2021 Toyota Corolla MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Toyota Corolla gets up to 35 mpg combined with a gas engine and up to 52 mpg as a hybrid, across 11 EPA-tested versions.

EPA fuel economy

2021 Toyota Corolla · 11 EPA-tested versions

Best gas version

35MPG combined

32 city 41 highway

$1,800 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score7/10

2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 10-speed automated manual

Best hybrid version

52MPG combined

53 city 52 highway

$1,200 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score9/10

1.8L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT

Best version saves $5,000 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 $1,200 to $2,000 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2020.

One of the best Corolla years by owner complaints

The 2021 drew 49 owner complaints in its first three years, against 82 for a typical Corolla year since 2016. No open NHTSA investigation names it, and it has no recall telling owners not to drive or to park outside.

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

Every Corolla year ranked The 2021 Corolla's recalls and problems

Every 2021 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
Hybrid
1.8L 4-cyl hybrid · FWD · CVT Best EPA listing: Corolla Hybrid	52 mpg	53 / 52	$1,200
Gas
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 10-speed automated manual EPA listing: Corolla Hatchback	35 mpg	32 / 41	$1,800
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT EPA listing: Corolla	34 mpg	31 / 40	$1,850
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · APEX EPA listing: Corolla APEX (also Corolla XSE)	34 mpg	31 / 38	$1,850
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Corolla	33 mpg	29 / 39	$1,900
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT EPA listing: Corolla	33 mpg	30 / 38	$1,900
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 10-speed automated manual · XSE EPA listing: Corolla Hatchback XSE	33 mpg	30 / 38	$1,900
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · XLE EPA listing: Corolla XLE	32 mpg	29 / 37	$1,950
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: Corolla	32 mpg	29 / 36	$1,950
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual · APEX EPA listing: Corolla APEX	31 mpg	28 / 36	$2,000
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual · Hatchback EPA listing: Corolla Hatchback	31 mpg	28 / 37	$2,000

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 hybrid · FWD · CVT	$1,154	$96	$5,769
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 10-speed automated manual	$1,714	$143	$8,571
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT	$1,765	$147	$8,824
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · APEX	$1,765	$147	$8,824
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$1,818	$152	$9,091
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT	$1,818	$152	$9,091
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 10-speed automated manual · XSE	$1,818	$152	$9,091
1.8L 4-cyl · FWD · CVT · XLE	$1,875	$156	$9,375
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$1,875	$156	$9,375
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual · APEX	$1,935	$161	$9,677
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual · Hatchback	$1,935	$161	$9,677

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

Does the hybrid pay for itself? See the payback for every model sold both ways.

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

2021: gas 35 mpg · hybrid 52 mpg

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 2021 Corolla compares

2021 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.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Toyota Prius Best: hybrid	56 mpg	–	$1,100
Hyundai Elantra Best: hybrid	54 mpg	37 mpg	$1,150
Toyota Corolla This page Best: hybrid	52 mpg	35 mpg	$1,200
Honda Civic Best: gas	36 mpg	36 mpg	$1,750
Kia Forte Best: gas	35 mpg	35 mpg	$1,800
Volkswagen Jetta Best: gas	34 mpg	34 mpg	$1,850
Nissan Sentra Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,900
Mazda3 Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,000

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

2021 Corolla recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 188 owner complaints for the 2021 Corolla.

Most-reported area: air bags (53 complaints, 28%). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 5 stars.

See the 2021 Corolla recalls and problems

Questions

How much fuel does the 2021 Corolla hybrid save?

Comparing two-wheel-drive versions at EPA's assumptions (15,000 miles a year, $4.00 a gallon), the hybrid costs $1,200 a year to fuel against $1,800 for the gas model: $600 a year, or $3,000 over five years.

Does the 2021 Toyota Corolla need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2021 Toyota Corolla version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2021 Corolla's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 35 mpg, the same as the year before and the best hybrid version is rated 52 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.