Introduction

The Toyota Corolla is an enormously popular compact sedan or hatchback that's available as a hybrid, too. It comes only with front-wheel drive. 

Confusingly, Toyota now sells a Corolla Cross utility vehicle, which we review separately. 

For 2022, the Corolla sedan and hatchback remain unchanged. The standard engine is a 1.8-liter inline-4 making 139 horsepower and teamed with a CVT. Upper models use a 169-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with more punch and slightly better gas mileage. A 6-speed manual transmission is available but it erases that mileage advantage. 

The Hybrid uses a 121-hp powerplant with a 4-cylinder engine, electric motor, and battery pack. Acceleration is so-so, but with more than 50 miles per gallon, most people will be fine with the tradeoff. 

The Corolla's handling is nice, with balanced steering and body control, although the Hybrid is less nimble because of its weight. The cabin space is good; the hatchback has a lot more cargo space but less room in the back seat. The sedan's trunk is small, even for a compact. 

The 1.8-liter engine gets 32 or 33 mpg combined, while the 2.0-liter can get as much as 34 mpg. The Hybrid earns an awesome EPA rating of 53 mpg city, 52 highway, 52 combined. 

The NHTSA gives the Corolla five stars overall for safety, while the IIHS gives it a Top Safety Pick award, for models with the better headlights. Automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and active lane control are standard in every Corolla, while blind-spot monitors are optional. 

Lineup

Made in Mississippi, the Corolla comes in five models: L, LE, SE, XSE, and XLE. 

The $21,005 Corolla L sedan is well equipped, with a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. 

For $400 more the LE gets a bigger screen and automatic climate control. 

The LE Hybrid, for $24,630, adds a digital display and proximity key. With its spectacular gas mileage, it's hard not to see it as the best value. 

For just under $30,00, the XSE Apex has a stylish body kit with striking bronze accents, plus special wheels and a lowered suspension. 

Walkaround

The profile of the sedan is smooth but rather conventional, with lines that can seem a bit busy. However the hatchback is as stylish as it is practical. 

Interior

The cabin isn't big but it feels open and airy, especially with lighter upholstery. The design is cohesive and the instrumentation logical. The quality of the materials is high for the car's price, with good fit and finish?it's also quiet, for a small hard-working engine. The standard upholstery is a nice woven material, with leather available. 

The front seats are supportive and have good travel so a tall driver's legs aren't cramped against the pedals. The sedan, with its 106.3-inch wheelbase, has more rear leg room than the hatchback with its 103.9-inch wheelbase. Technically the Corolla seats five, but only two average-sized adults can be comfortable in the back seat. 

The hatchback has about 18 cubic feet behind the rear seat, while the sedan has 13.1 cubic feet in the trunk. 

Driving Impression

The 139-hp 1.8-liter inline-4 linked to a CVT is pretty pedestrian. It's hard to see the value, since the 169-hp 2.0-liter engine gets 1 or 2 mpg better gas mileage. However that engine is less refined than the 1.8-liter, and in fact can be gruff. Its available 6-speed gearbox is sweet and precise, but it's hard to find a Corolla with the manual transmission. And nowadays, with CVTs getting significantly better gas mileage than a manual, you have to really want to play. 

The Hybrid makes the most sense. Its 121 horsepower isn't exactly impressive, but it can keep up with traffic and sure is economical. 

The Corolla suspension is fairly soft, enabling the ride to feel more like a mid-size car than a compact. And with good balance and direct steering, the handling is above its pay grade. 

Summary

It's clear why the Toyota Corolla is such a big seller. It's a great value in a solid package. The Corolla LE Hybrid may be the best Prius Toyota ever built, with its more conventional shape cloaking still-stellar fuel economy. 

 

-By Sam Moses with driving impressions by The Car Connection.