2022 Toyota Corolla Review

Name: 2022 Toyota Corolla Review
Brand: Toyota
Price: 15634 USD

2022 Toyota Corolla LE Sedan Exterior Shown

2022 Toyota Corolla SE Nightshade Sedan Exterior

+192

The Toyota Corolla is a smart pick in the small sedan class. We give it high marks for its smooth ride comfort, high-quality interior, and comprehensive list of advanced safety features. Holding it back is a smaller-than-average trunk and slow acceleration.

Used Corolla for sale

$15,634 - $25,998

265 listings

See Cars for Online Purchase See All for Sale

Appraise This Car

Toyota Corolla model years

Toyota Corolla for Sale

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

2022 Toyota Corolla Review

byRonald Montoya^{Senior Consumer Advice Editor & Content Strategy
Ronald Montoya has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written over a thousand car related articles and bought and sold over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Ronald is a senior consumer advice editor and content strategy at Edmunds and has also contributed to the Associated Press. He has also been featured on ABC, NBC and NPR on a number of car shopping topics. He got his start in the auto industry by taking a part-time job at a car dealership, where he worked in the service and accounting department.}

Pros

Long list of standard advanced safety features
Easy-to-use controls
Comfortable ride quality
High fuel economy

Cons

Slow acceleration
Too much road noise on the highway
Less rear headroom than most rivals

What's new

No major changes for 2022
Part of the 12th Corolla generation introduced for 2020

Overview

The 2022 Toyota Corolla is now in its 12th generation. When a car model lives that long, you know it's doing something right. For decades, the Corolla has been the compact car that's known as a good value with high fuel economy and a reputation for reliability. This latest Corolla still lives up to these core values, only it adds flashier styling and a more premium-feeling interior than its predecessors. The Corolla is also available as a hatchback or a hybrid sedan variant, which we review separately.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.46 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$129/mo

$178/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

There are no major changes for 2022, but last year brought the introduction of the Corolla Apex trim, which adds a few performance enhancements, plus some cosmetic features that are exclusive to that trim. Altogether, the Corolla is worth considering alongside other small sedan rivals such as the Honda Civic, Kia Forte and Mazda 3. Take a look at our detailed Corolla Expert Rating below to learn more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Corolla drive? Acceleration is a bit underwhelming for the class (0-60 mph took 8.8 seconds in our testing), which means you'll likely be flooring the pedal when getting onto highways. Passing slower traffic requires a little extra planning and a heavy foot. Emergency braking performance is adequate, however, and braking force is easy to control for smooth stops.

We tested the Corolla XSE, which is supposed to be the sporty trim level. Alas, we quickly discovered that it's not that sporty. It leans a lot when you go around turns, and its tires don't offer much grip. But as a routine daily driver, the Corolla does just fine. It's easy to maneuver around town, and the operation of its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is generally unobtrusive.

Comfort

7.0/10

How comfortable is the Corolla? The Corolla's ride quality is smooth over a variety of road surfaces, and the front seats are comfortable. Whether you're tall or small, there are enough adjustments and sufficient range within those adjustments to find your preferred position. We do prefer the cloth seats since they breathe better than the available simulated leather on hot days.

Road noise is ever present. It gets so loud on the highway that you'll have to crank the stereo to overcome it. The engine sounds labored under hard acceleration, but the continuously variable transmission's simulated gear changes help reduce the droning sound that is otherwise typical for a CVT.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? The Corolla's interior benefits from a simple, easy-to-use layout. The controls are right where you want them and are logically grouped. The number of buttons is sensible, with just enough to be useful but not so many that it looks cluttered.

It's also easy to get in and out of the car. Front passengers have plenty of room, and the driver has clear sight lines to both the front and rear. Seating for rear passengers is tighter, especially with regard to headroom. Adult occupants' heads might be close to the roof. The Honda Civic is better in this respect.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? Toyota's recent infotainment systems have never managed to win us over, but this latest version is a marked improvement. That said, it's still not as intuitive or visually appealing as rival systems. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is now standard.

Many advanced safety features are included as part of the standard Toyota Safety Sense suite, and almost all are well tuned to be as unobtrusive as possible. The lane departure warning system is the outlier, and it can be oversensitive and annoying with its frequent beeping. The adaptive cruise control is praiseworthy for its smooth braking and acceleration.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The Corolla has a slightly smaller trunk (13 cubic feet) than its primary competition. It should still be enough for typical use. Unfortunately, the rear seatbacks don't fold flat with the trunk floor, which could complicate loading longer and bulkier cargo.

Storage for personal items is also on the small side. There are just enough places for your phone and the like, but many competitors give you more. On the plus side, there seems to be ample space for infant and child safety seats. The clearly marked car seat anchors should help with installation.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimate for the Corolla XSE with the 2.0-liter engine and CVT automatic (the car we tested) is 34 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That's a strong showing from what is the most powerful engine in the Corolla lineup. On our 115-mile evaluation route, the Corolla easily exceeded that estimate, returning an impressive 40.2 mpg.

The less powerful 1.8-liter engine is rated at 33 mpg combined. For the ultimate in mileage, check out the Corolla Hybrid.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Corolla a good value? The Corolla is competitive against the top entrants in the small sedan class. The cabin is upscale and is solidly put-together. Toyota's reputation for reliability figures into most shoppers' decisions, but there are other aspects to consider. You also get two years of free scheduled maintenance, which is unusual in this class.

Wildcard

7.5/10

The latest Corolla brings a fresh and modern style without unnecessary trinkets and vents. It's also more enjoyable to drive than before, but other sedans in the class are noticeably more entertaining. The overarching themes are capability and competence.

The sleek and modern styling of this current generation makes the previous Corolla seem generic by comparison. The more aggressive body treatments for the XSE trim make it even more attractive.

Which Corolla does Edmunds recommend?

We recommend the SE trim. For the modest price increase over the base L or LE trim level, you get a more powerful engine, a longer list of standard features, and greater flexibility for adding packages, if you so desire.

2022 Toyota Corolla models

The 2022 Corolla is offered in five main trim levels: L, LE, XLE, SE and XSE, plus a couple of special trim levels. The SE Nightshade Edition and the Apex Edition are special versions that add on a few extra features to the corresponding trim. Feature highlights include:

L
Starts you off with:

139-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine
Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
LED headlights
15-inch steel wheels
7-inch touchscreen
Driver information display
Two USB ports
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Cloth seats

All Corollas also come with:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Corolla and the car in front)

LE
Adds a few more features, with:

16-inch steel wheels
Heated side mirrors
Automatic climate control
USB port for rear passengers
8-inch touchscreen
Premium fabric seats
Keyless entry

XLE
Gives the Corolla more premium features such as:

Upgraded LED headlights and accent lighting
16-inch alloy wheels
Proximity keyless entry with push-button start
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Sunroof
Upgraded driver information display
Heated front seats
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Simulated leather upholstery

SE
Reverts back to the LE's features but is sportier thanks to:

2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (169 hp, 151 lb-ft)
Normal and Sport driving modes
Dynamic-shift continuously variable transmission (CVT)
Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (CVT only)
Available six-speed manual transmission
18-inch alloy wheels
Sportier exterior trim accents
Sport front seats

SE Nightshade
Has the SE's features but with:

Blackout exterior trim
Unique 18-inch black-painted alloy wheels

XSE
Combines the SE and XLE's feature upgrades

Apex Edition
Adds sportier handling and styling to SE and XSE trims with:

Upgraded suspension components
Lower ride height
Optional summer performance tires
Black and bronze exterior trim

Some features that come standard on the higher trims can be ordered as options on the lower trims. A premium JBL sound system is optional on the XLE, SE and XSE trims, and adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves) are optional on the XLE and the XSE.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4.5/5Excellent

#1 out of 46 among Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Toyota Corolla from 2008-2022.}

$308/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Compact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.6x/yr

vs. 1.01x/yr
for Average Compact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

6.9%

vs. 10.4%
for Average Compact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Toyota Corolla.

5 (66%)

4 (8%)

3 (12%)

2 (8%)

1 (6%)

4.2

73 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 73 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

The best Corolla in 20 years

Victor S, 11/26/2020

2021 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT)

I just got a 2021 L model and being the most basic trim level I am very surprised how smooth and comfortable it is to drive it. I have had the 1997 & 2017 models before and I clearly notice they have improved its maneuverability, suspension is awesome compared to the previous years, comfortable seats and good control location, it also has a more quiet muffler (thing that I adore), and …

Wow. Over the top in satisfaction

DFgbg, 02/18/2022

2022 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT)

Purchased LE model. Can't beat the price quality smoothness of transmission and engine quiet ride great handling. My first toyota. Have owned 5 compact cars over the years all different brands this 2022 is a winner by very large margin. The engine has plenty of power. Glad I bought a Toyota. This update: After 6 months still feel the same about the Corolla a great car, gas mileage in …

Best corolla ever!!

al, 10/21/2020

2021 Toyota Corolla LE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT)

Had my 2006 corolla LE for 15 years no issues. finally it was time for an upgrade and I made the right decision the new corolla LE with premiun package looks like a lexus!!

Toyota Corolla '22 saved my husband's life in wrec

Emmy, 11/01/2022

2022 Toyota Corolla SE Nightshade 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

This review is very emotional for me but I want future customers to know the impressive manufacturing of this car that saved my husband's life. My husband unfortunately went 300ft over a cliff and rolled 9 times with this car. It is a miracle that he walked away with no broken bones and solely a head concussion. The frame of the car remained primarily in tact and the air bag feature kept …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Toyota Corolla, so we've included reviews for other years of the Corolla since its last redesign.

See all 73 reviews of the Toyota Corolla

Write a vehicle review

2022 Corolla Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$20,425
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$129/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Corolla models:

Pre-Collision System: Warns if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time.
Lane Departure Alert w/Steering Assist: Warns if you are drifting out of your lane and corrects the steering if you don't respond in time.
Automatic High Beams: Activates high beams automatically on dark roads and deactivates them when the system detects an oncoming vehicle.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Acceptable
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

People who viewed this also viewed

Honda Civic
4.8 average Rating out of 39 reviews.
Starting at $23,950

See Honda Civic Inventory

Toyota Camry
4.0 average Rating out of 21 reviews.
Starting at $26,420

See Toyota Camry Inventory

Toyota Corolla Hybrid
4.5 average Rating out of 10 reviews.
Starting at $23,500

See Toyota Corolla Hybrid Inventory

2022 Toyota Corolla Review

2022 Toyota Corolla Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.46 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Corolla does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Toyota Corolla models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

The best Corolla in 20 years

Wow. Over the top in satisfaction

Best corolla ever!!

Toyota Corolla '22 saved my husband's life in wrec

2022 Corolla Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2022 Toyota Corolla info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Toyota

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Toyota Corolla L 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.46 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}