Was the 2006 Corolla an imported car?
4 Answers
2006 Corolla was not an imported car. Below are the specific details about this model. 1. The 2006 Corolla was a compact sedan under FAW Toyota, with a wheelbase of 2600 mm, and dimensions of 4530 mm in length, 1705 mm in width, and 1490 mm in height. 2. It was equipped with two types of engines: a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine and a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine. The 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine delivered 120 horsepower and a maximum torque of 152 Nm, with the maximum torque achieved at 4400 rpm and the maximum power at 6000 rpm. This engine featured dual VVT-i technology and multi-point fuel injection, with an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block. 3. The front suspension used a MacPherson independent suspension, while the rear suspension employed a torsion beam suspension. 4. The 2006 Corolla was a front-engine, front-wheel-drive sedan. This model has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase as a new car.
If you're considering buying a 2006 Toyota Corolla, I can tell you that from my perspective, most of these cars were domestically produced in China. I remember when I was driving back then, the 2006 Corollas on the market were basically manufactured by FAW Toyota in Tianjin, because joint venture factories were expanding rapidly during that period, and the production lines were mature, so imported versions were very rare. The reason is simple: local production costs were lower, maintenance was convenient, and parts were easy to find. Of course, there might occasionally be some imported cars through special channels, but the probability was very small, and ordinary buyers were unlikely to encounter them. Overall, when purchasing, pay attention to checking the vehicle certificate or nameplate—domestically produced ones are marked with FAW Toyota, while imported ones have different markings. This way, you don’t need to overthink the selection process; choosing a domestic model is more worry-free and the price is more affordable.
Speaking of the 2006 Toyota Corolla, I believe it was predominantly domestically produced for the Chinese market. Back then, when I was working at an auto repair shop, all the Corollas we saw were made in Tianjin, rolling off the assembly lines of FAW Toyota's factory with stable quality. Think about it—the joint venture agreement had long been in place, production lines were running at full capacity, and imported vehicles accounted for only a negligible share, such as a few high-end configurations or small batches for testing, which hardly affected ordinary consumers. When buying such a car, you should focus on the place of manufacture—check the production details on the vehicle license or engine number. If it says domestically produced, don't worry about imports. In fact, these cars had a huge presence, and spare parts were readily available everywhere, making them much easier to maintain than imported models. If you happen to come across a car imported from abroad, make sure to verify the customs records to avoid future issues.
Let's talk about the 2006 Toyota Corolla, which I believe is mainly sourced from domestic production. As someone who regularly repairs cars, most of the ones I come across are locally manufactured. FAW Toyota started mass-producing the Corolla in 2004, and by 2006, the localization rate was quite high. Imported versions are extremely rare, with only sporadic traces in special markets like parallel imports, but they're troublesome to repair—parts are expensive and supply is unreliable. Before buying, I recommend checking original documents such as purchase invoices or manufacturer information, as domestic production markings are quite clear. The domestic version of this car has obvious advantages: good durability and an affordable price.
