2021 Toyota Corolla MPG
The 2021 Toyota Corolla gets 28–32 mpg in the city and 36–41 on the highway (31–35 combined), across the 11 gasoline versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 35 mpg combined. At the other end, the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive manages 31 mpg combined, 4 mpg less. The EPA also rated a hybrid version, the best at 52 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2020 model.
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| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corolla Hybrid | 1.8 L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 53 | 52 | 52 | Regular · 170 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla Hatchback | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S10) | Front-Wheel Drive | 32 | 41 | 35 | Regular · 251 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S10) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 40 | 34 | Regular · 257 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla XSE | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S10) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 38 | 34 | Regular · 265 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla APEX | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AV-S10) | Front-Wheel Drive | 31 | 38 | 34 | Regular · 264 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 38 | 33 | Regular · 267 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 39 | 33 | Regular · 271 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla Hatchback XSE | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S10) | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 | 38 | 33 | Regular · 266 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla XLE | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 37 | 32 | Regular · 274 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 36 | 32 | Regular · 277 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla Hatchback | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 37 | 31 | Regular · 284 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla APEX | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 36 | 31 | Regular · 286 g CO₂/mi |
2021 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 2021 Toyota Corolla costs about $1,870 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (35 mpg combined), or roughly 12 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (31 mpg combined) comes to about $2,110 a year, $240 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.
2021 Toyota Corolla specs
The EPA lists 3 engine choices for the 2021 Toyota Corolla: 2.0 L 4-cyl, 1.8 L 4-cyl and 1.8 L 4-cyl hybrid. It came with automatic, continuously variable (CVT) and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Compact Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L | 4 | Automatic (AM-S10); Automatic (AV-S10); Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 8 |
| 1.8 L | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 3 |
| 1.8 L hybrid | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2021 Toyota Corolla problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 188 owner complaints about the 2021 Toyota Corolla.
Air bags are the most-reported area (20% of component mentions), followed by engine (16%) and electrical system (9%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 31 complaints a year: fewer than the 2020 (44 a year) and more than the 2022 (20 a year).
That ranks 5th of 17 Toyota Corolla model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 188, 18 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 10 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 53 | 20% |
| Engine | 41 | 16% |
| Unknown or other | 33 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 23 | 9% |
| Power train | 19 | 7% |
| Visibility/wiper | 15 | 6% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 10 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 2% |
| Steering | 5 | 2% |
| Structure | 5 | 2% |
| Tires | 5 | 2% |
| Wheels | 5 | 2% |
| Seats | 4 | 2% |
| Lane departure | 3 | 1% |
| Parking brake | 3 | 1% |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while his son was driving at 3 MPH, they were rear-ended by a BMW X5 and pushed forward, crashing into a Ford Explorer. No warning lights were illuminated. …
"Engine maintenance required" light is coming up constantly, only when i turn on the AC and doesn't let me view my dash at all. Ive determined it's the Engine coolant bypass valve. …
The navigational systems shuts off in the middle of driving. The screen will go completely black making it unsafe when using navigational directions. The system also shuts off at the slightest pot holes. …
2021 Toyota Corolla recalls
The 2021 Toyota Corolla has been the subject of 1 recall campaign.
The most recent, campaign 23V865000 from December 2023, concerns air bags.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Corolla years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V865000 | December 20, 2023 | Air bags | 2020–2021 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2021 Toyota Corolla; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| HYBRID 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 2021 models in the EPA's compact cars class, the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta (34 mpg) comes closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 34 | 135 | 15 | 3 |
| 2019 | 36 | 204 | 25 | 5 |
| 2020 | 52 | 312 | 44 | 4 |
| 2021 | 52 | 188 | 31 | 1 |
| 2022 | 52 | 103 | 20 | 0 |
| 2023 | 50 | 85 | 21 | 6 |
| 2024 | 50 | 74 | 24 | 4 |
Every Toyota Corolla model year compared →
Similar 2021 models
FAQ
Is the 2021 Corolla a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2021 Toyota Corolla has 31 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (5th most of 17 model years), 1 recall campaign, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 52 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2021 Corolla problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (53), engine (41) and electrical system (23). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2021 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 2021 Corolla get?
The EPA rates the gasoline versions at 31–35 mpg combined (28–32 city, 36–41 highway). The hybrid version reaches up to 52 mpg combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Corolla per year?
About $1,870 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,110 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).