2021 Acura TLX vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Acura TLX was a striking, sporty sedan in a competitive class. It featured an assertive stance with a steeply raked windshield, fastback-style roofline, and integrated tail spoiler. The front grille, designed to look like it exploded from the Acura logo, was flanked by horizontal “jewel eye” LED headlights. Twin trapezoidal tailpipes and top-notch paint quality added to its premium look. Inside, the TLX boasted a “sport sedan cockpit” with authentic materials like metal, leather, and wood. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen was neatly mounted, giving a floating appearance.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla, available since 2019 in hatchback form and 2020 as a sedan, aimed to shed Toyota’s boring reputation with bold exterior styling. It featured scowling LED headlights and a wide grille, though it couldn’t match the Hyundai Elantra’s eccentricity or the Honda Civic’s cohesiveness. The SE and XSE trims had an aggressive front fascia, while the Nightshade Editions added blacked-out trim. The Apex Editions included a subtle body kit with bronze accents and model-specific 18-inch wheels. The interior was simple but less imaginative, with fit and finish up to Toyota’s standards, though the piano black plastic trim was prone to dust and smudges.

The 2021 Acura TLX was equipped with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. It featured a drive-by-wire throttle system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) available. Fuel economy was estimated at 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined for FWD models, and slightly lower for AWD. The TLX offered distinct driving modes—Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual—thanks to its Integrated Dynamics System. The Advance package added adaptive dampers for a customizable ride. The TLX felt solid and balanced, with 50% greater global torsional stiffness and up to 100% greater rigidity at the suspension mounts.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan offered two engine options. The L, LE, and XLE models had a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The SE and XSE models featured a 2.0-liter engine, producing 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. The Apex Edition had the same engine with a sport exhaust system. A CVT was standard with the smaller engine, while the 2.0-liter engine could be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox on SE and SE Apex Edition models. The Apex Edition had a sportier suspension, making it more nimble but at the cost of ride quality. It wasn’t a full performance model, lacking tire, brake, or engine upgrades, but it was fun in corners.

The 2021 Acura TLX’s shift-by-wire transmission allowed for a reimagined center console, featuring a control panel modeled after the NSX. The low-profile controls were easy to access, and paddle shifters were included. The center console housed the infotainment interface, a mini touchpad, and two cupholders. The rear seat was comfortable for two adults, with adequate head- and legroom. The front seats were supportive sport buckets with 12-way power adjustability. The second row folded down in a 60/40 split, providing access to the 13.5 cubic feet trunk.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla’s interior felt roomy, aided by a low beltline for better visibility. However, the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard made forward visibility challenging. The driver’s seat was lowered and moved rearward, but long-legged drivers might still find knee space lacking. The front and rear seat cushions were squishy rather than supportive. The Corolla sedan had 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, less than competitors like the Honda Civic. The center console was thin, with cupholders that weren’t deep enough for other items, and the phone tray was oddly shaped.

The 2021 Acura TLX was packed with technology, including drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and SH-AWD. The 10-speed automatic transmission featured Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control. Ambient interior lighting themes could be customized. The ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker premium audio system delivered exceptional sound quality. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Advance Package added a head-up display, G-Meter, and Turbo Boost Indicator.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla’s infotainment system was starting to show its age. A 7-inch touchscreen was standard on the base model, with an 8-inch screen on other trims. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, Amazon Alexa integration, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A nine-speaker JBL audio system was available on higher trims. The interface was user-friendly, but some tasks were cumbersome, and the graphics looked dated. The Corolla lacked wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and didn’t offer novel features like Hyundai’s Digital Key.

The 2021 Acura TLX came with the AcuraWatch suite, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Additional safety features included a pedestrian injury mitigation design, ACE body structure, ultra-high-strength steel front door stiffener rings, multiple airbags, and a multi-angle rear-view camera. New for 2021 were a next-generation front-passenger airbag, pedestrian sensing, autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a driver attention monitor. Available features included rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The 2021 TLX had not yet been tested by IIHS or NHTSA, but previous models received high ratings.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” award and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features under Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, Lane Tracing Assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available but not standard on all trims.