1. Introduction
Nigerians love Toyota cars; the Camry, Rav4, Avalon, Yaris. We love them and simply adore the Toyota Corolla. The Toyota Corolla is one of the most sold vehicles in the world according to statistics. By 2013, the Corolla had sold 40 million units since 1966 - its first manufacture year, and the best-selling car by 1974. Toyota as a brand is the most searched online in Nigeria. Along with the Toyota Camry, it is Nigeria's most popular car brand.
The Corolla started life as a sub-compact sedan until 1991 when it transitioned into a compact sedan, a status it has maintained till date, making it the best selling car ever internationally.
Called the Toyota Karōra in Japanese, the name ”Corolla” is actually Latin for “small crown”. This is because Toyota named all its sedans after its popular Toyota Crown model. There have been 12 generations of the Corolla ending with the 12th gen corolla hatchback Auris and the station wagon, the Corolla Touring Sports in 2018.
Today, let's be with NaijaToyota reviewing the Toyota Corolla 2002 price, trims, versions, pros, and cons!
The Toyota Corolla is one of Nigeria's best-selling cars, including the 2002 model
2. Why is the Toyota Corolla popular in Nigeria?
- Cheap: The Toyota Corolla is a relatively cheap car when compared to its competitors such as the Ford Focus or and the Honda Civic. This makes it an easy choice for small income groups.
- Easy to maintain: The Corolla is also very easy to maintain and at very low costs. Since the vehicle does not require frequent, expensive tunes up and servicing, it is the ideal car for developing countries like Nigeria.
- Fuel economy: The Corolla is fuel-efficient. The figures given officially are 38 mpg (miles per gallon) on the highway or expressway. This compares very favorably with the Camry’s 34 mpg.
- Cheap parts: Cheap and readily available parts are another reason that endears this car to its owners. You don’t need to break the bank every time your mechanic tells you something needs to do with your Corolla.
- Resale value: No matter how old a Corolla is, it pretty much still has a second-hand value in Nigeria. This is a great plus that contributes to the car’s popularity, as you can use and sell when you need to upgrade.
- Safety: Definitely.
- Availability of auto mechanics: Some cars lack adequately trained auto mechanics to handle periodic repairs and servicing. Not the Corolla; there are local mechanics knowledgeable about the Corolla in every nook and cranny of Nigeria.
- Durable on Nigerian roads and acclimatized: The Corolla is near to perfect for Nigerian roads and its climate. Nigeria’s roads are not always the smoothest, and this car does a great job of taking all the knocks and still holding together.
3. Trims of the Toyota Corolla 2002
The Corolla 2002 offers 3 trim levels. The base trim CE, the sporty S, and the top of the line LE. The trims come with either 5-speed manual transmission or 3-4 speed auto transmission depending on the trim.
The Toyota Corolla 2002 front interior
4. Versions of the Toyota Corolla 2002
Though the Toyota Corolla 2002 is one of the most popular Toyota car models you will find on Nigerian streets, most Nigerians are not aware that the Toyota Corolla comes in different versions some of which were never marketed for the African market.
Some of the more popular versions of the Corolla are the Sprinter (badge engineered that later became the Alex), Corolla Ceres hardtop, Sprinter Marino, Corolla Levin (a coupe), and Sprinter Trueno (a hatchback version that became the RunX). Both the Levin and Trueno were replaced by the Auris. The Auris was known by that name only in Japan initially, but recently Toyota introduced a new Auris for the international market.
It will be tight for fat passengers
Another version is the compact MPV named the Corolla Verso which was released in Europe. The fairly well-known Toyota Matrix is actually a version officially known as the Toyota Corolla Matrix.
5. Price of Toyota Corolla 2002 in Nigeria
| S/n | Model | Brand new price | Foreign used or Tokunbo price | Nigerian used price |
| 1 | Toyota Corolla 2002 in Nigeria | Not available | ₦950 - ₦2.250M | ₦550,000 - ₦950,000 |
6. Toyota Corolla 2002 Trivia
The Corolla 2000 has shown amazing staying power since its manufacture. Competitors to the 2002 model like the Chevrolet Prizm have since been discontinued. Both car models were built in the same factory in the US at the same time.
Many banks and government institutions have periodically used the Toyota Corolla as official cars for staff.
The Corolla 2002 offers 3 trim levels. The base trim CE, the sporty S, and the top of the line LE
7. Hits and Misses of the Toyota Corolla 2002
7.1. Hits:
The Corolla is a reliable, low-cost compact sedan suitable for a small family or individual use. It hardly ever requires constant maintenance and is amazingly fuel-efficient. It also has a smooth ride and side airbags, unusual for a compact sedan. You can even augment the fuel economy in the Toyota Corolla 2002 if following these maintenance tips.
7.2. Misses:
The 2002 Corolla is fairly seen as lackluster and lacks the bells and whistles that many have come to expect from a car in its class. Even usually basic extras or features such as Radio cassette, power windows, and air conditioning are all optional in the 2002 Corolla, even in the top of the line trim, LE. Also, the 2002 model is far from easy on the eyes, and not pretty. It also does not have much cargo space or legroom, though that is expected for a compact sedan.
Video: 2002 Toyota Corolla LE Walkthrough (Personal Car Review)
8. Who needs a Toyota Corolla 2002?
- First car owners who are on the lower rung of their careers will find the cheap and easily maintained Corolla a great bargain for a first car. It is easy on the pocket, and very reliable.
- A small family of not more than 5 will also find the 2002 model a good choice for a car.
- Also buy the 2002 Corolla for company mid-level executives because it is cheap to maintain and fuel-efficient, thereby reducing the company’s overhead monthly.
- The Corolla 2002 will do excellently well for taxi services like Uber or Bolt (formerly Taxify), although you will need the AC option. The fuel economy makes it ideal for maximum profits.
- Government institutions are always about saving public funds and the Corolla 2002 will do this quite efficiently with their cheap maintenance and low fuel consumption.
As any other Toyota car, the Toyota Corolla 2002 can be easily fixed with low maintenance cost
9. Common problems of the Toyota Corolla 2002
- Problematic dashboard and electronic panel.
- Uneven tire wear.
- Some wind noise at high speeds.
- Noisy breaks.
- Sometimes transmission problems.
10. Conclusion
The Toyota Corolla 2002 price proves itself to be a great car choice when finance is an issue and a low-cost maintenance car is required. Of course, a vehicle cannot evade flaws but let's agree they are all excusable.
Should you be interested in the Toyota Corolla 2002 for sale and have an intention to buy it, visit online car trading platform like Naijauto.com, cheki.com.ng or Jiji,ng where to you can find thousands of car listings for sale in Nigeria (Don't forget to use our Toyota Price Checker) or if your a traditional buyer, look for a trusted Toyota dealership in Nigeria. See you soon in our latest articles on NaijaToyota.ng.
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