2022 Toyota Corolla LE

The 2022 Toyota Corolla exists as an affordable and attractive compact car that's loaded with standard active safety features. While alternatives such as the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 are more fun to drive, the Corolla has a comfortable ride quality and sporty models of its own. As with many of its compact competitors, the Toyota is offered as a sedan or a hatchback. Both have distinctive designs, but uncharacteristically the hatch has a smaller back seat and less cargo space than the sedan. Select models can be had with a manual transmission, and the sedan offers an exceptionally fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. Unfortunately, every model comes with a coarse-sounding engine. Still, the 2022 Corolla continues to be a popular choice, especially among shoppers who prioritize style and safety. Toyota only makes a few changes to the 2022 Corolla family. The LE Hybrid adds a Premium interior package that includes a leather-trimmed steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, and heated front seats. The sedan adds two new paint colors (Ruby Flare and Windchill Pearl), and the hatchback is now available with a Finish Line Red paint job. We'd choose the sporty-ish SE sedan. Along with a sport-tuned suspension that makes it more fun to drive than the regular setup, it's available with a manual transmission. We'd happily check that box, even though it voids the option packages that are otherwise available with the standard continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Thankfully, the Corolla SE sedan still comes standard with plenty of features to keep us satisfied. The list includes 18-inch wheels, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, front sport seats, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Except for the sportier SE and XSE models, the Corolla sedan uses a 139-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder that sends power to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The zestier versions have a 169-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder that pairs with a CVT or optional six-speed manual. While all hatchbacks have the larger engine, only the sedan offers a hybrid powertrain. Our tests of the Corolla SE hatchback and the Corolla XSE sedan proved even the strongest engine doesn't deliver adequate acceleration. The Toyota twins were prudent around town and steady on the highway. However, hard acceleration produced coarse engine sounds that diminished their refinement. Both the Corolla sedan and the hatchback have a pleasant ride quality that adequately isolates all but the worst bumps. Their controlled body motions also provide better agility than previous iterations. The Corolla SE and XSE further separate themselves with a stiffer sport-tuned suspension and the latter's larger 18-inch wheels (everything else rides on either 15- or 16-inch rims). Still, compared with athletic and engaging rivals, such as the Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf, the Corolla's progressive steering is satisfactory but not exemplary. While neither Corolla body style had impressive results in our 70-mph-to-zero braking test—requiring between 174 and 183 feet—their brake pedals were dependable and easy to operate.