chris B
Dec 24, 2007
Very sporty rideDec 24, 2007
by Anonymous
Dec 22, 2007
2002, very well kept, silver, GT, tint, 2 10" subs, Z-racing wheels, idium racing spark plugs, short ram intake, Injen Air filter, Header Back exhaust systemDec 22, 2007
What users have asked
The car won't start when hot
Hello friends! My 02 Celica is having a problem starting. When it's cold it starts up just fine. But when it's hot after I let it sit for about 10 minutes, it tries to turn but it won't start. It will start if I turn it on immediately after turning it off, but if I let it sit more than 5 or 10 minutes, it won't start until the engine cools after a few hours the check engine light has been on for years and what I checked it this time it's showing the MAF sensor. I replaced the MAF and it's still having the same problem. While it's driving, it runs perfect. My only issue is trying to start it after it's hot. Any suggestions?
505 views
Motor doesn't turn over
A friend was driving the Toyota Celica GTS and said that it geared it's self down and stopped. I can't get it to do anything I turn the switch on and the lights and radio and everything else comes on just like it always have but when I turn the key it doesn't do anything no click, no sound, or no crank not nothing. I have checked the fuses in the car and under the hood ("well most of them cause some are not see-thru") I hooked battery cables up to it and I still haven't gotten it to even turn over I haven't really done anything else to it because I really don't know where to start. Can anyone tell me what may be wrong with the Toyota Celica GTS? Thanks
16 views
2002 Toyota Celica GT water pump
My car is overheating and I replaced the sensor. So my next step is the water pump. Does anyone know which torque wrench I should buy? I watched a video and got the torque settings, but not the wrench size
20 views
Toyota celica engine swap
Can I put a 2002 chevy malibu motor into a 2002 toyota celica gt
29 views
Top Comparisons
Have you driven a 2002 Toyota Celica?Compare this car
2002 Toyota Celica Pricing
Original MSRP
$17,570 to $22,040Price 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
Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
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
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Lights
Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent