Toyota Corolla: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?
Most significant changes: The 2022 Corolla Hybrid sedan gains new options to upgrade its interior
Pricing: The Corolla starts at $21,100 (all prices include a destination fee of $1,025, up from $995 in 2021); across the board, the sedan and hatchback see marginal increases of $80 and $130, respectively
On sale: Now
Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022? With minimal changes for 2022 and a small price bump across all trims, shoppers can take their pick of the 2021 or 2022 Corolla. However, only the 2022 model year is currently available on Toyota’s configurator, and it accounts for 96% of new inventory among Cars.com dealers in November 2021.
As most cars are trailing SUVs and pickup trucks for sales popularity, the Toyota Corolla bucks the trend. It grabbed a podium spot as the brand’s third bestselling vehicle through the first three quarters of 2021, only trailing the RAV4 SUV and Camry sedan. After gaining a new Apex Edition and more safety features in 2021, the Corolla rides into 2022 predominantly unchanged. The minor updates include new exterior color options for the sedan and hatchback as well as a new interior package for the sedan-only hybrid model. (We cover the Corolla Cross, an SUV based on the Corolla, separately.)
Related: 2021 Toyota Corolla Apex Edition Review: Why Put Track Shoes on an Accountant?
Corolla Sedan
The gas-only Corolla sedan comes with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that’s good for 139 horsepower or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that adds an additional 30 horses. A six-speed manual transmission is available for the Corolla SE and SE Apex Edition, while all other models get a continuously variable automatic transmission. For smoother acceleration, the automatic has a fixed-ratio 1st gear when paired with the 2.0-liter engine — a novel feature that mitigates much of the droning you often get from CVTs.
Standard features on the base model include Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 driver-assist suite and a 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa connectivity. A larger 8-inch touchscreen is available on higher trims, along with heated, leather-trimmed seats that replace fabric upholstery in the base model. On the paint front, Ruby Flare Pearl replaces Barcelona Red Metallic and Windchill Pearl replaces Blizzard Pearl.
All Corolla sedan models, from the base L to the range-topping Nightshade Edition, see an $80 price bump from 2021 to 2022. The 2022 Corolla L starts at $21,100 (all prices include the destination charge), while the sportier Apex Edition starts at $26,635 and the Nightshade Edition starts at $24,250.
Corolla Hybrid
The 121-hp Corolla LE Hybrid, which pairs the 1.8-liter four-cylinder with electric assist, offers significant fuel-efficiency benefits. It gets an EPA-estimated 52 mpg combined compared to 31-34 mpg combined in non-hybrid models.
The hybrid gains a new Premium Interior Package for 2022 that adds SofTex leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a power driver’s seat with lumbar support. This package comes with a $1,525 price tag but ups the Corolla Hybrid’s premium offerings considerably; before now, shoppers who wanted more amenities had to go non-hybrid. A blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert can be layered on top of these features for another $500.
Just like its gas-only counterpart, the 2022 Corolla LE Hybrid’s price increases by just $80; it starts at $24,675.
Corolla Hatchback
With the addition of new safety features and more available cargo space for 2021, the Corolla Hatchback carries over for 2022 with new paint (Finish Line Red in place of Supersonic Red) and a $130 price bump across its trims. With the Special Edition no longer available, the hatch can now be found in SE, XSE and Nightshade Edition, all standard with the 168-hp four-cylinder. (Neither the 1.8-liter four-cylinder nor the Corolla Hybrid’s drivetrain are available with the hatchback.) The SE and XSE offer a manual transmission or a CVT, while the Nightshade Edition only comes with the CVT.
The Corolla Hatchback SE with a manual transmission starts at $21,840 or $22,940 with a CVT, and the range-topping Nightshade Edition starts at $23,840.
More From Cars.com:
- What’s the Best Compact Sedan?
- 2020 Toyota Corolla Review: Hatchback-Nice With a Trunk and Real Backseat
- 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Review: All the Economy, Few of the Frills
- Life With the Toyota Corolla: What Do Owners Really Think?
- Research the 2022 Toyota Corolla
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