2022 Toyota Corolla Review: Staying the Course

Review QuickTakes:

• Trim levels
• Test drive
• Features

For over 55 years, the Toyota Corolla has provided faithful service to small car buyers. Today, the 2022 Corolla comes in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles and with a choice of engines and transmissions. In addition, this year, a new small crossover SUV called the Corolla Cross is available. You can learn more about it in our separate review.

What’s New for the 2022 Toyota Corolla?

Toyota makes no changes to the 2022 Corolla hatchback and sedan, aside from adding two new paint colors called Ruby Flare and Windchill Pearl.

Toyota

2022 Toyota Corolla Price and Configurations

This year, 2022 Toyota Corolla prices range from the low $20,000s to the high $20,000s. The Corolla sedan comes in nine trim levels, while the Corolla hatchback is available in three trim levels. Highlights of the sedan lineup are listed below:

Toyota Corolla L — Built to satisfy tight budgets, the Corolla L is nevertheless more than basic. It has a 1.8L four-cylinder engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. Standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation light the way forward, and the Corolla L has power side mirrors, power windows, power door locks, air conditioning, cloth seats, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment is standard, equipping the car with smartphone integration for Apple and Android devices, smart home speaker compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services related to safety and Wi-Fi access.

Toyota also equips the Corolla L with standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. This collection of driver-assist and collision avoidance technologies includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control.

Toyota Corolla LE — Though they’re still constructed of steel, the Corolla LE’s 16-inch wheels are one size larger than the 15s bolted to the base L trim. The LE also has remote keyless entry, automatic climate control, nicer seat fabric, and both cupholders and a USB port for use by rear passengers. The infotainment system’s 8-inch touchscreen is larger, too.

Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE — Affordable and fuel-efficient, the Hybrid LE uses the same powertrain you’ll find in a Prius and gets 52 mpg in combined driving. Additionally, it has upgraded headlights, 15-inch alloy wheels, improved instrumentation, and hands-free keyless entry with push-button engine starting.

Toyota Corolla XLE — The XLE trim builds on the LE and Hybrid LE with 16-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, a power sunroof, simulated leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and heated front seats. It also comes with expanded connected services such as remote engine starting and includes a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert.

Toyota Corolla SE — With SE trim, Toyota gives the Corolla a more powerful 2.0L engine, improved performance from a unique continuously variable transmission (CVT), and more entertaining driving dynamics thanks to 18-inch alloy wheels, a Sport driving mode, and paddle shifters on the steering wheel. You can even get a six-speed manual transmission with this trim level. Additional upgrades over the LE include sportier styling inside and out, upgraded headlights, heated side mirrors, and sport-bolstered front seats.

Toyota Corolla SE Nightshade Edition — This version of the Corolla has SE equipment plus black alloy wheels and blacked-out exterior trim.

Toyota Corolla SE Apex Edition — Consider the SE Apex Edition for improved handling. It has a more aggressive look with blacked-out exterior trim, a two-tone paint job, a rear spoiler, and a unique set of black 18-inch wheels. Toyota also equips this version of the Corolla with a sport-tuned exhaust system, bronze accents inside and out, and a hands-free keyless entry system with push-button engine starting. But the main reason to choose this version of the Corolla is for the sport-tuned suspension.

Toyota Corolla XSE — The Corolla XSE builds on SE trim with the same features you’ll find in the XLE model.

Toyota Corolla XSE Apex Edition — Similarly, the XSE Apex Edition adds the SE Apex Edition’s improvements to the XSE trim level.

Corolla hatchbacks come only in SE, SE Nightshade Edition, and XSE trim. Some equipment varies from what you see listed above. Toyota says the cargo space measures 17.8 cu.-ft. behind the back seat, an improvement over the sedan's 13.1 cu.-ft. trunk.

2022 Toyota Corolla Review and Test Drive

Capital One previously evaluated and reviewed a 2021 Corolla XSE sedan. Observations about that test vehicle remain valid for the current model year.

Toyota

Is the 2022 Toyota Corolla a Good Car?

Overall, the 2022 Corolla is a good car. If you like the way this car looks, chances are you’ll like most other things about it. However, unless you get the more powerful engine and its upgraded continuously variable transmission (CVT), the Corolla is underpowered and dull to drive compared to some of its rivals. Also, while the Corolla Hybrid is surprisingly affordable and exceptionally efficient, it comes only with LE trim, blunting its overall appeal.

Toyota Corolla Competitors for 2022

In recent years, some automakers have stopped building traditional cars like the Toyota Corolla. Those which remain available are formidable adversaries for this car. Depending on your needs and requirements, there isn’t a bad choice in the compact car class, which includes the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Nissan Sentra, Mazda Mazda3, Subaru Impreza, and Volkswagen Jetta.

Toyota Corolla Features

2022 Toyota Corolla Highlights

Able to attract compact car buyers based on its long-standing reputation for reliability alone, the Toyota Corolla is more than just durable. High safety ratings in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first two years of ownership, and, in SE or XSE specification, enjoyable driving dynamics also make a new Corolla appealing.

2022 Toyota Corolla Safety Features

• Pre-Collision System — Standard forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist — Standard lane-departure warning system with lane-keeping assist
• Lane Tracing Assist — Standard lane-centering assist system
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control — Standard adaptive cruise control system
• Blind Spot Monitor — Available feature* warns the driver when other vehicles are in the Corolla’s blind spots

Toyota

2022 Toyota Corolla Technology

• Infotainment system — Standard 7-inch and available* 8-inch touchscreen displays
• Smartphone integration — Standard support for Apple and Android devices
• Connected services — Standard feature offering access to Wi-Fi and more
• Satellite radio — Standard feature
• Remote engine starting — Available feature*

2022 Toyota Corolla Specs

• 1.8L four-cylinder, 139 hp and 126 lb.-ft.of torque
• 2.0L four-cylinder, 169 hp and 151 lb.-ft. of torque*
• Hybrid based on 1.8L four-cylinder, 53 kW electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack, 121 hp
• Six-speed manual transmission (SE only); Continuously variable transmission
• EPA fuel economy: 31-33 mpg in combined driving (manual); 32-35 mpg (CVT); 52 mpg (Hybrid)

Toyota

2022 Toyota Corolla Interior

• Automatic climate control — Available feature*
• Heated front seats — Available feature*
• Rear-seat USB port — Available feature*
• Power sunroof — Available feature*
• Premium audio system — Available feature*

*Availability is subject to specific trim level selections