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The 2022 Toyota Corolla adds some new paint colors, but they're not the only things special about this outstanding compact sedan.
2022 Toyota Corollas – toyota.com | Shop 2022 Toyota Corolla on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2022 Toyota Corolla?
The Toyota Corolla has been on the road since 1966 and in 2022 it’s better than ever before. No, it’s not particularly exciting, but it’s familiar in the same way that Mcdonald’s is. It’s a known quantity that will produce similar results day in and day out no matter where you’re at on the planet. They’re both a very safe buy because you know what you’re getting. That reliable tried and true reputation has allowed the Corolla to survive through 12 different generations and more than half of a decade.
While the updates for 2022 are subtle, this is still one of the best sure bets on the road today. For 2022, the Toyota Corolla gets a couple of new paint colors and loses the hybrid L trim level. The hybrid powertrain is now reserved for LE. Aside from that, there are no real changes between 2021 and 2022 for the Corolla. Let’s take a deep dive into what makes the Toyota Corolla special and which one you should buy.
The Breakdown
Great fuel efficiency
Standard complimentary maintenance
Great standard safety features
Still very slow
Apex addition promises too much
Cramped interior
We’d love AWD
2022 Corolla Specs
- 139 horsepower from base engine
- 126 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 9 available trims
- 13.1 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Brilliant adaptive cruise control
- Two years of complimentary maintenance
2022 Toyota Corolla Powertrain
Toyota touts the Corolla’s ability to be a changeling of sorts. We found that to be true as well. The base engine and transmission aren’t particularly noteworthy, but they’re strong enough to move this little car confidently. Bump up to the larger 2.0-liter engine and the Corolla reminds us of its previous generations that spent a bit more energy trying to be sporty. It’s happy to rev and when paired with the six-speed manual transmission, it’s more engaging than most might expect.
At the end of the day though, the Corolla will never be a sports sedan. Even the Apex editions feature quite noticeable body roll in hard cornering and there’s no getting around the numbing effect that the CVT has on any sporting pretenses. We’d recommend the hybrid though because getting maximum efficiency from the platform has always been its strongest suit and it does that again here without much of a power penalty from the smaller engine.
2022 Toyota Corolla Fuel Economy & MPG
While the EPA has yet to test anything other than the 2022 Toyota Corolla L, which scored 33 mpg combined, we can be sure that the rest of the lineup will match last year’s scores. That means that no matter how equipped, the Corolla will at worst get 30 mpg combined with that score shooting up to over 50 mpg when the hybrid powertrain is swapped in.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Overall the 2022 Toyota Corolla is a reasonably comfortable vehicle. Sitting in the front provides more than enough space for nearly any adult regardless of height and the seats provide good bolstering and thigh support. The layout inside is intuitive and easy to use with almost a Lexus vibe thanks to the prominent center screen and the excellent steering-wheel buttons.
The tilt and telescoping steering wheel pairs up nicely with the adjustable driver’s seat to provide excellent versatility for an array of driving positions. We really liked the thin pillars that allowed for excellent outward visibility and the excellent panel gaps throughout the cabin. The automatic climate control featured in trims above the base model is really quick to react.
Rear seat passengers will likely need to be under six feet tall to be really comfortable as headroom is limited. The cargo room was average with just a tick over 13 cubic feet and the flexibility to lay down the rear seatbacks to expand storage in the trunk.
Entertainment & Technology
Toyota has made technology a major focus of the Corolla and it’s obvious from the driver’s seat. First, the driver information center is one of the best in the segment with easy-to-understand graphics and valuable data. Move over to the center control stack and the 7-inch infotainment system in the base model is above average too. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and even Amazon Alexa are integrated into the system. Practical use of the interface is easy to learn won’t leave drivers feeling frustrated like some other systems can. Almost every major control can be accessed via the buttons on the steering wheel.
Included in the 2022 Toyota Corolla are the excellent advanced safety features which seem to stop just short of being able to drive the Corolla on their own. The adaptive cruise control is one of the best in the business in terms of its subtly. While it can come to a full stop on its own, it will require the driver to manually restart cruise control after it gets going again. Still, combine that ability to manage throttle and braking and add in lane-keeping assist, and the Corolla makes for an excellent road-tripper.
Safety Features
Besides the excellent advanced safety features that come with every 2022 Toyota Corolla, it was selected as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS in 2021. In addition, the Corolla achieved a 5-star crash test rating from the NHTSA. Overall, Toyota has done a great job of making this small sedan a safe car.
2022 Toyota Corolla Trims & Pricing
L – $20,075
Starting off at the base level, the 2022 Toyota Corolla L comes with 15-inch wheels, a 139-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, cloth seats, and two USB ports. It also uses a 7-inch infotainment system, a digital driver information display, and cloth seats. Every Corolla, including the base model, will come with LED headlights, DRLs, and taillights, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and Toyota SafetySense. That suite of driver safety technology comes with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward-collision mitigation.
LE – $20,525
Bump up to the LE trim and the Corolla will now be fitted with 16-inch steel wheels, an 8-inch infotainment system, automatic climate control, heated side mirrors, keyless entry, and a USB port for rear passengers.
Hybrid LE – $23,650
The Hybrid LE is the lone hybrid option for 2022 and comes with 15-inch wheels, plus the rest of the LE trim level features. The engine makes just 121 horsepower in this version though. Mileage gets a huge boost to more than 50 mpg combined on average.
SE – $22,525
SE stands for Sport Edition and to match that nomenclature, Toyota has added a larger 2.0-liter engine with 169 horsepower and an available six-speed manual transmission. In addition, drivers will enjoy 18-inch alloy wheels, sport front seats, bolder exterior trim, and for those that choose the automatic, paddle shifters.
Nightshade – $23,255
The Nightshade edition is built directly off of the SE edition, but gets special 18-inch wheels and blackout exterior trim.
SE Apex – $25,220
Apex is the height of performance for Corolla in 2022 and adds black and bronze exterior trim, and some sincere performance changes. These include a lower ride height, an upgraded sport suspension, and the option for summer performance tires.
XLE – $24,275
The 2022 Toyota Corolla XLE focuses on making this compact sedan a nice place to be. To accomplish that it adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats, a sunroof, an upgraded driver info display, and upgraded LED headlights.
XSE – $25,975
Take everything that drivers get in the SE trim and add the XLE features to get this pseudo-luxurious Toyota Corolla with some sporting DNA.
XSE Apex – $28,360
At the top of the food chain is the XSE Apex which takes the XSE and adds the performance bits of the SE Apex including the sport suspension, trim, and lower overall ride height.
Warranties
While Toyota offers pretty standard powertrain coverage of five years or 60,000 miles and limited coverage of three years or 36,000 miles, we’re impressed by the complimentary maintenance. It offers two years or 24,000 miles of coverage from the date of purchase.
What we think
2022 Toyota Corolla – toyota.com | Shop 2022 Toyota Corolla on Carsforsale.com
The 2022 Toyota Corolla is a very worthy addition to this brand’s storied history. Its combination of reliability, economy, and comfort is hard to beat. We expect the new Corolla to fulfill the needs of many and be another success for Toyota in 2022.
