Which Toyota Corollas were RWD?
Rear-wheel drive was the standard layout for the earliest Toyota Corollas, but it faded from the lineup as front-wheel drive became the norm. In short, the RWD Corollas are limited to the oldest generations, with modern cars now leaning strongly toward FWD (and occasional AWD only as a special option).
RWD generations in the Corolla lineage
Here is a concise look at the generations that were rear-wheel drive in standard form across most markets.
- 1966–1970: E10 — rear-wheel drive (front-engine, rear-wheel drive).
- 1970–1974: E20 — rear-wheel drive (front-engine, rear-wheel drive).
- 1974–1980: E30 — rear-wheel drive (front-engine, rear-wheel drive).
- 1979–1983: E70 — rear-wheel drive (front-engine, rear-wheel drive) in most markets.
In summary, these early generations formed the backbone of Toyota’s traditional FR layout in the Corolla line. Beginning with the next generation, the shift to front-wheel drive became standard in most regions, with a few all-wheel-drive variants appearing only later on.
Beyond the traditional RWD era
The move to front-wheel drive began with the model years around the early 1980s, and the fifth generation of the Corolla (introduced in 1983 in many markets) marked the end of the era of standard RWD in the mainstream lineup. While front-wheel drive became dominant, there were rare exceptions where all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive variants appeared on certain trims or regional models in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Market and model-year differences meant that some regional configurations offered AWD or 4WD options on select hatchback or wagon variants, but these were not the standard layout for the Corolla as a whole. For most buyers today, and for recent generations, the Corolla has been front-wheel drive with occasional all-wheel-drive options available in limited markets.
Current landscape and takeaway
In the modern era, there are no mainstream Corolla models that are inherently rear-wheel drive. The lineup is predominantly front-wheel drive, with all-wheel-drive variants offered only as specialized or market-specific options. If you’re seeking a classic RWD Corolla, you’re looking at the earliest generations from the 1960s to the early 1980s.
Summary
Bottom line: The rear-wheel-drive Corollas are the early-generation cars (roughly 1966–1983, covering the E10, E20, E30, and E70 lines). The industry-wide shift to front-wheel drive began in the early 1980s, and since then the Corolla has largely been FWD, with occasional AWD offerings in certain markets. For collectors and enthusiasts, the RWD era represents the original engineering approach of Toyota’s compact sedan line.
What Toyota Corollas are 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).
When was the last RWD Corolla?
The Corolla E70 was the fourth generation of cars sold by Toyota under the Corolla nameplate. The fourth-generation model was released in March 1979 in Japan, and was the last generation to have the entire lineup in rear-wheel-drive configuration.
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.
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.
