2014 Toyota Corolla S Review: Specs, MPG, Recalls

In this article 10 sections

1. How We Evaluated the 2014 Corolla S
2. 2014 Corolla S Grades and Original US Prices
3. Engine, Chassis and EPA Fuel Economy
4. Interior, Space and Tech
5. Safety Ratings and Recalls
6. Buying a Used 2014 Corolla S? What to Check
7. Pros and Cons
8. Who Should Buy a 2014 Corolla S, and Which Version
9. Compare With the Current Corolla
10. Frequently Asked Questions
    1. How much horsepower does the 2014 Corolla S have?
    2. What mpg does the 2014 Corolla S get?
    3. What is the difference between the 2014 Corolla S and S Plus?
    4. Is the 2014 Corolla safe?
    5. Is the 2014 Toyota Corolla S reliable?
    6. How many recalls does the 2014 Corolla have?
    7. Is the Toyota Corolla still sold?

The 2014 Toyota Corolla S is the sport-styled grade of the first 11th-generation Corolla, the year Toyota redesigned the car with a longer wheelbase and standard LED low-beam headlights. When new, the S lineup ran from $19,000 to $21,300 MSRP plus an $810 destination charge, and the EPA rates the S at 32 mpg combined with the CVT. As a used car it is a sensible pick for buyers who want a sharper look than the LE without giving up Corolla running costs.

How We Evaluated the 2014 Corolla S

NextCarReview did not drive or inspect a 2014 Corolla S. This guide relies on Toyota’s US newsroom releases from the 2014 launch (pricing, specifications and the driving dynamics briefing), EPA data at FuelEconomy.gov, NHTSA’s ratings, recall and complaint records, and the IIHS crash test page for the 2014 Corolla sedan. Any figure we could not confirm in those sources is left out.

2014 Corolla S Grades and Original US Prices

Grade	Transmission	Original MSRP*	Key additions
S	CVTi-S	$19,000	Piano-black lower grille, unique suspension tuning, sport gauges, sport seats, leather-wrapped wheel
S Plus	CVTi-S	$19,700	Adds 17-inch alloy wheels and rear disc brakes
S Premium	CVTi-S	$20,400	Top S grade with the CVT
S Plus	6-speed manual	$21,300	Includes 17-inch alloys, moonroof, Entune Premium Audio with Navigation, Smart Key

*Toyota’s August 2013 US pricing, excluding the $810 destination charge, tax and options. For context, the 2014 lineup started with the L at $16,800 (manual) and the LE at $18,300. These sticker prices only matter as a guide to how a car was equipped. Today’s value depends on mileage, condition and history; plug a seller’s price into our auto loan calculator before you commit.

Engine, Chassis and EPA Fuel Economy

Toyota’s driving dynamics release lists the S grade’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder at 132 hp at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. (The LE Eco’s Valvematic engine makes 140 hp and 126 lb-ft.) The S-grade CVTi-S has a Sport mode and up to seven manually selectable steps, controlled from the shift gate or steering-wheel paddles. The 6-speed manual was offered on the S as well as the base L.

Toyota says the S has its own spring, damper and bushing tuning, with MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam rear axle. It specifies 10.82-inch ventilated front discs and, where rear discs are fitted, 10.19-inch solid rear discs, plus 215/45R17 tires on the 17-inch wheels. Toyota quotes a curb weight under 2,900 pounds for every grade.

2014 Corolla version	City mpg	Highway mpg	Combined mpg
S with CVTi-S (7-step)	29	36	32
S with 6-speed manual	28	36	31
LE with CVT (for comparison)	29	37	32
LE Eco CVT (for comparison)	30	40	34
L with 4-speed automatic (for comparison)	27	35	30

These are the EPA ratings shown on FuelEconomy.gov today. Toyota’s 2013 launch materials quoted slightly higher highway figures for some versions, including 42 mpg for the LE Eco, so use the EPA listing when comparing cars. The S gives up very little to the LE: the same 32 mpg combined with the CVT.

Interior, Space and Tech

The 2014 redesign stretched the wheelbase to 106.3 inches, up 3.9 inches, and Toyota says rear legroom grew by about 3 inches over the previous Corolla. The S is slightly longer than other grades at 183.1 inches. Toyota lists LED low-beam headlights, eight air bags and Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming as standard on every 2014 Corolla. Available equipment included a 6.1-inch Entune touchscreen with navigation and apps, Smart Key with push-button start, a power moonroof, a backup monitor and SofTex synthetic leather seats.

There is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the backup camera was not standard on every car, so check the specific vehicle’s equipment rather than assuming.

Safety Ratings and Recalls

Test (2014 Corolla sedan)	Result
NHTSA overall	5 stars
NHTSA frontal crash (driver / passenger)	5 stars (5 / 4)
NHTSA side crash	5 stars
NHTSA rollover	4 stars (11.8% rollover risk)
IIHS award	Top Safety Pick (2013 criteria)
IIHS small overlap front, driver side	Marginal
IIHS moderate overlap, side, roof strength, head restraints	Good

In the IIHS small-overlap test, the structure was rated Poor while the driver injury measures were Good, which together produced the Marginal score that applies to 2014 to 2016 Corollas. IIHS lists front crash prevention as not available for the 2014 model.

NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2014 Corolla. Campaign 13V505000 covers a windshield wiper switch that may short circuit and leave the wipers inoperative; dealers replace the switch. Campaign 20V024000 covers the air bag control unit, which may fail to deploy the air bags or seat belt pretensioners in certain crashes; dealers inspect it and add a noise filter. Both repairs are free. Confirm each one by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Buying a Used 2014 Corolla S? What to Check

Recalls: NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2014 Corolla (NHTSA recalls API). They are 13V505000 (wiper switch, replaced free) and 20V024000 (air bag control unit), both described in the safety section above. Confirm both are closed by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What changed later: Toyota made automatic emergency braking standard with Toyota Safety Sense P on the 2017 Corolla, and the car has since been redesigned twice. The Corolla sedan is still on sale: Toyota’s 2026 Corolla page lists a 2.0-liter four-cylinder sedan in LE, SE and XSE grades, with the LE starting at $23,125 MSRP before fees (Toyota USA: 2026 Corolla). The separate “S” grade name is no longer used there, so a used 2014 S is the way to get that trim.

NHTSA’s database holds 269 owner complaints for the 2014 Corolla across all grades. They are unverified reports, but the most-cited categories (air bags 69, electrical system 52, structure 32, vehicle speed control 29, powertrain 26) are a useful checklist:

• Verify both recalls are closed and that the air bag light behaves normally.
• Run every electrical item: wipers on all speeds, lights, Entune screen, power windows and locks.
• On CVTi-S cars, try Sport mode and the paddles, and ask for fluid service records.
• On manual cars, check clutch engagement height and listen for grinding between gears.
• Inspect 17-inch alloys for curb damage and check that the 215/45R17 tires are a matched set.
• Pay for an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
32 mpg combined with the CVT	IIHS small overlap rated Marginal
NHTSA 5-star overall, IIHS 2013 Top Safety Pick	No automatic emergency braking
Standard LED low beams and eight air bags	No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
Rare 6-speed manual option	Manual S Plus was the priciest S when new
Roomier rear seat than the previous Corolla	Base S lacks 17-inch wheels and rear discs

Who Should Buy a 2014 Corolla S, and Which Version

• Best overall: S Plus with the CVTi-S, for the 17-inch wheels, rear disc brakes and 32 mpg combined.
• Drivers who want a manual: the 6-speed S Plus, which also bundled navigation, a moonroof and Smart Key.
• Pure economy shoppers: an LE or LE Eco is a better fit than the S.
• Skip it if you want automatic emergency braking; Toyota made Toyota Safety Sense P standard starting with the 2017 Corolla.

Compare With the Current Corolla

The Corolla has moved on twice since 2014. See our 2026 Toyota Corolla review for today’s lineup, the Toyota reviews hub for other models, and the best hot hatchbacks under $40k if you want more performance than an S offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much horsepower does the 2014 Corolla S have?

Toyota rates the S grade’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder at 132 hp at 6,000 rpm and 128 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm. Only the LE Eco got the 140-hp Valvematic version.

What mpg does the 2014 Corolla S get?

The EPA rates it at 29 city, 36 highway and 32 combined with the CVTi-S automatic, and 28 city, 36 highway and 31 combined with the 6-speed manual.

What is the difference between the 2014 Corolla S and S Plus?

According to Toyota, the S Plus adds 17-inch alloy wheels and, with the CVT, rear disc brakes. The manual S Plus also included a moonroof, Entune Premium Audio with Navigation and Smart Key.

Is the 2014 Corolla safe?

NHTSA gives it five stars overall and IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick under 2013 criteria, though its IIHS small-overlap rating is Marginal. It has two recalls; check them by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Is the 2014 Toyota Corolla S reliable?

NextCarReview has no verified owner-survey score to quote. The official record shows 2 NHTSA recalls and 269 owner complaints for the 2014 Corolla across all grades, mostly about air bags and electrical items. Check both recalls by VIN, run the electrical items and ask for service records.

How many recalls does the 2014 Corolla have?

NHTSA lists two: 13V505000 for the wiper switch and 20V024000 for the air bag control unit. Both repairs are free; confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Is the Toyota Corolla still sold?

Yes. Toyota USA lists the 2026 Corolla sedan with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, starting at $23,125 MSRP for the LE before fees (Toyota USA). The S grade name from 2014 is not used on that page.

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