Used Toyota Corolla Hybrid Ireland: Tax, Warranty & Checks

The current Toyota Corolla, known as the E210 generation, arrived in Ireland in February 2019 and, according to Toyota Ireland, was the best-selling car in the Irish market in 2019 within months of launch. It replaced the Auris hatchback and came as a five-door hatchback, a Touring Sports estate and a four-door saloon. Toyota Ireland said over 90% of Corolla sales were self-charging hybrids, so most used examples here are the 1.8 Hybrid, with a smaller number of 2.0 Hybrids. A facelifted version followed, reviewed with Irish prices in February 2023.

This guide covers the versions sold here, what each costs to tax, how hybrid battery cover and Toyota Relax work for a second owner, the recall on record, NCT timing and eight checks before you pay.

Which Toyota Corolla versions were sold in Ireland?

Corolla 2019 to 2022 (pre-facelift). Irish order books opened in late 2018 with three engines for the hatchback: a 1.2-litre turbo petrol with 116hp, the 1.8 Hybrid with 122hp and a 2.0 Hybrid with 180hp. The saloon came with a 1.6-litre petrol or the 1.8 Hybrid, in Aura, Luna, Luna Sport and Sol trims. The Irish launch review of the Touring Sports said it was offered here with the 1.8 Hybrid only, in Luna and Sol trims. The 2.0 Hybrid was sold here in the hatchback, in Luna Sport and GR Sport trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were added to the range in 2020, so check for them on an early car.

All hybrids use a CVT automatic and front-wheel drive. On Toyota UK specifications, the 1.8 Hybrid hatchback and Touring Sports use a lithium-ion hybrid battery, while the 1.8 Hybrid saloon and the 2.0 Hybrid use nickel-metal hydride.

Corolla 2023 on (facelift). The update brought Toyota's fifth-generation hybrid system. The 1.8 Hybrid rose to 140hp, with a stronger electric motor and a larger lithium-ion battery; Irish reviews noted more electric running and a less "rubber band" CVT. It brought 12.3-inch digital dials across the range, a 10.5-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates. Irish trims were Luna, Luna Sport and GR Sport, with Sol on the Touring Sports. Irish launch reviews state that the 2.0 Hybrid was not offered here in the facelifted Touring Sports or saloon.

Boot space. The 1.8 Hybrid hatchback has 361 litres, the saloon 471 and the Touring Sports 598. The 2.0 Hybrid hatchback drops to 313 litres.

Rear seats of the current Toyota Corolla Hybrid hatchback — Inside the current Corolla hatchback: the rear seats. Image: Toyota Ireland

How much is motor tax on a used Toyota Corolla?

Cars registered in Ireland from January 2008 to December 2020 are taxed on NEDC CO2 bands: A1 (1 to 80 g/km) €170, A2 (81 to 100) €180, A3 (101 to 110) €190 and A4 (111 to 120) €200. Cars registered from January 2021 use WLTP bands: €170 for 91 to 100 g/km, €180 for 101 to 110, €190 for 111 to 120 and €200 for 121 to 130. Corollas registered here in 2019 and 2020 carry an NEDC or NEDC-correlated CO2 figure on the Vehicle Registration Certificate, lower than the WLTP figure for the same car. Figures vary with trim and wheels, so the certificate is what counts.

Corolla registered 2019 to 2020 (NEDC table)

1.8 Hybrid hatchback, from 83 g/km: band A2, €180 a year
1.8 Hybrid Touring Sports, 87 g/km (NEDC-correlated): band A2, €180 a year
2.0 Hybrid hatchback, 89 g/km: band A2, €180 a year
1.8 Hybrid saloon: the Irish launch review also listed band A2, €180 a year

Corolla registered 2021 on (WLTP table)

2.0 Hybrid hatchback, 120 g/km WLTP (Irish-spec GR Sport): €190 a year
1.8 Hybrid 2021 to 2022 (UK-spec published figures), 102 to 112 g/km: €180 or €190 a year
1.8 Hybrid 140hp facelift, from 102 g/km WLTP: €180 a year

Most used Corollas cost €180 a year to tax. An Irish review of the facelifted hatchback said the version on 16-inch wheels can dip under 100 g/km, so check the certificate for a lower band.

Toyota Corolla motor tax per year in Ireland by version — Toyota Corolla motor tax by version, using published CO2 figures

1.8 or 2.0 Hybrid: which Corolla suits Irish driving?

The 1.8 Hybrid suits most buyers. It was sold in every body style, costs €180 a year to tax in most cases and has strong official economy: the 2019 Touring Sports was rated at 4.6 l/100km (NEDC-correlated), and the 140hp facelift at an official 4.4 l/100km. On an Irish test route with mountain roads, motorway and town traffic, the facelifted 1.8 hatchback returned 5.7 l/100km. Toyota Ireland says its hybrids run in electric mode over 60% of the time on average, and an Irish review found that hybrids work best at lower speeds.

The 2.0 Hybrid is much quicker, at 7.9 seconds from 0 to 100km/h against around 11 for the 122hp 1.8, but has a smaller boot and uses more fuel. Its official WLTP figure is 5.3 l/100km, and an Irish test that included mountain driving recorded about 9.0. Pick it for performance, not running costs.

With either engine, the CVT lets the engine rev hard under full throttle: Irish reviewers described a loud drone when accelerating hard or climbing steep hills, and tyre noise on the 18-inch wheels of GR Sport versions.

Hybrid battery warranty, Toyota Relax and servicing

Factory cover. Toyota Ireland's new car warranty runs for three years or 100,000km. The hybrid system has its own warranty of five years or 100,000km, covering the hybrid battery, its control unit, the hybrid system control unit, the inverter and converter. A Corolla first registered in 2019 or 2020 is now outside both.

Hybrid Battery Extended Care. Every Hybrid Service at a Toyota network dealer includes a Hybrid Health Check: a diagnostic test of the hybrid system, a battery health check, a battery insulation test, an auxiliary battery charging test and a cooling system check. Toyota Ireland says each passed check adds one year or 15,000km of hybrid battery cover, whichever comes first, renewable up to the car's 15th registration anniversary, and a failed battery is replaced free of charge. The next check must be done within the year or 15,000km to avoid a gap.

Toyota Relax. Launched in Ireland in 2022, Toyota Relax adds 12 months of warranty each time the car is serviced at a Toyota network location, typically until the next service is due at 12 months or 15,000km. It applies to Toyotas up to 10 years old or 185,000km, whichever comes first, including cars bought outside the Toyota network and used imports from the UK and Europe. Toyota's terms state the cover passes to subsequent owners. Hybrid control components such as the inverter and battery control module are covered once the five-year hybrid warranty ends. Wear items and maintenance parts are excluded.

Ask for the service book and invoices. If the last Toyota service was within the past year, the car may still carry Relax and extended battery cover.

What should I watch for on a used Corolla?

Recall on record

In November 2020 the CCPC published a Toyota Ireland recall of certain C-HR and Corolla cars built between June 2019 and March 2020, about 3,062 vehicles in total. The brake pedal bracket bolt may not have been tightened to the specified torque. If it loosens, the pedal could move towards the driver in a crash, and repeated hard braking could crack the pedal mounting. Check the VIN on Toyota's Recall Checker, call Toyota Ireland on Freephone 1800 111 113 or email recall@toyota.ie.

Hybrid system health

A recent passed Hybrid Health Check is the best evidence of the hybrid system's condition. A car with gaps in its Toyota servicing may have lost its extended battery cover.

Equipment and space

Irish reviews of the facelift noted that only the GR Sport got front and rear parking sensors, and that blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were not available on Irish cars at launch. Rear room in the hatchback is tight for tall adults, and the saloon's lower roof limits rear headroom.

Used Toyota Corolla checklist: 8 checks before you pay

What should I check before buying a used Corolla?

CO2 and tax: read the CO2 figure on the Vehicle Registration Certificate and match it to the correct NEDC or WLTP table.
NCT certificate: compare its recorded mileages; falling or inconsistent readings can signal clocking.
History and finance: run a history check and make sure any hire purchase or PCP finance is cleared.
Service record: look for a stamped Toyota service every year; extended cover depends on it.
Hybrid Health Check: ask for the latest result and the date and mileage it was done.
Toyota Relax: confirm whether cover is still active and check the car is under 10 years and 185,000km.
Recalls: run the VIN through Toyota's Recall Checker, especially on cars built June 2019 to March 2020.
Test drive: drive on roads you know, listen for tyre noise and try a steep hill.

When does a Corolla need an NCT?

Cars first need an NCT at four years old, then every two years until their tenth-anniversary test, and every year after that. A Corolla first registered in 2019 had its first test in 2023, and the earliest cars move to yearly tests after their tenth-anniversary test in 2029.

The RSA does not publish Corolla fail rates, but lists the most common fail items across all cars: worn tyres, faulty brake lines, seat belt condition, exhaust condition and defective suspension. Over 80% of four-year-old cars pass first time, against below 40% for cars aged ten or more. Check tyres, lights, wipers and seat belts before the test.

Verdict: is a used Toyota Corolla a good buy in Ireland?

For most buyers, yes. The Corolla scored five stars from Euro NCAP in 2019, with 95% for adult occupant protection, most versions cost €180 a year to tax, and the hybrid battery can stay covered for up to 15 years from first registration if the car is serviced by Toyota each year. The 1.8 Hybrid suits town and mixed driving, the Touring Sports is the practical pick and the 2.0 Hybrid trades space and economy for pace. Check the service record, Hybrid Health Check and recall status before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

How much is motor tax on a Toyota Corolla Hybrid in Ireland?

€180 a year for most versions: the 1.8 and 2.0 Hybrids registered in 2019 and 2020, and the 140hp facelift from 2023. A 2.0 Hybrid hatchback registered from 2021 is taxed on WLTP figures, at €190 a year.

What is the hybrid battery warranty on a used Corolla?

The hybrid system warranty runs for five years or 100,000km. After that, each passed Hybrid Health Check at a Toyota dealer adds one year or 15,000km of battery cover, renewable up to the car's 15th registration anniversary.

Does Toyota Relax cover a used or imported Corolla?

Yes. Toyota Ireland says Relax applies to cars up to 10 years old or 185,000km, including used imports from the UK and Europe. Each service at a Toyota network location adds 12 months of cover, and it passes to the next owner.

Was the 2.0 Hybrid Corolla sold in Ireland?

Yes, in the hatchback, in Luna Sport and GR Sport trims. Irish launch reviews said the Touring Sports came here with the 1.8 Hybrid only, and that the 2.0 was not offered in the facelifted estate or saloon.

Has the Corolla been recalled in Ireland?

Yes. In November 2020 the CCPC published a recall of certain C-HR and Corolla cars built between June 2019 and March 2020 over a brake pedal bracket bolt. Check the VIN on Toyota's Recall Checker or call 1800 111 113.

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Toyota Corolla Ireland Buyer Guide: €180 a Year to Tax the 1.8 Hybrid