50 mil cars later, here are 12 reasons why the Toyota Corolla remains strong

The Toyota Corolla has just recently celebrated a new milestone as the world’s most popular car reached its 50 millionth unit sold. Part of the reason for the Corolla achieving this quite possibly unbeatable feat is through local assembly almost around the world, including Malaysia.

To date, there are some 300,000 units of the Corolla sold in Malaysia ever since it was introduced in 1968. UMW Toyota even has a restored KE10 Corolla which was shown to the media in 2018 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Toyota’s CKD operations here.

Also read: Toyota Malaysia restores the iconic KE10 Corolla

Since then, Toyota has produced 12 generations of the Corolla, making it one of the longest-running nameplates in the world. With the Corolla Cross making waves around the globe, it’s fair to assume that we won’t see the end of the Corolla very soon.

Also read: Selling fast in Malaysia, Toyota Corolla Cross debuts in the USA - 2.0 Dynamic Force engine, AWD available!

That said, here are 12 things you might not know about the Corolla with each representing its generation.

1. The KE10 was a marvel of Japanese technology

Though the Corolla would be launched in 1966 in Japan and other markets, development for the car began around 1963-64. According to the late Tatsuo Hasegawa, the chief engineer of the KE10 in an interview in 2000, the team at Toyota took into consideration how technology would advance as Japan’s economic growth continued.

Japan’s development after a devastating war was something that is akin to the rise of the phoenix. The KE10, though basic and fundamental in looks, represented the might of Japanese innovation.

Some features on the KE10 included using a five-bearing engine instead of the normal three-bearing units used on rival European cars, a 4-speed fully-synchronised floor-shift transmission that allows the car to accelerate to 110 km/h in third gear, and curved glass that wasn’t even featured on the more luxurious Crown. All that gave the KE10 a huge advantage and began a sales trajectory for Toyota.

2. The KE20 had a Daihatsu twin

Daihatsu’s current line-up is mostly shared with Toyota and both companies are partners since 1967. The partnership was a result of the Japanese government’s plan to open up the domestic market.

Also read: Toyota Raize and Daihatsu Rocky launched in Indonesia: 1.0T at launch, up to 20 variants!

Prior to the partnership, both Toyota and Daihatsu were competitors and offered similar products. However, following the merger, Daihatsu began to focus mostly on Kei cars and compacts while Toyota focused on bigger, mainstream models.

Also read: Daihatsu to launch full-hybrid kei car in Japan in 2021, how will this affect Perodua?

The Daihatsu Charmant was one of the first Daihatsu models to be a rebadged Toyota. The first-gen Charmant was based on the KE20 Corolla and was more expensive than its twin (twins if you include the Sprinter). Surprisingly, it would achieve popularity in Iceland where it became the country’s best-selling car in 1979.

Also read: The Daihatsu Altis is a more expensive rebadged Toyota Camry

3. The KE30 took pedestrian safety into consideration

The KE30’s launch proved to be the right car at the right time as the seventies saw several nations, especially in the West experiencing an oil crisis. It was the turning point for Toyota that gave them an advantage in the United States as buyers favoured small, economical cars over massive, gas-guzzling land yachts.

However, aside from more fuel-efficient engines, the KE30 also won over buyers over its improved safety that was matched with the bigger Corona. Some reviewers noted that the KE30 was heavier than its rivals like the Honda Civic and the Datsun Sunny.

Aside from protecting its occupants, the engineers and designers also thought of the safety of pedestrians during the development of the KE30. The result was a little piece of rubber attached to the edges of the front and rear bumpers. This wasn’t to reduce scratches on the paintwork but rather to protect pedestrians’ clothes from being caught in the gap between the bumper and body.

4. The KE70 was durable because of a change in manufacturing

Out of all the early generations of the Corolla, quite possibly the most famous and one that is still commonly seen in Malaysia is the fourth generation, more recognisably known as the KE70. The car received a cult following among Malaysian tuners for its simple mechanics.

However, there is a reason why you can still find these old KE70s around and that is thanks to the addition of a new manufacturing process at Toyota’s Assembly Services Sdn Bhd (ASSB) plant in Shah Alam.

Also read: Toyota: CKD hybrids planned for Malaysia but clearer NAP needed

In the late 1970s, the plant installed an automated electro-deposition (ED) system in the paint shop to apply primer paint. This system improved corrosion protection significantly, which extended the vehicles’ long-term durability and the KE70 was the first model that underwent this system.

Also read: These Toyota Corolla KE70 and AE90 are still cared for by a Toyota dealer

5. The AE80 sacrificed RWD for interior space

Though the fifth-generation Corolla would eventually spawn the AE86, aside from those badged Levin or Trueno, the rest of the Corolla and Sprinter line-up would switch from rear-wheel drive (RWD) to front-wheel drive (FWD).

Also read: The AE86 wasn’t the only Toyota Trueno made, meet its older and younger brothers!

Some fans might see this as a step backward but most of them, especially general buyers, welcomed the change. After all, the Corolla wasn’t a purist’s car and it was essentially a basic transport for the everyman.

What the everyman wanted wasn’t performance and speed, they wanted comfort and fuel efficiency and that’s what the fifth-generation Corolla delivered. Switching to FWD meant more space and the five-door liftback enhanced that even more while giving the Corolla a bit more sportiness in design.

6. Production of the AE90 continued all the way until 2006 in South Africa

Although the AE90 was introduced in 1987, production for this generation continued all the way until 2006 in South Africa. The sixth-generation Corolla was introduced in the Rainbow Nation with two body styles in 1988, a sedan and a 5-door hatchback which was called the Conquest.

While the Corolla sedan was eventually replaced by newer generations, the Conquest remained as Toyota’s cheapest and most basic model in its South African line-up. Eventually, a panel van version called the Conquest Carri was added for those wanting a cheap van disguised as a hatchback.

The Conquest would later be renamed as the Tazz in 2000 and sported a more modern front grille that resembled the North American-spec AE110. The powertrains remained unchanged throughout the 18 years it was in production with the most popular being the 1.3-litre 2E carburetted engine (75 PS/103 Nm).

7. The AE100 was designed to be a mini-Lexus

Aside from being one of the most bulletproof generations, the AE100 was also probably one of the most over-engineered Corollas. Following the success of the Lexus brand, chief engineer, Dr. Akihiko Saito wanted the next Corolla to be more luxurious.

Also read: 10 cars sold in Malaysia that simply refuse to die

The result was a Corolla that was larger, heavier, and more aerodynamic than its predecessor. The AE100 set a precedent for Corollas that followed as it was still a budget sedan but with extra opulence.

That opulence continued in the nicknames the Corolla received especially in South East Asia. The AE100 was nicknamed “Big Body” in the Philippines while Indonesians recognised this generation as the “Great Corolla”.

8. The AE110 spawned an MPV in Japan

Though the basic shape of the Corolla is the sedan, there have been numerous body styles introduced throughout the years. So, the Corolla Cross isn’t entirely unique to the Corolla name.

It was offered as a station wagon, a liftback, a hatchback, a coupe, and a hardtop. In the case of the AE110, only the coupe was shared with the sedan with the other body styles either based on previous generations of the Corolla or in the case of the liftback, discontinued entirely.

Also read: The Mercedes-Benz CLS wasn't the first 4-door coupe, but it helped revolutionise it

Then, in 1997, Toyota added another body style of the Corolla in Japan. This time, it was a mini-MPV called the Corolla Spacio and though parts of it were shared with the European-only Avensis, it was built on the AE110’s platform.

9. The first Corolla Altis featured Brad Pitt in its advertisements

With the ninth generation of the Corolla, Toyota sought to give it a brand-new image for the Asian market and the first Corolla Altis was introduced. In some markets like Singapore, both the Altis and the standard Corolla were sold side by side.

The Altis also came with literal Hollywood levels of marketing with Brad Pitt as the car’s spokesperson and his likeliness were plastered on all Altis marketing materials. Eventually, Toyota would follow this tactic by featuring Britney Spears as the face of the Toyota Vios a few years later.

This wasn’t the first time that Mr. Pitt had lent his face to a Japanese carmaker at the height of his career. In the 1990s, he was the spokesperson for the Honda Integra in Japan but having a Hollywood actor as a spokesperson in Malaysia was practically unheard of then.

Also read: Please don’t disappoint – Honda Integra is now confirmed to return in 2022!

10. Toyota nearly killed off the Corolla name in Europe

While the Corolla name was retained in most markets around the world, the nameplate had a brief disappearance in Europe in the mid-2000s.

Between 2006 and 2018, the hatchback and later station wagon variants of the Corolla were sold as the Auris and the name was based on the Latin word for gold, aurum. Toyota’s reason for replacing the Corolla nameplate in Europe was to give it a more "youthful" image.

However, that decision didn’t produce many positive results as the Auris name was just too fresh and unknown compared to the Corolla name. As a result, Toyota dropped the Auris name entirely from the E210 generation onwards.

11. The Corolla Axio is a Japanese Toyota Vios

Technically, the second-gen Toyota Vios had a JDM (Japanese Domestic Model) twin in the form of the Toyota Belta but that didn’t mean it was the only “Vios” offered in Japan. Though it has the Corolla name, the Corolla Axio is nearly similar in dimensions to the current Vios.

Both models are built on the same Toyota B platform and offer similar engine options. However, there are some differences between the two models that don’t quite make them entirely similar.

For instance, the Corolla Axio comes with a hybrid engine option and the safety features are slightly more advanced on the Vios - the Corolla Axio doesn't come with Blind Spot Monitors (BSM). There is even a station wagon variant called the Corolla Fielder and if anyone thinks the Vios should come with a wagon, we can be friends.

Also read: Pros and Cons: 2020 Toyota Vios 1.5G – Great value but there’s one potential deal-breaker

12. The Corolla is the most popular car in Afghanistan

Available in more than 150 countries around the world, many owners have considered the Corolla to be a ‘well-loved member of the family’. Some have even kept them running for decades and are even passed down to future generations.

The Corolla is pretty much synonymous everywhere too and each country has a few fans of the ‘Rolla including in Pakistan where one has owned six generations of the model. But nowhere else in the world could match Afghanistan when it comes to the Corolla’s popularity.

Also read: What are some of the best-selling cars globally?

According to data by the Kabul traffic police chief (last updated in 2013), 80% of cars registered are Corollas and most of them are used imports from all over the world. You could see North American Corollas sharing the same road as European and Japanese-spec models even if Afghanistan is a left-hand drive (LHD) nation.

Part of the reason for the Corolla’s popularity in the country is because it is reliable, cheap to buy, and maintenance is still relatively affordable. You could say it's the Myvi of Afghanistan.

Having said that, the Corolla is a legend among car fans though it doesn’t quite scream enthusiast when you see one. The current 12th-generation of the Corolla is certainly a looker and the Corolla Cross might be a solid buy for the general buyer. Long live the Corolla!

Also read:

Review: 2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G - Slowest in class, but does it matter?

Quick Review: 2021 Toyota Corolla Cross in Malaysia, the proper benchmark for family SUVs