Does the Corolla have a manual transmission?
3 Answers
The Corolla does have a manual transmission. With a manual transmission, you need to manually shift the gear lever to change the gear engagement positions inside the transmission, altering the gear ratio to achieve speed variation. Taking the 2021 Corolla as an example, it belongs to the compact car category with body dimensions of 4635mm in length, 1780mm in width, and 1455mm in height, a wheelbase of 2700mm, a fuel tank capacity of 50 liters, and a trunk capacity of 470 liters. The 2021 Corolla features a MacPherson strut independent front suspension and an E-type multi-link independent rear suspension. It is equipped with a 1.2T turbocharged engine delivering a maximum horsepower of 116PS, a maximum power of 85kW, and a maximum torque of 185Nm, paired with a 10-speed continuously variable transmission.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, I know the Corolla quite well. This car did indeed have manual transmission versions, especially in older models like those classic ones from around 2010, which you can still see quite a few on the road. However, with automatic transmissions becoming increasingly popular in recent years, the newer Corolla models have gradually phased out manual transmission options. I recall that starting with the 2019 generation, the Corollas sold domestically in China mostly came with CVT transmissions. If you particularly like manual transmissions, you might consider looking for a used car—you can get a well-maintained one for around 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. Alternatively, you could check out the Southeast Asian versions, where manual transmission Corollas are still available, and the power tuning is slightly sportier.
I saw many people asking about this on car forums. Indeed, manual transmission Corollas were quite common a few years ago, like my uncle's 2014 model with a 5MT—super fuel-efficient and durable. But now when you visit dealerships for new cars, they're basically all automatic. Toyota probably considered urban traffic congestion, where automatic is indeed more convenient. However, manual transmission enthusiasts don't have to give up completely—they can check out the GR sport version, which still offers a 6-speed manual in some regions. By the way, the base model's manual transmission is actually cheaper to maintain; replacing the clutch kit only costs around a thousand yuan.
