2016 Toyota Corolla MPG
The 2016 Toyota Corolla gets 27–30 mpg in the city and 35–40 on the highway (30–34 combined), across the 6 versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive, at 34 mpg combined. At the other end, the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive manages 30 mpg combined, 4 mpg less. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2015 model.
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| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corolla LE Eco | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 40 | 34 | Regular · 263 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla LE Eco | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 38 | 33 | Regular · 266 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 37 | 32 | Regular · 281 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 36 | 31 | Regular · 282 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 36 | 31 | Regular · 284 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 35 | 30 | Regular · 291 g CO₂/mi |
2016 Toyota Corolla fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2016 Toyota Corolla costs about $1,920 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (34 mpg combined), or roughly 13 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (30 mpg combined) comes to about $2,180 a year, $260 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2016 Toyota Corolla specs
The EPA lists one engine for the 2016 Toyota Corolla: a 1.8 L 4-cyl. It came with continuously variable (CVT), automatic and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Midsize Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic (AV-S7); Manual 6-spd; Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 6 |
2016 Toyota Corolla problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 215 owner complaints about the 2016 Toyota Corolla.
Air bags are the most-reported area (21% of component mentions), followed by service brakes (10%) and seat belts (8%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 19 complaints a year: about as many as the 2015 (18 a year) and the 2017 (18 a year).
That ranks 12th of 17 Toyota Corolla model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 215, 66 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 44 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 65 | 21% |
| Service brakes | 30 | 10% |
| Seat belts | 26 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 24 | 8% |
| Power train | 22 | 7% |
| Steering | 22 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 22 | 7% |
| Structure | 15 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 14 | 4% |
| Engine | 13 | 4% |
| Suspension | 11 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 3% |
| Tires | 8 | 3% |
| Seats | 7 | 2% |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 2% |
| Wheels | 5 | 2% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 4 | 1% |
| Visibility | 2 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
In 2024, my 2016 Toyota Corolla was involved in a collision. The airbags did not deploy. I went to the emergency room following the crash and later required additional medical treatment, including rehabilitation.
While operating a vehicle through the peer-to-peer car-sharing platform Turo in Alaska (Reservation: 61060048), the vehicle experienced a sudden, catastrophic brake failure of the braking system while driving. …
My seat belt has to be messed around with a lot in order to release my seat belt. I have to press at least 3 to 4 times super hard before my seat belt releases.
2016 Toyota Corolla recalls
The 2016 Toyota Corolla has been the subject of 1 recall campaign.
The most recent, campaign 20V024000 from January 2020, concerns air bags.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Corolla years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V024000 | January 17, 2020 | Air bags | 2011–2019 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2016 Toyota Corolla; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Toyota Corollas can be compared fairly. Among other 2016 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2016 Honda Civic (35 mpg), 2016 Nissan Sentra (33 mpg) and 2016 Hyundai Elantra (31 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 29 | 201 | 14 | 5 |
| 2014 | 34 | 269 | 21 | 2 |
| 2015 | 34 | 220 | 18 | 1 |
| 2016 | 34 | 215 | 19 | 1 |
| 2017 | 34 | 178 | 18 | 3 |
| 2018 | 34 | 135 | 15 | 3 |
| 2019 | 36 | 204 | 25 | 5 |
Every Toyota Corolla model year compared →
Similar 2016 models
FAQ
Is the 2016 Corolla a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2016 Toyota Corolla has 19 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (12th most of 17 model years), 1 recall campaign, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 34 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2016 Corolla problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (65), service brakes (30) and seat belts (26). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2016 Corolla have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Corolla get?
The EPA rates the versions at 30–34 mpg combined (27–30 city, 35–40 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Corolla per year?
About $1,920 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,180 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).