Smooth, reliable and fanging: Australia’s enduring love affair with the Toyota Corolla

Table of Contents

Emily Minson's nan had driven a Corolla. Her mum had driven a Corolla as well. So it came as no surprise that when she snagged her first car, she chose one too.

About two decades ago, Minson was in her early 20s and saving up for a Corolla when she caught wind of a horse named after her football-playing brother. She put 100 bucks on it and won enough to buy a dark green Corolla hatchback.

“Ah, it was named Molly,” she says. “It had racked up 90,000 clicks already. I reckon I took it to 200,000 clicks. It was just a ripper to drive, smooth, reliable... it just cruised along effortlessly.”

For nearly 60 years, Australians have been behind the wheel of Toyota Corollas. The cars have been passed down through generations, souped up and given affectionate nicknames.

Over 1.6 million Corollas – covering hatches, sedans and panel vans – have been sold in Australia. It was the number one best-selling car from 2013-15, as claimed by Toyota.

After falling out of the top 10 spots in the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries list for new vehicle sales in 2023, the Corolla is back in the top 10 again for the past year, and experts reckon it's due to many factors behind its "enduring love affair".

A longtime love affair

In sixty-six, the sporty KE10 Corolla came out into production in Japan, following close on the heels of Nissan's Datsun Sunny 1000.

.

Cars were made in Australia until the factories were closed down in 1999.

But Corollas have kept coming, getting roomier, more powerful, and more eco-friendly – the model is now solely hybrid.

Says the sale of small hatchbacks has dropped off as Aussies have taken to SUVs.

• Sign up for our weekly email featuring our top picks.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (Fcai) figures indicate an eighth position after experiencing a 20% rise in sales from 2023.

A comparison website called Compare the Market found out that last financial year, the Corolla was the most sought after car across all age groups. The only exception was among people under 26, who were more likely to choose a Mazda 3 or a Hyundai i30 instead.

But there are several factors contributing to Australians' "enduring love affair" with the Corolla, Hagon says - and good value, reliability, durability and build quality are all part of it.

Rebels with a Corolla

Aussies have used Corollas to ferry families around, cruise the streets – and do donuts.

Reg Bruce, the vice-president of the Toyota Car Club of Australia, purchased his first Corolla in 1984.

It was a 1974 KE20 in white, which he tampered with and gave a makeover, changing the colour from white to red to pink.

He reckons you can still find one out in New South Wales with a pink interior, "Those little cars are light and easy to handle...a real thrill to drive.

They're reliable, he says, and the parts are easy to swap out with parts from other cars. "You can chock a 2004 HiAce van's engine and bung it in your 1966 Corolla," he says.

He reckons people who've never had troubles with an old Toyota would think it's a "no-brainer" to stick with the brand.

He's travelled the world doing doughnuts in it.

Shelaye Boothey would do "mainos" – cruisin' the main street of Port Lincoln checkin' out the lads and listenin' to Wham, and doin' burnouts in her 1974 cream Corolla.

“Fair dinkum, I still recall trying to spark up a cigarette with the built-in lighter for the first time and veering onto the wrong lane of the road! Big mistake for young folk,” she says.

I was a bit of a wild child and would often be spotted attempting to do donuts at the old railway station.

“Fair dinkum, I sold me old Toyota Corolla when I shifted to Adelaide to go to uni. I was too nervous to drive in Adelaide traffic, mate.”

The car that's been a part of Australia's upbringing

The motoring journo Hagon reckons another reason for the Corolla's recent boost is that there aren't too many hybrid hatchbacks to choose from, which keeps the Corolla's popularity going strong. The model's also often used in corporate fleets and car rental outfits.

He says Toyota still has a very dedicated fanbase in Australia. "About one in every five cars on the road here is a Toyota," he says. "There's still a lot of people lining up to buy them."

Toyota Australia's sales, marketing and franchise operations vice-president, Sean Hanley, says when it first came to the country, the Corolla weighed in at half the heft of its modern-day equivalent. Since then, it has "remained a consistent favourite", he says.

"It's a motor vehicle that's become a real Aussie icon, getting more high-tech and worldly," he says.

He gives credit to the qualities of quality, durability, and reliability, saying the brand has built a loyal following with generations of customers. Hanley drove a Twin Cam Corolla back in the 80s, and a few years ago he bought a secondhand, ex-rental Corolla for his boy.

“He reckons he's just clocked 260,000 km in that oldie, mate's son had it for years and we eventually sold it to his nephew.”

Minson says she “reluctantly parted” from Molly after a move from Adelaide down to Melbourne.

“Me mum helped me sell it,” she says, “And she found a really good buyer for it.”