Used 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

With its 5-door design, this hatchback version of the Corolla can carry bigger things, and it comes with the more powerful engine that’s optional in its sedan sibling.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback is as fun and stylish as it is practical. It is offered with a manual transmission that will satisfy driving enthusiasts or a specialized CVT automatic that feels more engaging. Vibrant color choices and distinctive design elements like a contrast-color roof also make this Corolla anything but bland.

Like other Toyotas, the Corolla Hatchback boasts an excellent set of safety and driver-assistance features as standard. Among them are automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle detection, lane-keeping assist, and radar cruise control.

The Corolla hatch is a highly tempting rival to the Honda Civic Hatchback, and the Toyota’s roughly $20,500 starting price undercuts that competitor. About the only thing the Corolla Hatchback lacks is all-wheel drive, which is standard on the less-expensive Subaru Impreza, or a hybrid version like the Corolla sedan.

Toyota has recommitted to building fun and exciting cars from the ground up, and the 2021 Corolla Hatchback is a perfect example. The taut suspension, precise steering, and quick-reacting brakes all keep the promises made by the Corolla Hatchback’s aggressive styling. Whereas the Corolla sedan’s standard engine has 139 horsepower, the Corolla Hatchback comes standard with the engine that’s optional on its 4-door sibling: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with a healthy 168 horsepower. That’s enough to deliver fairly brisk performance from this lithe 5-door hatch.

The standard 6-speed manual transmission with downshift-rev-matching is a joy, but we think many people will actually prefer the convenience of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and we’re okay with that. Why? Because this is one of the smoothest, most engaged CVTs we’ve driven in a while, with clever features like a built-in launch gear that delivers instantaneous acceleration from a dead stop.

There’s also the added benefit of improved fuel economy over the manual, as well as additional safety features like full-speed dynamic cruise control and lane-tracing system that helps keep the Corolla centered in lanes.

Toss the Corolla Hatchback into a corner, and you’ll delight at its ability to instantly go where it’s pointed without complaint. The big 18-inch wheels and tires on the XSE, Nightshade, and Special Edition models offer the most grip, yet the ride never feels choppy or irritating, even over rough patches of pavement.

For an economy car, the 2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback’s interior feels upscale. Soft-touch surfaces abound, enhanced by real seam stitching and intelligently designed controls. Seat comfort is supremely good, and there’s even available power lumbar for the driver. The large 8-inch touch screen sits prominently atop the center dash and features hard buttons that make navigating the infotainment system’s various functions a bit easier. We found rear-seat legroom is a bit tight, but doable.

Cargo space is also on the small side for this class, but the folding rear seats with flip-folding head restraints make it easy to increase the Corolla’s cargo hold in seconds. Toyota is remedying that a bit for 2021 by offering the Enhanced Cargo Space option for no cost on all models except the SE Nightshade. The feature lowers the cargo floor by taking out the spare tire (replaced by a tire repair kit). As such, the rear hatch gains 6 cubic feet of space for a total of 23 cubic feet.

We like the new Toyota Corolla Hatchback’s look. Its racy image is eye-catching without going overboard with too many lines and tacked-on bits, and its low stance furthers the image of a car ready to tackle turns. LED headlights and taillights look sharp, and Toyota offers a variety of unique paint colors, including a number of 2-tone packages featuring a black-painted roof cap.

Optional on the SE grade is the Nightshade option that includes black 18-inch wheels and various blacked-out trim pieces, giving it the appearance of having been run through a high-end custom paint shop without the high-end price.

New for 2021 and limited to 1,500 models is the Special Edition. It is dressed in Supersonic Red exterior paint and features other exclusive aesthetics like a custom body kit.

From a functional standpoint, the Corolla Hatchback’s rear hatch offers a wide opening for easy loading and has sufficient height as not to endanger the foreheads of tall people.

SMARTPHONE CONNECTIVITY
With the ability to interface with Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and Android Auto, you’ll never have to worry about your infotainment system becoming obsolete. Simply connect your smartphone via the USB port, and you can instantly access message, navigation, music, and popular apps all via the Corolla Hatchback’s 8-inch touch-screen monitor.

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE 2.0
No matter which trim you buy, it will come standard with Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0. Driver assists include a pre-collision-warning system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlights. Cars equipped with the CVT automatic add full-speed adaptive cruise control and lane-tracing.

The 2021 Corolla hatch is available in two primary trims: SE and XSE, with Nightshade and the new Special Edition based on SE grades with an automatic transmission. Even a base SE model is well-equipped for the Corolla’s roughly $20,500 starting price.

It includes a 6-speed manual transmission, LED headlights and taillights, 16-inch alloy wheels, Smart Key entry with push-button start, a tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel, color-keyed heated power mirrors, 6-speaker audio system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay plus two front USB ports, an 8-inch touch screen, in-car Wi-Fi, 4.2-inch multi-information display, eight airbags, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (see Favorite Features) and hill-start assist.

Add the CVT automatic and you’ll get an enhanced version of Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, paddle shifters, and 3-level Drive Mode Select featuring Normal, Eco, and Sport.

New Toyota models also include 2 years/25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance and 2 years/unlimited miles of roadside assistance.

Stepping up the XSE brings quite a few more features, including 18-inch alloy wheels, leather seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED fog lights, blind-spot with rear cross-traffic alert, 7-inch TFT (sharper image) multifunction display, and an 8-way-power driver’s seat with power lumbar support. The SE Preferred Package adds blind-spot monitoring and upgraded audio (requires a CVT). The XSE Preferred package adds wireless cellphone charging, 8-speaker/800-watt JBL audio, navigation, and access to Remote Assists. Regrettably, this option package, too, is only available with an automatic transmission.

The Nightshade and new Special Edition Corolla Hatchback models are both based on the SE with the CVT automatic.

Thanks to its small size and relatively lightweight body, Toyota’s 2021 Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine doesn’t need a ton of power to make it zip along. With 168 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, the Corolla Hatchback can comfortably merge and pass with confidence.

We prefer the 6-speed manual with its downshift-rev-matching feature, but it precludes buyers from a number of desirable option upgrades and isn’t very practical in day-to-day heavy traffic. Those who opt for the CVT automatic won’t be disappointed thanks to its manual-shift mode and launch gear for rapid acceleration. The CVT also gets better fuel economy and allows for full-speed radar-based adaptive cruise control that covers a range of speeds.

2.0-liter inline-4
168 horsepower @ 6,600 rpm
151 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/37 mpg (manual), 32/41 mpg (automatic), 30/38 mpg (XSE)