2021 Toyota Corolla vs 2021 Subaru Impreza
Overview | |
MSRP$20,025 | MSRP$18,795 |
Average price$19,524 | Average price$20,519 |
Listings3232 | Listings416 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews7.8 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.7 out of 10 |
Pros
| Pros
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2021 Toyota Corolla Reviews SummaryEverybody knows somebody who owns or has owned a Toyota Corolla. Thanks to a deserved reputation for affordability, reliability, and efficiency, the Corolla is what comes to mind when all you want is a cheap, dependable, and thrifty set of wheels. Over the nameplate’s 55-year history, Toyota built a handful of Corollas that were anything but rolling appliances. But those fun-to-drive gems were relative rarities. Under the tenure of Akio Toyoda, the automaker’s current president and a man who loves to drive, the Corolla has become something more than a bore. It’s a car that makes you want to cruise instead of snooze. We’re talking about the Corolla SE and XSE, of course. Toyota still makes dull and duller versions of its compact car, but the SE and XSE trim levels add some spice to the basic commuter-car recipe. This year, the 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE are available in a new limited-production Apex Edition flavor. It’s got a track-tuned sport suspension, a lowered ride height, revised steering calibration, a sport exhaust system, and lightweight 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels that you can wrap in optional summer performance tires. Unfortunately, it also comes with a “Lookit me, Officer, I like to go fast!” body kit. Fearing this would be the example Toyota sent to us for review, we instead happily accepted the key fob to a Barcelona Red Corolla XSE and discovered that you don’t need the Apex Edition treatment to enjoy driving this car. | |
2021 Subaru Impreza Reviews SummarySubaru developed a cult following thanks to cars like the Impreza. Thanks to standard all-wheel drive (AWD), the Impreza has been a hit in wintry climates, offering the low operating costs of a compact car without the limited foul-weather capability of the mostly front-wheel drive (FWD) competition. The current Impreza represents the model’s fifth generation, and dates back to the 2017 model year. Available in sedan and hatchback form, the Impreza has also spawned the sporty Subaru WRX and more rugged looking Subaru Crosstrek, which have overshadowed the basic Impreza to some extent. We’ll cover the WRX and Crosstrek in separate reviews. Changes for the 2021 model year are limited to availability of SI-Drive drive modes on the Impreza Premium trim level (this feature was previously available only on the Impreza Sport) and a $100 price increase. The full Impreza lineup remains unchanged, encompassing base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trim levels for both the sedan and hatchback. Consequently, we’ll look back on our experience with previous model years for this overview. | |
No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine1.8L 139 hp I4 | Engine2.0L 152 hp H4 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainAWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower | Horsepower152 hp @ 6000 rpm |
MPG City30 | MPG City28 |
MPG Highway38 | MPG Highway36 |
Engine | |
Engine Name1.8L 139 hp I4 | Engine Name2.0L 152 hp H4 |
Torque | Torque145 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm |
Horsepower | Horsepower152 hp @ 6000 rpm |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainAWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City30 | MPG City28 |
MPG Highway38 | MPG Highway36 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall5 | Front Crash Overall5 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space13.1 cu ft | Cargo Space12.3 cu ft |
Curb Weight2910 lbs | Curb Weight2976 lbs |
Height56.5 in | Height57.3 in |
Length182.3 in | Length182.7 in |
Width70.1 in | Width79.4 in |
Wheelbase106.3 in | Wheelbase105.1 in |
Maximum Payload825 lbs | Maximum Payload1323 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $20,025 | $18,795 |
Average price | $19,524 | $20,519 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | 4.3 | 5.0 |
Expert reviews | 7.8 out of 10Read full review | 7.7 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
| Pros
|
Summary | Everybody knows somebody who owns or has owned a Toyota Corolla. Thanks to a deserved reputation for affordability, reliability, and efficiency, the Corolla is what comes to mind when all you want is a cheap, dependable, and thrifty set of wheels. Over the nameplate’s 55-year history, Toyota built a handful of Corollas that were anything but rolling appliances. But those fun-to-drive gems were relative rarities. Under the tenure of Akio Toyoda, the automaker’s current president and a man who loves to drive, the Corolla has become something more than a bore. It’s a car that makes you want to cruise instead of snooze. We’re talking about the Corolla SE and XSE, of course. Toyota still makes dull and duller versions of its compact car, but the SE and XSE trim levels add some spice to the basic commuter-car recipe. This year, the 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE are available in a new limited-production Apex Edition flavor. It’s got a track-tuned sport suspension, a lowered ride height, revised steering calibration, a sport exhaust system, and lightweight 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels that you can wrap in optional summer performance tires. Unfortunately, it also comes with a “Lookit me, Officer, I like to go fast!” body kit. Fearing this would be the example Toyota sent to us for review, we instead happily accepted the key fob to a Barcelona Red Corolla XSE and discovered that you don’t need the Apex Edition treatment to enjoy driving this car. | Subaru developed a cult following thanks to cars like the Impreza. Thanks to standard all-wheel drive (AWD), the Impreza has been a hit in wintry climates, offering the low operating costs of a compact car without the limited foul-weather capability of the mostly front-wheel drive (FWD) competition. The current Impreza represents the model’s fifth generation, and dates back to the 2017 model year. Available in sedan and hatchback form, the Impreza has also spawned the sporty Subaru WRX and more rugged looking Subaru Crosstrek, which have overshadowed the basic Impreza to some extent. We’ll cover the WRX and Crosstrek in separate reviews. Changes for the 2021 model year are limited to availability of SI-Drive drive modes on the Impreza Premium trim level (this feature was previously available only on the Impreza Sport) and a $100 price increase. The full Impreza lineup remains unchanged, encompassing base, Premium, Sport, and Limited trim levels for both the sedan and hatchback. Consequently, we’ll look back on our experience with previous model years for this overview. |
Video | No video found | |
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 1.8L 139 hp I4 | 2.0L 152 hp H4 |
Drive Train | FWD | AWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 152 hp @ 6000 rpm | |
MPG City | 30 | 28 |
MPG Highway | 38 | 36 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 1.8L 139 hp I4 | 2.0L 152 hp H4 |
Torque | 145 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm | |
Horsepower | 152 hp @ 6000 rpm | |
Drivetrain | FWD | AWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 30 | 28 |
MPG Highway | 38 | 36 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 13.1 cu ft | 12.3 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 2910 lbs | 2976 lbs |
Height | 56.5 in | 57.3 in |
Length | 182.3 in | 182.7 in |
Width | 70.1 in | 79.4 in |
Wheelbase | 106.3 in | 105.1 in |
Maximum Payload | 825 lbs | 1323 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
By: CarGurus + AI
This car comparison has been created with using generative AI. It is based entirely on CarGurus expert review content, ratings and data, and leverages our extensive library of hands-on product tests to create thousands of unique comparisons to help shoppers choose the right car.