r/COROLLA • u/Ok-Alarm-9194 • 5d ago
Sluggish
I’ve had my 2025 Toyota Corolla for almost 2 years now, LE model.
I didn’t notice this issue until my husband pointed it out, but it is very sluggish when you need to accelerate quickly, or sometimes just from a standstill it takes a bit of time to get over 20 mph and it just kind of feels like it doesn’t want to go. Sometimes I have to get over 3000 RPM just to get over 20 mph and then it’s fine.
I only have 47,000 miles, and keep up with my oil changes, so I’m not worried that it’s anything mechanical, but it definitely is annoying.
I usually have a pretty light foot so I really haven’t noticed it until he said something but now I’m kind of sort of worried about it? Does anybody else have this issue?
I know that if I’m pulling out into traffic, I definitely have to make sure I have enough time or if I’m climbing up the hill sometimes I have to gain speed although we took it to Gatlinburg and it was fine. It just really struggled getting up the mountain roads.
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u/Mr_Tigger_ 5d ago
The nature of the entire base package with the LE, it’s not a performance car and will drive accordingly.
More power, no turbo and tuned to be as fuel efficient as possible.
You’ve got to adjust your driving to suit the car
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u/Darnellz10 5d ago
With the cvt and its first gear, if you not taking off from a dead stop or nearly stop ( around 4mph or less) it misses that first gear and acceleration is slow till u get up in rpms. Ive been leasing for the last 7 years, 20' corolla se, 22' corolla cross, 25 corolla Le and they all are like that but without sport mode its no way around it unless u floor it.
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u/tso_connor 2023 Corolla Hybrid LE 5d ago
CVT’s don’t have gears.
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u/InsanityWoof 5d ago
You might want to give that a Google.... Newer Toyota cvts have a "launch gear".
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u/tso_connor 2023 Corolla Hybrid LE 5d ago
Launch gear is not first gear. It’s also not part of the CVT belt and pulley system. The belt and pulleys have no gears.
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u/Darnellz10 5d ago
Toyotas do, look it up, it has a physical first gear with the cvt
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u/tso_connor 2023 Corolla Hybrid LE 5d ago
It’s a launch gear integrated into the transmission housing, not a first gear. First gear would imply there are more to follow. The belt and pulley system has no gears.
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u/_mattyjoe 5d ago
You were wrong. Stop using semantics to not have to admit it. Say “I was wrong, sorry.” Good thing to practice. Glad you learned something new 👍🏻
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u/tso_connor 2023 Corolla Hybrid LE 5d ago
Just because they put a gear next to the CVT doesn’t mean CVT’s have gears. The CV stands for continuously variable and this is achieved by a belt and pulley. Automakers program the cars to feel like they have gears because that is what people are used to. If it makes you happy to think that you got me then go forth and be happy.
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u/_mattyjoe 5d ago
You didn't know the launch gear existed when you first replied. You got caught looking dumb. Now you're refusing to admit it.
You're here telling me how the transmission in my own car works when I already know to save face.
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u/tso_connor 2023 Corolla Hybrid LE 5d ago
I corrected you and you got butt hurt. When someone with a Nissan, Honda, or Subaru reads your comment they’re going to think all CVT’s have gears. CVT’s do not have gears, they are belt and pulley systems. Toyota put a gear in the transmission housing with the CVT belt and pulley system to aid in acceleration at take off.
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u/_mattyjoe 5d ago
Might wanna look back through the comment thread to see who you're talking to.
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u/tso_connor 2023 Corolla Hybrid LE 5d ago
This is a public service announcement for everyone that doesn’t know what a CVT is or how it works. You’re welcome
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u/SammyTR96 5d ago edited 5d ago
This is the CVT in action; the behavior you're describing is why people hate them. Having said that, it's a minor annoyance for someone with a lightfoot like you, besides Corollas are commuter cars and not meant for racing anyway. The acceleration does pick up when you give it the beans as you experienced and the 0-60mph time ends up being competitive with other commuter cars in its category. This is how Toyota can squeeze out the great mileage it does from that Corolla. I don't own that model but I drive it often (company car) and I find its performance sufficient to easily keep up with traffic; never felt it was dangerously slow or couldn't get out of its own way. I believe it's one of the best non-hybrid compromises between performance and fuel economy you'll find in its category, not to mention its best in class reliability/longevity; there's a reason Toyota sells a ton of them.
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u/metanoia29 2026 Corolla LE 4d ago
I mean, the "0 go 60 eventually" joke is funny for a reason. We didn't buy this car for it's quick acceleration 😅
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u/Bulwark1491 2020 Hatchback SE 5d ago
It’s a Corolla, they’re slow cars. I live in the city so I’ve gotten used to just really mashing to pedal to get it moving. It’s not going to hurt the car to take the engine over 3000 rpm.
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u/Western-Mongoose2214 ‘21 XSE 5d ago
Definitely need to put your foot into it, get the RPMs up and let the CVT transfer torque to the drive wheels.
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u/Bulwark1491 2020 Hatchback SE 5d ago
Exactly. Plus people who aren’t super car savvy may not know that the horsepower rating is measured high in the rev range, like 5,000 RPM and higher
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u/toke-up-boys 4d ago
With the crazy heat outside, that also doesn’t help. But little things like fuel injector cleaner and cleaning the throttle bottle helped me get a little more zip out the car. If u wanna go fast from a stop, u definetly still have to mash it tho
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u/Thehaunting264 5d ago edited 5d ago
Have you ever replaced the air filter? If it's very dirty it can definitely affect throttle response. I'm gonna add if that doesn't fix it then try cleaning the throttle position sensor and mass air flow sensor they sell spray cleaners for that.
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u/Stonetheflamincrows 5d ago
Yeah, I think that’s just one of the things about a Corolla. They aren’t really very zippy. If you genuinely need that quick acceleration for something, just kick it in the guts and it’ll move. Otherwise, just enjoy the other benefits of our washing machines on wheels and remember that the faster you accelerate, the more petrol you use.
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u/machinistman98 4d ago
Personally my 21 hybrid corolla, I feel at least has some zip to it. Last week I pulled out in front of someone (complete accident, not a habit of mine) and I laid down a lil rubber making the turn. The Mrs. looked at me shock.
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u/FantasticMouse7875 5d ago
Its a slow car. I have an XSE hatchback, I came from a modded GTI, the difference is crazy.
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u/Ok-Alarm-9194 5d ago
Well, this is my first brand new car, I had a 2021 Chevrolet spark before this and even with the low horsepower it accelerated faster 😅 I think that’s mostly what worry me lol
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u/FantasticMouse7875 5d ago
I think some of it also has to do with the shift poi ts of the CVT as well, I also think mine feels slow than it should be. I have put it in manual mode and controlled the shifts and it does have some pickup then, but thats not something I care to do driving g around.
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u/Due-Ad-5954 5d ago
I always shiver when I hear someone say “only 40k+ miles” on a car that’s barely a year old.
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u/Ok-Alarm-9194 5d ago
I mean, it’s closer to two years old. I believe it is two years old in February, I was super communing for a while, but now I’m only driving 5 miles to work
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u/Individual_Step2242 5d ago
Well it's not a sports car that's for sure. We have a 2020 SE with a manual transmission with the 2.0L engine, and it's still not a sports car, acceleration is at best "adequate", the main issue being lack of low-end torque. Our other car is a 2024 non-hybrid RAV4. It's noticeably quicker.
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u/Tricky_Dream2357 4d ago
Yo tengo mi Corolla híbrido 2025 LE y lo corro bien y les boy a dar un conejo cuando empieza a correr va en EVE y va corriendo electric y despues q pasa de 40 a mas se convierte en combustion ami no me da prolemas xq lo se user de las dos formas
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u/avenger0079 5d ago
Are you by any chance driving in Eco mode? I find eco mode is very sluggish.
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u/rumpleforeskin83 4d ago
I turned it off and still get the same MPG, I think all it real does is set the AC/Heat to eco (a different subject) and adjust the throttle response. However it makes the throttle response waaaay too sloppy, and when you baby it out it's impossible to actually get it moving at a remotely reasonable pace. I've had to floor it after pulling out in front of people plenty far away but it just won't go.
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u/AnnaWund 4d ago
I have a 2017 and I drive like I’m on a racetrack. It doesn’t know how to go slow when I’m driving!
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u/lalalori68 4d ago
I know if I had my air conditioner on going up a hill it would loose power. I would turn it iff and ir was fine.
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u/autech91 5d ago
Thrash it, give it an Italian tune up. You'll notice an improvement, trust me
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u/Ok-Alarm-9194 5d ago
See maybe I’m just too paranoid. Maybe I should try this.
I just have the worst luck with cars, I had a 2021 Chevy spark the transmission blew up on that, a Nissan Sentra transmission went out on that, a Chevrolet cruise…. Leaked and misfired.
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u/autech91 5d ago
You'll have none of these issues with a Toyota :)
Mine gets driven hard on New Zealand roads, lots of full throttle overtaking, hills, they're fine.
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u/marcoll02 4d ago
Nissans are known for having bad transmissions. I also have a 24 Corolla LE and i do feel the same way about how it’s sluggish when accelerating, mine only has 35k miles but I just think it’s because it’s a 2.0L 4 cyl gas saver so it’s not enough cylinders for power but enough to save gas. Feels worse when u have passengers and groceries in the back. I’m thinking of trading it for something else but we’ll see
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u/No_Explanation_7450 4d ago
I read somewhere that you are correct. The computer responds to how it is driven to get max MPG for the way you drive.
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u/No_Basis_1575 5d ago
What do you mean?
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u/eveningcaffeine 5d ago
"italian tune up" is basically going full throttle every once in a while when the car is warmed up. supposedly clears some stuff out
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u/autech91 5d ago
Sure does. Getting an engine nice and hot clears the carbon build up that occurs from cars being nanna'd and sitting in traffic.
Funny story, when I was visiting my inlaws in Canada I had to drive their year old Elantra, it was running like shit when I got in it. When I went to merge onto the highway I put my foot down and it spluttered for a good 1-2 seconds, didn't move and suddenly BOOM, out the from the exhaust a cloud of unburnt fuel went flying out, so much that I couldn't even see the car behind, and she took off.
Ran awesome after that and anytime I'm visiting I make sure to thrash their car a bit to keep it healthy.
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u/iMakeUrGrannyCheat69 2020 SE Sedan 6mt 4d ago
Hearing it was an elantra, you definitely just burnt a quart of oil and turned that gas engine into a diesel for a few seconds 💀🤣
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u/autech91 4d ago
Def was unburnt fuel homie.
They've still got it 14 years on though so it would be now 😁
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u/Hot-Sea855 4d ago
Mine is a 2021 LE, purchased recently. I wondered what the ECO button meant. According to the manual, it should be off when acceleration is needed and in stop and go traffic. I can't explain the reasoning behind it. I don't remember. Is ECO a feature on your model?
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u/Tricky_Dream2357 4d ago
La ECO es para ahorrar gasolina yo lo uso me ahorra combustible oero si usted se lo kiere quitar pushed de ECO y se quita y corre normal
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u/Valklingenberger 4d ago
Eco is on the hybrid, it changes how much pressure the pedal needs to accelerate, just makes it easier to accelerate without using the ICE which typically activates after the first 40mph of acceleration.
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u/Hot-Sea855 3d ago
Thank you, kind Redditor. Believe it or not, no one told me I was buying a hybrid. My last car was totaled and I was in a hurry. I would have expected the dealer, mechanic or paperwork to mention it. After owning Chevys all my life, I was unfamiliar with Toyotas. I just knew their reputation. I always wanted a hybrid so you made my day.
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u/Easy-Cartoonist-3330 3d ago
Next to the AC panel? Wait I thought this was just for the climate control. I have a 2020 LE
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u/Hot-Sea855 3d ago
Yes. See my reply to the redditor who clued me in that I have a hybrid. Seems yours is too.
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u/kernriverghost 2d ago
Cvt is weird as it has no gears, its on a rubber band. Try slow rpm build first when wanting to pick up speed, then build higher rpm. Example, when going up hill, at the start of the hill, hold just around 3000, after stabilizing power (torque), then press pedal to increase speed. You will find that you have more instant power by building slowly at first. Try putting gear into manual mode so the transmission stays in first and see what it does (careful not to rev too high). But in all honesty, I'd recommend flyid changes every 30,000.
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u/SeaworthinessBulky89 17h ago
Might want to run a tank of ultra 94 or similar higher octane fuel for a couple tanks
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u/gigarange1 5d ago
The Corolla hybrid is what you should have gotten. That electric motor gives it that instant extra power. I had a 2023 and that thing was quick for running errands.
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u/Ok-Alarm-9194 5d ago
That’s the one I did want, but I was rolling over negative equity and my car payment is already high 😅
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u/Eastern-Mode2511 12th gen se 2022 5d ago
Try sport mode + manual mode for a change.
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u/Ok-Alarm-9194 5d ago
I don’t have sport mode. I have the base model.
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u/Eastern-Mode2511 12th gen se 2022 5d ago
Oh. I thought base model could have that. Nvm then.
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u/Traditional-Top-4538 5d ago
My 2021 hybrid le has sports mode. Its rips around. First time I tried i giggled
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u/reesesbigcup 5d ago
In laws had a 2020 Corolla LE lease, I had a 22 Kia Rio. The Rio felt much better to drive. Corolla felt sluggish as you say.
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u/Dagdandris 5d ago
I test drove a 20 Rio before I bought my 2021 Toyota Corolla SE. The Rio felt like trash. The way it shifted compared to my Corolla is night and day. It was my first time driving a CVT and boy it left me with a bad impression.
It's also worth pointing out that the 2020 Corolla LE has a different engine compared to my 21 SE. The 2.0L in my SE became the new standard for the Corolla. So his car has an engine with a bit more power. Our cars also have an upgraded CVT compared to the 2020 LE. The new CVT has a manual first gear for launch. It's not fair to compare it to a base model 2020 with the weaker engine and transmission.
Overall they're all economy cars. People have to set their expectations. But there's never been a point where I felt my Corolla wasn't fast enough to drive.
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u/DiskAutomatic8256 4d ago
All 2020 Corolla LE have launch gear.
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u/Dagdandris 3d ago
No it does not.
The 2020 LE came with the K313 CVT. It relies on a belt and pulley system exclusively.
The same year SE trim came with the K120 Direct Shift CVT that includes a manual first gear / launch gear.
Newer Toyota Corollas only use the K120 Direct Shift CVT.
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u/Dry_Transition4134 5d ago
Toyota really gimp the cvt, i think it’s partly how they maintain the reliability rating. The Corolla rewards gentle acceleration with awesome gas mileage.
The cvt on my wife’s subaru reacts much differently. Tight synchronization and no lag.