I've got a soft spot for Toyota - they're super popular here in Russia, and we even import 'em ourselves!

I think one of the most popular cars out there, lots of people start with a Toyota and then upgrade to something else later on.

This car joined our family way back in 2017, and we picked it up on the second-hand market from another region.

When we bought it, the odometer reading was around 90,000 km, and it was a 2011 model with just one previous owner.

The color's one of the most popular from back in the day -

Personally, I think this color looks great on this model - just like black, but white's a bit of a no-go for me.

We've got a pretty basic trim level on this car - no fog lights, rearview camera, or multi-function steering wheel, but it does come with a parking sensor.

This car's had just one previous owner, and the specs are a 1.6-liter engine with 125 horsepower and an automatic transmission.

The air con worked a charm, even in our region's crazy hot summers - it's a lifesaver!

The headlights were a bit dim, but we polished the lenses and it made a difference - still not as bright as my friend's Jetta, though.

The ground clearance is pretty decent, so we can park right up against the curb without any issues - and the car's compact size means it can squeeze into tight spots.

We took it on a long road trip and it handled like a dream - of course, tire quality plays a big role in that.

The noise from the exhaust is pretty bad, and at speeds above 110 km/h, I honestly have no idea what people in the backseat are trying to tell me. That's a major minus. That being said, I could've probably fixed it myself, but I'm reviewing the car as it is.

The one major issue with these models is that the bumper starts to come loose. I've seen it happen to a lot of Corolla owners. It's like it's just sitting there, but if you give it a little tap, it'll pop back into place. However, if you drive at speeds above 80 km/h for a bit, it'll start to come loose again ☹️

The trunk is seriously spacious, and it's always been enough for us. I mean, we're a family of three, and it's been perfect for us. If we had one more kid, we'd have to think about whether it'd be a squeeze.

We've been changing the oil every 10,000 km, sometimes even earlier, and we've also replaced the oil in the transmission.

Other than a recent issue with the generator belt slipping, we haven't had any major problems. The car would start, but the dashboard would show a warning light, and the steering would be super tight. Eventually, the car would just stall.

The repair was relatively cheap, and everything's back to normal. I think it's forgivable for a 10-year-old car.

Selling the car

As the car's getting older, we've been thinking about selling it for a while now.

It just so happened that a friend of ours was looking for a Corolla, and the stars aligned, so we ended up selling it to him.

We sold it for the average market price, and we even managed to get an extra 5,000 rubles out of it. In the end, we sold it for 45,000 rubles more than we originally paid for it!

I know it sounds crazy, but Toyota's one of the most profitable cars out there. For comparison, I sold my Jetta, a 4-year-old car, for 360,000 rubles less than I paid for it.

Compared to Volkswagen, Skoda, and other brands, Toyota holds its value way better. Even the same Camry model from 2016-2018 is selling for the same price it was bought for in the showroom.

So, here's my two cents:

If the car's relatively reliable, profitable, and has all the right features, and it's not too bad on gas, why not consider buying a Toyota again? I reckon it's a solid choice.)

Editor's Summary

I've gotta say, Toyota's a brand that's stood the test of time. We've had our trusty 2011 Toyota for over 7 years now, and it's still going strong. With its impressive fuel efficiency and ridiculously cheap repairs, it's a total no-brainer for anyone looking for a reliable ride. Of course, it's not perfect - but for the price, I think it's a total winner.

Featured FAQ

Is the Toyota reliable?Absolutely - we've had zero major issues with the engine or transmission

How's the fuel efficiency?Insane - we've clocked over 100,000 km and still get an average of 12 km/l

Are the repairs expensive?No way - the repairs are ridiculously cheap

What's the seating like?It's not the most comfortable - especially on long road trips

Is the infotainment system up-to-date?No, it's a bit outdated - but it still gets the job done

Can I customize the car?Not really - the basic trim level means we're missing out on some of the fancier features

Specifications

engine1.6-litertransmissionautomaticfuel_typegasolineseating_capacity5colorwhite