Make no mistake, the 2011 Toyota Corolla is a basic daily driver. There’s no R-Type version of this car, there’s no rally-ready trim level. This is an efficient grocery-getter and not much more, but if that’s what you’re after, the LE and S offer everything you need.
Key Points
- The 2011 Toyota Corolla‘s entry-level L, also known simply as “the Corolla,” is very stripped down, lacking even power windows.
- Drivers looking for a more modern feel should start with the LE, which adds cruise control, power windows and locks, and a couple of extra speakers.
- At the top trim level, the S adds a handful of cosmetic upgrades like chrome-tipped exhaust, but the real draw is that you have your choice of a four-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.
- Pricing for a 2011 Toyota Corolla ranges from as low as $8,500 on an L, to $9,000 to $11,000 on the S (depending on add-ons). This small spread makes the S the trim to get to stretch your dollar the furthest.
2011 Corolla’s Entry-level L Feels more Like a 2001 than a 2011, with Hand-crank Windows and Manual Door Locks
The entry-level L, sometimes listed as simply the base Camry, starts out in the area of $8,500 on Kelley Blue Book, topping out at around $11,500.
For the most part, the L, LE, and S share all the same mechanical specs. Under the hood you’re getting a 1.8L inline-four with dual variable valve timing, cranking out 132 horsepower and 128 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s front-wheel drive, and the transmission is a five-speed manual, but you can swap that out with a four-speed automatic if you like.
There are some key differences that we’ll get into as we go along, but the point is you’re not missing out on any major performance upgrades by going with the entry-level trim. The L hits zero to 60 in just under 10 seconds, and so does the LE, and so does the S. They even have the same MacPherson strut suspension across the board.
Where the three trim levels differ is mostly down to the interior.
The L may be one of the most bare-bones entry-level trims you’ll find in a 2011 compact. No cruise control, the stereo setup has just four speakers, you don’t even have power windows. That’s right, you’re going to be cranking them up and down by hand like in your grandpa’s sedan.
With an entry-level trim this basic, the question is whether you’re getting a good deal when you look at what you’re saving for what you’re giving up. The answer to that question a decade ago might have been a solid “yep.” 10 years later, however, the prices of the three trim levels have evened out a bit, and you’re probably going to be saving a few hundred dollars at most when buying the most bare-bones model available.
2011 Corolla’s Mid-tier LE Adds Cruise Control and Extra Speakers for a Modest but Satisfying Upgrade
The LE is the real entry-level trim for the Corolla. Averaging somewhere between $9,000 and $11,500, it barely costs more than the L, and it includes a bunch of features that should come standard on just about any 2011 compact, like power windows and locks.
The interior upgrades here aren’t super exciting, but they include everything you might have expected to find in the L, like cruise control, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and a six-speaker stereo setup.
The only major mechanical difference here: the LE is only available with the four-speed automatic transmission. If you want the five-speed manual, you’ll have to go with an L or an S.
To Toyota’s credit, none of the safety features are locked to any particular trim level. Those features are a little basic. You can forget about backup cameras and parking sensors. But at least you’re not missing out on anything by going with an LE or an S.
2011 Corolla’s Top-tier S Upgrades, Like Rear Spoiler and Metallic Accents, are Mostly for Show
The upgrades to the LE are necessary, but the S’s upgrades, you could probably take them or leave them. These are mostly cosmetic, including metallic and chrome accents throughout, a chrome-tipped exhaust, a rear spoiler, and sport fabric on the front seats.
Some of these differences are nice, but none of them are going to make-or-break anyone’s decision to buy a Corolla.
The car is available with the four-speed automatic, or the five-speed manual.
With the price running from around $9,000 to $11,000, it’s not like you can complain that you’re not getting enough for the price bump. You’ll probably spend within a hundred bucks of whatever you would have spent on an LE.
Just know that the S is more of a cosmetic upgrade than anything. The additions are nice, but the five-speed manual transmission is the only reason to really make sure you get an S over an LE. If you could go either way on the transmission, then you could probably go either way on the trim.
The S Trim Offers the Best Overall Value in the 2011 Toyota Corolla, by a Very Narrow Margin
For overall best value, you can’t beat the S.
The upgrades are modest, but seeing as you’re likely to spend the same on an LE as you would on an S, you might as well buy the one that goes the extra 16th of a mile. And the S gives you access to the five-speed manual transmission. If you prefer automatic, then that might not matter, but you might as well have the option.
The L is hard to recommend to anyone who isn’t looking for a project car. If you were planning on gutting your car and adding a bunch of aftermarket gadgets, then sure, you might as well save yourself a few hundred bucks. For everyone else, if this is just going to be your daily driver, then you’re not really pocketing enough cash to justify hand-cranking the windows.
While the S may be the best value by a hair, you really can’t go wrong with the LE or the S. The 2011 Toyota Corolla remains one of the most efficient, hassle-free grocery-getters on the used market today.
Photos: Toyota
