For Toyota Corolla owners looking to replace or upgrade their vehicle's bulbs, knowing the correct bulb size is crucial. This guide will help you understand the various bulb sizes for different applications across different Corolla generations, ensuring you select the right bulb for your needs.
How do I know what size of light bulb my Toyota Corolla takes?
Finding the correct bulb size for your Toyota Corolla involves understanding the specific requirements for different years and models. Toyota Corolla vehicles have seen changes in bulb sizes, especially with advancements in lighting technology. Below, we outline the key bulb sizes for low beams, high beams, fog lights, and tail lights, along with common bulb sizes for other positions.
Low Beams Bulb Size
For low beam headlights, Toyota Corolla models from 2001 to 2013 predominantly use the 9006 bulb size. Starting from 2014, the H11 bulb size became standard for low beams, offering improved illumination and efficiency.
High Beams Bulb Size
The high beam bulb size for Toyota Corollas from 2001 to 2013 is typically the 9005 bulb. This size continues to be used in newer models, ensuring consistent high-quality lighting across generations.
Fog Lights Bulb Size
Fog lights vary more significantly across different Corolla models. From 2001 to 2008, the 9006 bulb size was commonly used. Newer models from 2009 onwards generally adopt the H11, providing enhanced visibility in foggy conditions.
Tail Lights Bulb Size
Tail lights for Toyota Corollas have consistently used the 7443 bulb size since 2013, offering reliable and long-lasting performance for rear lighting.
What size bulb is in the Toyota Corolla?
Beyond the main lighting applications, Toyota Corollas utilize various bulb sizes for other positions:
- License Plate Lights: The 194 bulb size is commonly used across several generations.
- Turn Signals: Front turn signals in newer models typically use 7444NA or 7443NA, while rear turn signals use 7440NA.
- Interior Lights: Dome and map lights in newer Corolla models use DE3175, ensuring a bright and comfortable cabin environment.
Bulb numbers may change between newer generations of the vehicle. It's essential to verify the bulb size for your specific year and model, especially as Toyota introduces new technologies and updates to the Corolla lineup.
Researching Aftermarket Options
Once you've identified the correct bulb size, exploring aftermarket options like Halogen, LED, HID (High-Intensity Discharge), or Xenon bulbs can offer enhanced illumination, visibility, and a custom look for your Corolla. Each bulb type has its advantages, from the bright, white light of LEDs to the efficiency of Halogen bulbs. Consider factors such as lumens, color temperature, and life expectancy when choosing your upgrade.
Top Safety Pick with Caveat on Headlights
The 2020 Toyota Corolla Sedan has been awarded the prestigious Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), marking a significant achievement for the newly redesigned model.
However, it's important to note that this accolade applies only to models equipped with the optional curve-adaptive LED headlights. Despite the vehicle's exceptional performance in crashworthiness tests, the headlights' performance was not sufficient to secure the top-tier Top Safety Pick Plus award.
In the latest round of testing, the 2020 Corolla excelled, achieving top scores across all crashworthiness evaluations. The IIHS has heightened its criteria for 2019, introducing a new passenger-side small-overlap frontal crash test. To qualify for the Top Safety Pick, vehicles must now receive an "acceptable" or "good" rating in this rigorous assessment.
Additionally, the 2020 Corolla's front crash prevention system, which includes standard automatic braking on all models, received the highest "superior" rating, showcasing Toyota's commitment to safety across its vehicle lineup.
However, the Corolla's journey to the top was hindered by its headlight performance. The standard LED headlight system received a "marginal" rating due to "inadequate visibility" in various IIHS test scenarios.
Conversely, the curve-adaptive headlights, available as part of an Advanced Lighting Package on the higher-end XLE and XSE trim levels, achieved a second-level "acceptable" rating.
If these headlights had secured a "good" rating, combined with the Corolla sedan's exemplary crash test and crash prevention scores, it would have attained the IIHS's coveted Top Safety Pick Plus award.
The IIHS did acknowledge, however, that the standard high-beam assist feature partially offsets the limitations of the low beams in both the base and curve-adaptive headlight systems.
The 2020 Corolla sedan, which shares its platform with the 2019 Corolla hatchback—a model that also holds the Top Safety Pick status when fitted with optional adaptive LED headlights—demonstrates Toyota's ongoing efforts to enhance vehicle safety.
Despite the headlight issue, the Corolla's strong performance in crashworthiness and prevention tests underscores its position as a safe and reliable choice for consumers.
