Car financing: silver 2021 Toyota Corolla XLE in Farmbrook

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XLE: before you buy

CarmaCars rents cars and does not sell the 2021 Toyota Corolla XLE; this page helps you judge it before you buy one elsewhere. We are not a lender and do not arrange loans. A monthly rental can cover the time while you arrange financing with your bank. Here is what to know about the 2021 Toyota Corolla XLE before buying one.

A buyer's checks

Ask the seller for the service records of this exact car. Owners filed 187 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags, engine and unknown or other; have those parts checked. Have a mechanic inspect a used one before you buy it. Look at the tires, brakes and battery; they are costly to replace.

What the figures tell you

It is powered by the 1.8L 4-cylinder, with front-wheel drive. It runs on regular gas. With front-wheel drive, the weight of the engine sits over the driven wheels, which helps in winter.

The EPA rates it at 7.3 L/100 km combined, so a 300 km weekend uses about 22 litres. That works out to about $11.32 per 100 km at our price setting. At US fuel prices, the EPA estimates US$2,100 a year for 15,000 miles.

Who it is for

It suits a family trip where everyone and everything fits in one car. It suits a weekend away when the train does not reach where you are going.

Space, size and seats

Being a compact car, it is easy to park and comfortable on longer drives. The trunk holds 368 litres by the EPA's count: about two large suitcases and a few soft bags.

Drive it on your own roads

Rent the Corolla first, and buy only if it fits your life. Rent the Corolla for a week, or up to 365 days, before you commit to buying one. Rent it, live with it for a week, and decide with real experience.

Picking a year and a trim

If two trims share a powertrain, the difference is equipment, which you can check in person. A newer year is not always better; check what changed before paying more for it. Look at a few listings of the same year and trim to get a feel for fair prices.

What it costs to run

A 1,000 km month costs roughly $113.20 at our price setting. At our price setting, 100 km costs about $11.32 in fuel. Ask what a set of tires costs for this trim; sizes and prices vary.

Farmbrook and the Corolla

Farmbrook is about 544 km from our Toronto location, beyond the area we deliver to. We rent from Toronto only. If your trip to Farmbrook starts in the Toronto area, rent the car here.

When you know your dates

Questions about trying a car first? Ask in your request.