Bang for Your Buck: Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a pillar of the automotive world, offering reliable driving at an affordable price for decades.

No wonder this car is the pick in our Bang for Your Buck series. During the 12 generations of this car, it has been one of the world’s best-selling vehicles. When you drive the Corolla, you’ll have a safe car that not only protects you in a crash but also aids in avoiding the crash altogether. For 2022, we see more than just the sedan for this Toyota. You can buy a hybrid version or a hatchback model if you desire.

Value in the Name of Price for the 2022 Toyota Corolla

To find value in a vehicle, you must first know the cost. The starting point for the Corolla is the Ltrim which starts at $20,075. Even this base model receives two years of complimentary maintenance and roadside assistance as part of the package. It’s easy to reach a little over $30,000 when you select the XSE trim with some of the options offered. This price range places the Corolla in line with many other compact cars in its class, making it a car that offers plenty of value for your money.

Predictable Comfort from this Toyota

Driving the Toyota Corolla is an experience in comfort and predictability on the road. You’ll have complete control of the car wherever you go, even if you choose to hit the accelerator a little harder than usual. If you want more power, you’ll need to select the SE or XSE trims, but if you’re happy with the comfort offered, the L, LE, and XLE models have what you desire. This car makes it easy for you to experience compact car driving the way you want.

Why Should You Buy this Toyota?

With your checklist in hand, you can quickly mark off several boxes with everything the Corolla offers. This car has an amazing reputation for reliability. It has several standard safety features, a roomy cabin, and a long list of standard equipment at every trim level. If you think you only want to drive this car for a few years, that’s great. The Corolla has one of the strongest resale values in the market. Check out the new Apex and Nightshade Editions for something a little more dramatic in this historically impressive compact sedan.

Which Body Style Should You Choose?

Should you drive the sedan or the hatchback version of the Toyota Corolla? The hatchback has more room for gear in the back with the open space where the trunk resides in the sedan. If you’re going to have rear-seat passengers ride with you frequently, the sedan is the model for you. The sedan provides 34.8 inches of legroom in the rear compared to the 29.9 inches of the hatchback. Both models feature excellent tech items in the dashboard to give you the connectivity desired, and cabin materials improve as you move up through the trims.

The Corolla Resembles Other Toyota Models

Smartly, Toyota now has a sedan lineup that appears to share a family resemblance. This is important to some buyers when selecting the right car to drive. You’ll see sharp lines, impressive shapes, and ample character lines in the Corolla. The SE Nightshade Edition adds several black exterior elements to give you a dramatic look. The Apex model adds a special exhaust system with conical tailpipe tips to finish the sporty style of this compact car. For 2022, new paint colors are available to you, giving you Ruby Flare Pearl and Windchill Pearl as possible color options.

What Features Does the Toyota Corolla Include?

L Trim (base model)

• 15-inch steel wheels
• LED headlights/daytime running lights/taillights
• Disc brakes
• Power windows/locks
• Hill start assist
• Forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking
• Pedestrian detection
• Lane-departure warning
• Lane-centering assistance
• Automatic high beams
• Full-speed radar-based adaptive cruise control
• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Amazon Alexa
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth connectivity
• One USB port
• Satellite radio
• 7-inch infotainment touchscreen

LE Trim

• Upgraded cloth upholstery
• Automatic climate controls
• Rear armrests with cup holders
• Rear USB port
• 8-inch touchscreen

SE Trim

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Moonroof
• Keyless entry
• Push-button starting
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Sport-tuned suspension

XLEand XSETrims

• Heated front seats
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Wireless device charging
• 9-speaker JBL audio system

Add the Options you Desire to the Corolla

The base model has one option, a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, otherwise, the options start at the LE trim. You can select from more paint colors, add keyless entry, push-button starting, a sunroof, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts to the LE model.

The SE trim is eligible for paddle shifters, the 9-speaker JBL audio system, and a lowered sport suspension with the Apex package.

Which Powertrain is in Your Toyota Corolla?

If you drive the L, LE, or XLE model of this Toyota, you’ll have a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 139 horsepower and 126 lb.-ft. of torque. This power goes to the wheels through a CVT automatic transmission. Every version of the Toyota Corolla is FWD, helping to give you the highest fuel mileage numbers. The L and LE models return 30 city/38 hwy mpg while XLE models achieve 29 city/37 hwy mpg.

When the SE and XSE are what you drive, you’ll have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood. The SE uses either a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic, but the XSE only uses the automatic transmission. This powertrain gives you 169 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel mileage numbers are:

• 29 city/36 hwy mpg for the manual SE
• 31 city/40 hwy mpg for the automatic SE
• 31 city/38 hwy mpg for the XSE trim

As you can see, driving the Toyota Corolla gives you the most bang for your buck in the compact car market. You can drive the affordable base L model for a small price or step up to a still reasonable price and add a long list of features at higher trims. Which version of the Corolla is the one you want to drive?