2016 Toyota Corolla MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Toyota Corolla is rated 30 to 34 mpg combined across 6 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · LE Eco.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Toyota Corolla · 6 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

34MPG combined

30 city 40 highway

$1,850 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score8/10

1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · LE Eco

Best version saves $1,750 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.00 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Nov 12, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $1,850 to $2,100 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2015.

More complaints than a typical Corolla year

The 2016 drew 88 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 86 for a typical Corolla year (82 for a typical year since 2016).

Years to avoid: 2010; best year: 2021. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Corolla year ranked The 2016 Corolla's recalls and problems

Every 2016 Corolla version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · LE Eco Best EPA listing: Corolla LE Eco	34 mpg	30 / 40	$1,850
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · LE Eco · 2-mode (Normal/Eco) Transmission EPA listing: Corolla LE Eco	33 mpg	30 / 38	$1,900
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · rated 32 mpg EPA listing: Corolla	32 mpg	29 / 37	$1,950
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Corolla	31 mpg	28 / 36	$2,000
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · rated 31 mpg EPA listing: Corolla	31 mpg	28 / 36	$2,000
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · 4-speed automatic EPA listing: Corolla	30 mpg	27 / 35	$2,100

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.00 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · LE Eco	$1,765	$147	$8,824
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · LE Eco · 2-mode (Normal/Eco) Transmission	$1,818	$152	$9,091
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · rated 32 mpg	$1,875	$156	$9,375
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$1,935	$161	$9,677
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · rated 31 mpg	$1,935	$161	$9,677
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · 4-speed automatic	$2,000	$167	$10,000

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Toyota Corolla MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 29 to 36 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2019. Hybrid: 50 to 52 mpg (2020 to 2026); highest in 2020.

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2016: gas 34 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Toyota Corolla best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	30	–
2011	30	–
2012	29	–
2013	29	–
2014	34	–
2015	34	–
2016	34	–
2017	34	–
2018	34	–
2019	36	–
2020	35	52
2021	35	52
2022	35	52
2023	35	50
2024	35	50
2025	35	50
2026	35	50

Every Corolla year's ratings in one table

How the 2016 Corolla compares

2016 compact cars covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2016 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Toyota Prius Best: hybrid	56 mpg	–	$1,100
Volkswagen Jetta Best: hybrid	44 mpg	33 mpg	$1,750
Honda Civic Best: gas	35 mpg	35 mpg	$1,800
Toyota Corolla This page Best: gas	34 mpg	34 mpg	$1,850
Nissan Sentra Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,900
Mazda3 Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,900
Hyundai Elantra Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,000
Kia Forte Best: gas	30 mpg	30 mpg	$2,100

Honda Civic vs Toyota CorollaMPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2016 Corolla recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 216 owner complaints for the 2016 Corolla.

Owners most often describe airbags not deploying (34 complaints, 16%), then seat belt problems (18). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2016 Corolla recalls and problems

Questions

Does the 2016 Toyota Corolla need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2016 Toyota Corolla version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2016 Corolla's MPG compare with the 2015?

For 2016, the best gas version is rated 34 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Nov 4, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.00, midgrade $4.61, premium $5.01, diesel $6.13 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Nov 12, 2026 and complaint file dated Nov 11, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.