2015 Toyota Corolla

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) describes the 2015 Corolla as a compact sedan slotting above the subcompact Yaris and under the midsize Camry. Its 1.8-liter four-cylinder makes 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque in the L, LE and S, and 140 horsepower and 126 lb-ft in Eco versions. The design was new for 2014, and MotorTrend notes the 2015 adds more standard equipment in Premium trims: a power moonroof, hands-free keyless access and the Entune Premium Audio multimedia bundle with navigation and smartphone integration.

U.S. News (opens in a new tab) says there were no major changes between the 2014 and 2016 model years, apart from a Special Edition trim added for 2016, and that for 2017 Toyota updated the styling, made the continuously variable automatic standard and added driver assistance features including a rearview camera. That is the line that matters for a 2015 buyer: it is a solid car without the safety technology of the 2017 and later cars.

NHTSA lists one recall, 20V024, which covers 2011 to 2019 Corollas, 2011 to 2013 Matrix and 2012 to 2018 Avalon models. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags or seat belt pretensioners, which increases the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and a VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows whether it was done.

Owners have filed 219 complaints with NHTSA on this model year. Air bags lead with 56, followed by unclassified problems at 33, structure 32, power train 30, vehicle speed control 18 and service brakes 18. VinSpectorAI (opens in a new tab) counts 216 complaints, 60 of them crash-related, and lists airbag malfunctions, uncategorized issues and structural problems as the top three. Consumer Reports (opens in a new tab) rates the 2015 Corolla more reliable than other cars from the same model year and quotes an owner whose phone-pairing fault was a known issue whose fix, an aftermarket replacement, would cost over $1,000. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) rates a 2015 with 120,000 to 132,000 miles as a medium risk of major repair. The air bag complaints and the air bag recall point the same way, so confirm the recall on any car you consider.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts used 2015 Corolla prices at $11,050 for the L to $12,500 for the LE Eco Premium at a dealership. U.S. News (opens in a new tab) reports about 2,800 listings on its site ranging from about $11,200 to roughly $17,000. KBB's depreciation page (opens in a new tab) says a 2015 Corolla has depreciated just $156, or 1 percent, in the last three years, leaving a resale value of $9,875 and a trade-in value of $7,500. A car that has almost stopped depreciating costs you little to own beyond fuel and repairs.

The 2015 Corolla's EPA combined rating is 30 to 34 mpg with fuel costs of $1,850 to $2,100 a year on fueleconomy.gov (opens in a new tab). The 2015 Honda Civic rates 25 to 44 mpg and $1,400 to $3,100 a year, but that range spans its hybrid and its lower-mileage versions, so compare the exact configuration. Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) sums up the Corolla as a solid, dependable compact car delivering good fuel economy at an affordable price, and its price history above bears that out.