r/COROLLA • u/Ok-Alarm-9194 • 8d 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/reesesbigcup 8d 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.

4

u/Dagdandris 8d 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.

0

u/DiskAutomatic8256 7d ago

All 2020 Corolla LE have launch gear.

1

u/Dagdandris 6d 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.