2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Test Drive Review: The Stylish Eco-Warrior

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid just makes sense. Effectively, it's the Toyota Prius that's okay to be seen driving in. The Corolla Hybrid was introduced in 2020, packing the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and twin electric motors as the Prius to yield an awfully similar 52 mpg combined fuel economy figure. But instead of being housed in the unfortunate body of a Prius, those 121 horsepower find themselves looking pretty damn sleek, even if they are dampened somewhat by a CVT transmission. The least powerful US Corolla money can buy has just about enough potency for the car to get out of its own way, and as it's only available in one low-spec trim, the Corolla Hybrid is an economy car through-and-through. However, for 2022, Toyota has added an optional Premium Interior package with, amongst other things, upgraded upholstery and power seats to allow it to better rival the Honda Insight and Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. But with those marques making bold advances, we want to know if the Corolla Hybrid still makes a compelling argument for itself without the addition of more trim levels. To that end, we spent a week with the Corolla Hybrid getting reacquainted.

What's the Price of the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid?

There's only one model available with the hybrid setup in the Corolla lineup at present, so the price of the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid starts at $23,650 MSRP, excluding the $1,025 destination fee that applies in the USA. You can add a few options and have a fully-loaded model for around $27,125, including miscellaneous fees.

2022 Corolla Hybrid Exterior

Dimensions

2022 Corolla Hybrid Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Corolla Hybrid looks like it's going to be a competently quick car, but we wouldn't bet on it to beat a thirty-year-old Civic from the lights. That's not why anyone buys an economy-based hybrid car, though, and all it has to do is not be so slow as to be dangerous. The good news is that it's just about enough, whether you have to tackle countryside, cities, or freeways on a daily basis. The Corolla Hybrid excels for its price point in ride quality and comfort, and it's a good advert for going back to smaller wheels on non-sporty cars. The suspension tuning and tires mounted on 15-inch wheels combine to soak up bumps with ease, while the interior is nicely insulated to add quietness to the smooth ride. However, we had hoped Toyota had improved the consistency of the brakes when switching between friction and regenerative brakes. Thankfully, it's not a dealbreaker, though.

While the Corolla Hybrid isn't a sporty car, handling is still important as driving shouldn't be a chore. In that sense, it's ahead of the more expensive Prius with its accurate steering and limited chassis roll. Just don't expect a lot of grip on the tires if you decide to push the Corolla Hybrid down a back road.

2022 Corolla Hybrid Interior

2022 Corolla Hybrid Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid A Good car?

If you're looking for a good-looking little car that's initially affordable and then inexpensive to put miles on while offering Toyota reliability, the Corolla Hybrid is best in class. The only thing we have against it is that there's just one trim level. Likely, that's because Toyota doesn't want to compete with itself by offering a more premium package that can rival the Prius. But the Prius is a love-it-or-hate-it car, while the same time, the Corolla is completely inoffensive to just about everyone while being easy and pleasant to drive. It's one of those cars that shows its owner makes good, sensible decisions, and that makes the Corolla Hybrid a great car.

What Toyota Corolla Hybrid Model Should I Buy?

Having a single trim level makes the decision process simple. All you have to decide is whether you want to add $500 for blind-spot monitoring, $1,525 for the Premium Interior Package, or the $2,025 Premium Interior Package with Option - which is basically both of the aforementioned packages combined. We would absolutely tick the box for blind-spot monitoring if we weren't interested in the Premium Interior Package. If we were going to add an extra 8.5 percent to the cost of the vehicle before delivery fees. At $26,675, you're only $705 away from buying a Camry Hybrid with remarkably similar fuel economy but more power and interior space. Of course, the Camry would be more expensive to insure.

2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Comparisons

2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid vs Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Slightly larger than the Corolla, the Sonata Hybrid is also arguably a little better looking and has a decidedly premium feel to it. With a starting fee of entry well above the base price of the Corolla Hybrid, the Sonata comes with a few plus points that make it a must-see over the Toyota. These include a 2.0-liter four-pot with an electric motor combo that makes 192 hp and 151-lb-ft, a substantial increase over the lethargic outputs of the Corolla. It's not any more fun to drive though if we're honest, but at least you're not wringing the heck out of the power plant to get it moving. And, while the Sonata hybrid sacrifices a little in fuel economy for this privilege, it still manages a respectable 45/51/47 mpg in the upper trims, or 50/54/52 mpg if you opt for the Hybrid Blue base model. We're more inclined to go for the Sonata Hybrid, despite the higher price tag.

2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid vs Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

As the first hybrid Elantra ever, the 2021 iteration of the Elantra Hybrid won the North American Car of the Year Award for a reason. The Elantra offers a great balance of efficiency, a refined and comfortable ride, loads of standard features, and an attractive price tag. Starting prices are around $23,750, which is a smidge higher than the Corolla Hybrid's base price. But for that, you get quite a bit more value, including heated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. We also think the Elantra looks just a little edgier than the Corolla Hybrid, and while nobody buys a hybrid for its performance specs, the Elantra Hybrid has just a bit more power on tap too, with 139 hp and 195 lb-ft from its 1.6-liter gas and hybrid setup.