By Nick Nelson
Feb. 15, 2022
Corolla vs. Camry: Which Is Better?
Looking for an affordable new car can be stressful without the proper research and tools. At U.S. News, we piece together the majority of information available on an automobile to give you, the consumer, a detailed summary of the product. In this article, we will be comparing two affordable sedans in the Toyota lineup.
The 2022 Toyota Camry and the 2022 Toyota Corolla come from the same brand, yet they differ in subtle ways across several areas. These two Toyotas offer moderate comfort, adequate engine power and decent fuel economy. Both feature updated and easy-to-use infotainment systems as well, which is becoming increasingly more important as automotive technology evolves.
We will compare the 2022 Toyota Camry and the 2022 Toyota Corolla in a number of categories and determine an overall winner at the end. Keep in mind that the scores on our site are updated constantly as new expert reviews and data become available. Therefore, the scores mentioned in this slideshow may not match the scores in our reviews.
Price
Winner: 2022 Toyota Corolla
The 2022 Toyota Corolla undercuts the 2022 Toyota Camry by several thousand dollars and wins this category.
The 2022 Toyota Corolla has a starting price of $20,075 and tops out at $28,360 for its highest trim.
The 2022 Toyota Camry is larger and more expensive than the Corolla, with prices ranging from $25,295 to $35,720.
Reliability
Winner: 2022 Toyota Corolla
Toyota has long been known to be a reliable brand, and the 2022 Toyota Camry and 2022 Toyota Corolla are no exception.
The Corolla sports a slightly better predicted reliability rating of 85/100 from J.D. Power, while the 2022 Toyota Camry has a score of 84/100.
Both Toyotas have the same three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and five-year/60,000-miles powertrain warranty.
Seat Comfort
Winner: 2022 Toyota Camry
While both sedans seat up to five passengers, the 2022 Toyota Camry comes with just a few more seating bells and whistles than the 2022 Toyota Corolla. Cloth seating is standard in both models with optional synthetic leather upholstery. The 2022 Camry has additional options such as full leather with ventilated front seats.
Both models offer supportive seating for adults in the front and back seats but headroom is more limited in the Corolla depending on if you get the sedan or hatchback. The Camry is the better pick for seat comfort.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2022 Toyota Corolla
When it comes to cargo space, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hatchback offers the maximum and wins this category. The Corolla sedan offers 13.1-cubic feet of cargo space while the hatchback has between 17.8 and 23.3 cubic feet. The hatchback figures are impressive for the class and provide plenty of utility.
Next up, the 2022 Toyota Camry has a slightly less impressive cargo volume of 15.1-cubic feet. While it may lose this category, keep in mind that the Camry is in the roomier midsize car class (as opposed to the compact Corolla) and it still offers plenty of space for groceries or luggage.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2022 Toyota Camry
Toyotas aren’t the most luxurious products on the market and their interior quality tends to favor solid and sturdy materials. The 2022 Toyota Camry and 2022 Toyota Corolla both employ few luxuries with an overall emphasis on utility.
Inside, the 2022 Toyota Corolla has a sleek design with an even mix of hard and soft-touch plastics. The well-built cabin is focused around a central display, leading to a modern aesthetic.
The 2022 Toyota Camry has a similar feel to the Corolla in its base model but gets much more upscale in higher trims, so it takes the win in this category.
Interior Features
Winner: Tie
These Toyota sedans come with very similar standard infotainment systems. The 2022 Toyota Corolla and the 2022 Toyota Camry each have a 7-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and even Amazon Alexa. They also come with standard six-speaker stereos and multiple USB ports.
Options for the Corolla include a 9-speaker JBL sound system, a larger 8-inch touch screen and wireless charging. The Corolla’s infotainment systems are straightforward and easy-to-use.
The Toyota Camry’s available upgrades include the same 9-speaker JBL audio system, a 9-inch touch screen and a panoramic glass roof. The Camry has a number of physical buttons which allow for easy control of the infotainment system.
Acceleration
Winner: 2022 Toyota Camry
One of the biggest differences between the 2022 Toyota Camry and the 2022 Toyota Corolla lies under their hoods. The 2022 Toyota Camry has several punchier engine options with horsepower ranging from 204 to 301. The Camry’s V6 engine scoots this midsize sedan to 60 mph in under six seconds.
The 2022 Toyota Corolla isn’t as quick or powerful, with engines ranging from 139 to 169 horsepower. Around town, the Corolla’s base engine is adequate but if you plan to frequent the interstate you should opt for the more powerful trim.
The 2022 Toyota Camry takes this category.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2022 Toyota Corolla
While the 2022 Toyota Corolla may not be as powerful as the 2022 Toyota Camry, it does return better fuel-economy estimates and wins this category.
The 2022 Toyota Corolla is available with two engines: the standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder or an optional 2.0-liter four-cylinder. With the base engine, the Corolla gets 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. With the optional engine and the automatic transmission, fuel economy bumps up to 32 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.
The 2022 Toyota Camry is also available with a couple engines: a four-cylinder and a V6. Unlike the Corolla, which only comes with front-wheel drive, the Camry is also available with all-wheel drive. Fuel economy in the Camry is as high as 29 mpg city/39 mpg highway with the base engine and front-wheel drive. With all-wheel drive, fuel economy dips to 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Finally, with the optional engine (which only comes with front-wheel drive), the Camry only gets 22/32 mpg city/highway.
If you want even better fuel economy, look at the Toyota Corolla Hybrid and the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which we review separately.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2022 Toyota Camry
Both the 2022 Toyota Camry and the 2022 Toyota Corolla provide good driving dynamics and responsive steering. However, the 2022 Toyota Camry takes the cake for this category.
The 2022 Toyota Camry offers a balanced ride over most surfaces and handling sporty enough to inspire confidence on curvy roads. The sportiest trim, dubbed the Camry TRD, even comes with track-tuned suspension.
The 2022 Toyota Corolla is a worthy commuter vehicle, handling well around city streets and soaking up bumps along the way. The Corolla offers a nice mixture of comfort and handling, but the 2022 Toyota Camry is the better pick.
Safety
Winner: 2022 Toyota Camry
Both the 2022 Toyota Corolla and the 2022 Toyota Camry are safe vehicles.
The 2022 Toyota Corolla earned five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). It also comes with a load of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and lane keep assist.
The 2022 Toyota Camry also earned an overall score of five out of five stars from NHTSA. It was also named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard equipment on the Camry is the same as the Corolla with a few more options like front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view parking system and a head-up display.
The 2022 Toyota Camry takes this category.
The Winner Is …
2022 Toyota Camry
These two Toyota sedans are competitive in their classes and against each other. However, the 2022 Toyota Camry is our overall winner.
While these two are very closely matched, the Camry’s more engaging driving dynamics, higher-quality interior, roomier seats and better safety ratings give it the win.
Still, the Corolla may be a better option for drivers who place a premium on fuel economy estimates, and the Corolla hatchback can give you more space for cargo.
