Hey all! I’m looking to buy a new Toyota, and I’ve narrowed it down to the Corolla (regular or hybrid), regular Prius (not Prime), and the RAV4. I’m in the U.S. with a budget around $30K (with a little wiggle room).
Here’s a bit about my driving: I don’t drive much—probably 6K-8K miles a year—mostly short trips across town. Every few weeks, I might do a weekend trip of about 50-200 miles. Reliability, safety, and price are top priorities for me. AWD would be nice for winter driving, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Extra ground clearance and cargo space would be nice too, but again, not essential.
I’m also interested in hybrid options, mainly for the reliability of the eCVT transmission, so I’m a bit cautious about the regular CVT in the non-hybrid Corolla. I’m hoping to keep this car for at least 10 years.
Any thoughts on which model might suit me best given these factors? Especially curious about experiences with Toyota’s CVTs and if the extra expense for a hybrid is really worth it for the added reliability.
EDIT: I’ve done a bit of research on the Corolla’s CVT, but I’m getting mixed feedback about how durable the newer ones are. Would love to hear from people with more insight!
CorollaChris4 said:
Honestly, with your need for extra ground clearance and cargo space, I’d go with the RAV4. It sounds like the best fit for what you’re after.
That’s definitely my preference, but I’ve seen prices on the RAV4 as high as $36K at my local dealer. If the Prius is around $31K and the hybrid Corolla is $27K, that’s a big price difference for a little extra room I’d only use occasionally.
That’s what I’m leaning toward too if it’s available. If it’s a long wait, I might have to settle for a regular Corolla. The fact no one is recommending the regular Corolla makes me hesitant to go that route, though.
@Indy
I picked up a 2022 Corolla Hybrid recently. I initially wanted a regular ICE Corolla but ended up with the hybrid, and I’m happy with it. I also considered a RAV4 but couldn’t justify the extra cost, so the hybrid Corolla was a good compromise. Got mine for about $22K with 25K miles.
Test drive them all. The regular Corolla felt underpowered and noisy inside to me, but the Corolla Cross Hybrid AWD was a much smoother and stronger drive. Also, if you go with a gas Corolla, consider a Toyota extended warranty for the CVT. I know several people with gas Corollas who’ve had no issues, even driving double what you do.
My old Corolla lasted me over 10 years, no issues! Now I have a 2017 Hybrid RAV4 and love it. If you’re not set on an SUV, the hybrid Corolla is a great choice for reliability and AWD options.
Zinnia said:
My old Corolla lasted me over 10 years, no issues! Now I have a 2017 Hybrid RAV4 and love it. If you’re not set on an SUV, the hybrid Corolla is a great choice for reliability and AWD options.
T.gwendew said:
I’d recommend the RAV4 Hybrid if it fits your budget. If not, the Corolla or Prius are both good choices.
RAV4 Hybrid might be too pricey for me.
Then I’d go for the Corolla or Prius. Both have reliable transmissions. Toyota hybrids tend to drive smoother than non-hybrids, so I think the hybrid cost is worth it.
Even though the ICE Corolla’s CVT is decent, Toyota’s hybrids have the eCVT, which is generally more reliable.
Indy said: @T.gwendew
So you’d say eCVT > CVT, but the regular CVT in a Corolla should be fine? And is a 2024 Corolla likely to last 10+ years if maintained?
Yep, that’s exactly my view! With regular maintenance, a gas Corolla should easily hit 300K miles.
Indy said: @T.gwendew
So you’d say eCVT > CVT, but the regular CVT in a Corolla should be fine? And is a 2024 Corolla likely to last 10+ years if maintained?
Just remember to change the fluid every 60K miles and oil every 5K miles or 6 months. Trust me, it makes a difference.
