What year was the Corolla RWD?
The Toyota Corolla was introduced in 1966 with rear-wheel drive.
From that debut through the late 1970s and into the early 1980s, rear-wheel drive was common on many early Corollas. In the 1980s, Toyota began shifting to front-wheel drive across most markets, and by the mid-to-late 1980s the majority of new Corollas were FF. Today’s Corolla lineup is front-wheel drive globally.
Origins: 1966 launch and the RWD layout
When Toyota launched the Corolla in 1966, it arrived with a rear-wheel-drive layout—a common configuration for compact cars of that era. The early generations were built around practicality and simplicity, with a front-mounted engine driving the rear wheels.
Transition to front-wheel drive
As demands for more interior space and better fuel efficiency grew in the 1980s, Toyota began to move the Corolla to front-wheel drive across most markets. The transition started in the late 1970s and accelerated through the mid- to late-1980s, after which FF became the standard configuration for new Corollas in most regions.
- 1966–early 1980s: rear-wheel drive (RWD) was standard on the majority of early Corollas.
- Mid-1980s onward: front-wheel drive (FF) became the norm for new Corollas in most markets.
- Today: front-wheel drive is standard globally, with no rear-wheel-drive Corollas in the mainstream lineup.
The timeline shows that while the RWD setup defined the Corolla's first decades, the shift to FF occurred during the 1980s, and modern Corollas are all front-wheel-drive by default.
Current status and legacy
Today’s Corolla is front-wheel drive across all standard body styles, including sedans and hatchbacks, and the hybrid variants also rely on a front-drive layout. For collectors and enthusiasts, early RWD Corollas remain a historical footnote and may be pursued through vintage-market sources.
Implications for collectors and restoration
For collectors, early rear-wheel-drive Corollas (from the 1960s to early 1980s in certain markets) represent a different era of Toyota engineering. Parts sourcing and restoration can vary by region, but these models are increasingly recognized for their historical value.
Summary
The Corolla's rear-wheel-drive era began with the 1966 launch and ended for most markets by the mid-1980s as Toyota transitioned to front-wheel drive. Today, the Corolla lineup is reliably front-wheel drive worldwide.
Which Corollas were RWD?
Most models now used the front-wheel drive layout except the AE85 and AE86, which were to be the last Corollas offered in the rear-wheel drive or FR layout. The AE85 and AE86 chassis codes were also used for the Sprinter (including the Sprinter Trueno).
Is a 2004 Toyota Corolla RWD?
The 2004 Toyota Corolla has one available engine: 130-horsepower 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
Is the old Toyota Corolla RWD?
54 years of history saw the Toyota Corolla Sedan transform from a rear-wheel drive subcompact car to a front-wheel drive economical family car.
What was the last year of the rear-wheel drive Toyota Corolla?
The 5th Generation
Released in May 1983, the fifth-generation Corolla (and Sprinter) represented a most comprehensive model change in its history. The family-use sedan followed the worldwide trend and switched its layout from front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (FR) to front-engine, front-wheel-drive.
