Toyota Corolla Fielder 2006-2012 used car review

The Toyota Corolla Fielder is a small station wagon that shares its name and some components with the popular hatchback. While it has loads of carrying capacity, rear-seat space is tight.

Fielder is the name for the Japanese-market version of the Toyota Corolla station wagon. While previous generations were essentially the same as the Corolla seen in New Zealand, this model was based on the Japanese Axio - it is slightly smaller and narrower. It was also sold new in New Zealand by Toyota as a ‘Japanese Domestic Market’ model and was not specifically set up for NZ.

Inside, the Fielder feels notably less spacious than its hatchback cousins. That’s because of its width – it is 70mm narrower than NZ-new Corollas. Designers have done a reasonable job of hiding this but the seats do feel slightly narrow; the gap between the seats small and shoulder room in the rear quite tight. 

The front seats are still very comfortable and supportive. The driver’s seat can be raised and lowered by pumping a lever. Rear seat legroom is acceptable. The seat is flat and wide, with headrests for three people. Three adults will find it too narrow and the centre position is best left to children.

The boot is as impressive for its flexibility and size. With all the seats filled, the boot it has 407 litres of capacity, enough for three large suitcases. Pull a handy strip at the rear of the seats and they fold flat, more than doubling the boot capacity to 872 litres. 

Lift the boot floor and you will find another sizeable storage space for items best kept out of view. The wagon door is broad and square; the loading lip is virtually flat for ease of access.

Our review vehicle had an expandable cargo cover and a protective aluminium strip on top of the bumper to prevent scratches when loading. The steering wheel is simple - soft to grip and doesn't have controls on it. Big and easy-to-read gauges live in a dash pod that follows their shape. 

The centre console is clad in a shiny silver plastic. It houses a simple CD player stereo, which will require a band expander to receive local stations. Below it are the controls for the climate control air-conditioning. The car has plenty of storage with two glove boxes, a cubby in the centre console and large door pockets.

A five-speed manual is a hard-to-find option and our review vehicle uses a CVT automatic. We found it annoying because of its habit of winding up the engine to high revs for small amounts of acceleration. That means the engine is either relaxed or loud and coarse-sounding. Fielders with 1.8-litre engines get manual-style shifting on their standard CVT automatic. An all-wheel drive option is available.

The ride feels soft and disconnected. There is some body roll around corners. The steering lacks feel although it is quick to respond. The brakes are excellent because of the vehicle’s lightweight.

The Fielder is capable of average towing weights for a small car. Toyota suggests towing up to 450kg (unbraked), which is a small trailer, or up to 1,000kg (braked), a small boat.

Visibility from the driver's seat is fine looking forward. It is more restricted behind, with chunky rear corners and small rear windows in the way. Many Fielders have dark-tinted rear windows which make the issue worse. 

Reversing cameras are not standard and we would recommend seeking a car with that feature or getting one fitted. A camera to fit yourself costs from $50, or a professional will do it from $200.

This review covers the Toyota Corolla Fielder for model years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Review vehicle supplied by Turners Cars.

*Our insurance estimates are based on a 35-year-old male with no accidents in the last two years, garaging the car in Mission Bay, Auckland. The car is not used for business and will cover 10,000km to 20,000km a year. We estimate with no option add-ons and $500 excess. Customise your estimate at Trade Me Insurance.