Car buyers often maintain their brand and style preferences for decades. It’s among the reasons hybrid and all-electric vehicle sales have increased slowly.
As an example, the Toyota Prius is now 21 years old. As the first mass-produced hybrid in the United States, it once dominated the country’s alternative fuel vehicle annual sales. But that still represented less than four percent of all auto sales.
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2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Offer Great Value
The Prius’ popularity has waned, but Toyota still maintains its dominance in the hybrid segment. The Toyota RAV4 now reigns with 28 percent of the market share.
Still, deciding between a hybrid or electric further polarizes buyers. Toyota is part of the issue. Gas stations are everywhere; Electric charging stations are not. And there’s the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid.
Corolla Hybrid buyers in its three-year history are purchasing one option in the stable of the industry’s all-time best-sellers The Corolla Hybrid is rated at 53 and 52 miles per gallon in the city and freeway driving with its gas-electric configuration. Its overall mileage rating is one less mpg than a Prius, and it has a more mainstream presentation.
2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid: Only Age 3
While the Toyota Prius family has continued to evolve into numerous body and trim styles, the Corolla Hybrid is offered in one variety. It’s competing against vehicles by the same manufacturer. The Corolla Hybrid’s short history seems oddly logical.
Regardless, the new Corolla is among the country’s best car values.
Sold only in the LE trim, the hybrid model is equipped with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine, front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission. It’s joined by two electric motors energized with a lithium-ion battery, for a total output of 121 horsepower. The hybrid battery is covered by a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty. An 8-year/100,000-mile warranty applies to the hybrid drive components.
While accommodating a battery pack, the Corolla Hybrid matches its non-hybrid sibling with a 60/40 split rear seat and a worthy trunk with 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Standard features include LED headlights and taillights, daytime running lights and 15-inch alloy wheels.
2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid: Lots of Safety Stuff
Keyless entry/start, automatic climate control and cloth upholstery are also standard as is a substantial supply of safety equipment.
Besides 10 airbags, the Corolla Hybrid has forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assistance and radar-based adaptive cruise control.
The infotainment system includes an eight-inch touchscreen which frames a lot. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, two USB ports, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi plus a six-speaker audio setup further detail the overriding point.
A first for 2022 is the Corolla Hybrid’s optional Premium Interior Package ($1,525). It features simulated leather upholstery, a steering wheel wrapped in real leather, heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support.
2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid: Steady As It Goes
The modernized interior includes metallic and black trim accents and soft-touch plastic. It’s not a spacious place, but the new look defines an ambiance of cleanliness. Also optional are blind-spot monitoring ($500) and an upscale exterior paint job ($425).
Never performance-oriented, the Corolla Hybrid is satisfactory on hilly roads but that’s it. The hybrid sedan won’t necessarily be part of the slow lane traffic. Its 0-60 miles per hour rating is 7.8 seconds, not the worst hybrid effort. But steady is what the Corolla does well. Don’t expect to pass slower traffic on inclines.
The 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is at its best via a combination of economy, efficiency, durability, reliability and resale value.
It doesn’t get any more expensive than $27,000 or $18,000 less than the average price of a new car in the United States. Enough said.
Article Last Updated: November 1, 2021.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.