Driving Experience
Includes acceleration and handling
What Owners Say
"I still enjoy driving this 14-year old car. It is a manual transmission, and accelerates very nicely. Handling is also quite good. Due to its size, it is not as good on icy roads."
Anonymous, ON (2003 Toyota Corolla)"It's not a sports car, but it is seriously perky!"
Anonymous, CT (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Slow as molasses to get up to freeway speed, although when in "power mode" it has decent acceleration from a complete stop e.g. to get through an intersection."
Anonymous, OR (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Has VERY good acceleration when I have to floor it suddenly. Much peppier than my Subaru Forester. Good for highway passing. Nicely responsive in regular traffic, doesn't lag. Excellent, for an older car!"
Rebecca W., CO (2003 Toyota Corolla)"This car is fun to drive around town but struggles above 75-80 mph on the freeway. quick and nimble with good vision."
Derik W., UT (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Just a great overall car... great runabout in the city."
Cheryl C., FL (2003 Toyota Corolla)"For such a small engine the Corolla has surprising acceleration. Its a very good compromise of initial cost, reliability and operating cost."
Anonymous, MI (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Still a good drive, easy steering, above average acceleration."
Larry G., IL (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Still has power."
Anonymous, NJ (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Very peppy for a small car"
Richard G., ON (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Even after so many years it still handles nicely and has better pick-up then my husband's car which is 10 years newer."
Anonymous, MA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"runs great with very low operating costs"
Anonymous, CA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Pick up could be better"
Dave G., ON (2003 Toyota Corolla)"The automatic transmission lacks driver control when acceleration is needed and downshifts excessively to accelerate. Typically the transmission shifts down one or more gear ranges to achieve acceleration anticipating a level of acceleration I did not specifically desire or need. I would prefer to have more control of the gear I wish to be in when accelerating."
Robert B., MI (2003 Toyota Corolla)"This car, which is old and high mileage, still accelerates almost as quickly and crisply as it did when new, and the steering is still tightly responsive. I have to drive in heavy, high-speed traffic, and this car, while not a sports car, is plenty nimble. It's decent in winter driving, for a light, small, low-to-the-ground sedan, but of course it's not as good as a bigger vehicle, and doesn't have 4 wheel drive. But it doesn't cost as much as would such a vehicle (purchase price, insurance, gas mileage) - it is very good for what it is."
Anonymous, MN (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Love everything based on my use"
Anonymous, CA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Acceptable acceleration for a 1.4 L engine."
Anonymous, ON (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Disappointed with the 21 mpg. The ride is hard ."
Anonymous, NY (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Has a horrible turn radius for a compact car - cannot do a u-turn on a standard street."
Arlen B., OR (2003 Toyota Corolla)"it serves me all of my needs great gas miles low cost of repairs gets me from point a to b"
Martin W., MA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"More than adequate acceleration and handling."
Raymond W., NY (2003 Toyota Corolla)"OK, it's not a speedster by any means but I feel comfortable accelerating onto the interstate and the handling still feels very responsive."
Susan T., OH (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Satisfactory but not exciting."
Kris B., AZ (2003 Toyota Corolla)"There is truly not a thing about this gem of a vehicle that does not meet or exceed my expectations."
Anonymous, ON (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Acceleration is excellent and has always has been."
Fred F., NJ (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Reliability"
Anonymous, FL (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Since I am doing relatively little driving at this point, it is adequate for my needs. We shall see what happens in the winter since I live in a pretty snowy area."
Anonymous, NY (2003 Toyota Corolla)"My Corolla continues to handle as it did when I bought it almost 17 years ago! It is agile and nimble. While I don't normally get myself into difficult situations, I feel as if it could avoid bad consequences if I happened upon one."
Howard H., WA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"It feels solid. Steering and suspension are tight, especially in an older car."
FLINT T., WA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"A little sluggish in entering a freeway where acceleration is important and also going up steep roadways the ability to maintain speed drops considerably."
D F., CA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Acceleration is pretty anemic."
Anonymous, FL (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Drives and handles great."
T M., GA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Mostly it's just a nice perky little car for city driving."
Anonymous, IL (2003 Toyota Corolla)"the 4 speed automatic transmission isn't as controllable as I would like it to be. In hill climbing it tends to downshift 2 gear levels in an effort to maintain constant speed when the speed control is engaged."
ROBERT B., MI (2003 Toyota Corolla)"It is a 4 cylinder, so it accelerates as I would expect. Even after having the front brake discs turned and replacing the pads, the shimmy during braking returned after a few weeks."
BEN M., GA (2003 Toyota Corolla)"I had to have the manual transmission replaced. I learned that this was an issue common to the year of my vehicle and that Toyota refused to acknowledge to any owners of this model year and subsequent years that had the same transmission that they were defective (failing on many vehicles with less than 100k miles). I paid in excess of $4k to have a replacement transmission that Toyota switched to several model years later."
PAUL T., RI (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Like driving a sports car; even after 13 years."
BRUCE D., CT (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Ride is a little rough. I've ridden in newer Corollas and the rid is much better."
Anonymous, UT (2003 Toyota Corolla)"The 2003 acceleration is ok but I am possibly comparing the vehicle with my other vehicles."
Anonymous, DC (2003 Toyota Corolla)"Acceleration is fine. Handling is better with larger than average and wide Michelin tires, which I can no longer afford. It handled like a sports car with the best tires."
Anonymous, OR (2003 Toyota Corolla)
"Good performance. Ride actually improves with a full load (4 passengers plus luggage)."
John S., ON (2003 Toyota Corolla)