2022 Acura TLX vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2022 Toyota Corolla, which had been around since its 2019 hatchback launch and 2020 sedan debut, aimed to shed Toyota's "boring" reputation with bold exterior styling. It featured scowling LED headlights and a wide grille, though it couldn't quite match the eccentricity of the Hyundai Elantra or the cohesiveness of the Honda Civic. Different trim levels offered unique styling elements, such as the aggressive front fascia on SE and XSE models, blacked-out trim on Nightshade Editions, and a subtle body kit with bronze accents on Apex Editions. The SE Apex Edition, in particular, stood out with its "Fast and Furious" vibe, thanks to its Cement gray color and model-specific 18-inch wheels.

Inside, the Corolla's design was simpler but still appealing. The fit and finish met Toyota's high standards, although the piano black plastic trim was prone to dust and smudges. The SE Apex Edition's interior mirrored that of the standard SE, with no sporty enhancements and light gray upholstery that seemed susceptible to stains. Cloth upholstery was standard, with SofTex leatherette available on higher trims. The Corolla used the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, sharing structural elements with the Camry and RAV4, among others.

The 2022 Acura TLX, with its wide and long stance, resembled a luxury sedan from a larger class. It was notably wider and longer than the BMW 3 Series, with a track width nearly three inches wider at the rear and almost two inches at the front. The TLX's design featured thin headlights, a five-sided grille, and a V-shaped front bumper, giving it a substantial yet fuss-free appearance. The Type S variant added exclusive features like Tiger Eye Pearl paint, Performance Red Pearl, and 20-inch Y-spoke gray wheels inspired by the Acura NSX. The Type S also had functional outer front air intakes for cooling additional radiators and larger brakes, while other trims had blocked-off intakes.

Inside, the TLX felt snug despite its large exterior. The detailing was impressive, with a narrow center console, angled air vents, and inward curves on the aluminum trim. Upper trims with the Advance package featured thin LED strips against light matte wood, creating a Scandinavian lounge vibe. The infotainment system, however, was not a touchscreen, requiring users to interact via a touchpad interface. The Type S models had faux-suede inserts, red stitching, and a flat-bottom steering wheel with real metal shift paddles. The TLX offered daring interior color options, such as creamy white leather with black suede stripes or bright blue paint with flaming red leather, which were not available from competitors like Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, or Jaguar.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan offered two engine options. The L, LE, and XLE models had a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The SE and XSE models featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. The Apex Edition versions of the SE and XSE had the same engine but with a sport exhaust system. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) was standard with the smaller engine, while the 2.0-liter engine could be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox on the SE and SE Apex Edition models. All 2022 Corolla models were front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) expected in the 2023 model year.

The manual transmission suited the SE Apex Edition, enhancing its sportiness with a throatier exhaust system and model-specific suspension, including unique coil springs, solid stabilizer bars, and an increased spring rate. These changes improved handling, making the Apex Edition more nimble and eager to turn into corners, though at the cost of ride quality. However, the Apex Edition wasn't a full-fledged performance model, lacking tire, brake, or engine upgrades. The manual transmission helped manage the limited power, making the Apex Edition fun in corners, unlike the standard Corolla, which was comfortable but not particularly exciting.

The 2022 Acura TLX, powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine, produced 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The TLX started as a front-wheel drive (FWD) car, but the Super Handling-All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system was available for an additional $2000. This system could vary torque at either rear wheel, improving stability and handling precision. The Type S variant featured a 3.0-liter turbo V6 engine with 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, delivering impressive performance on the track.

The TLX's double-wishbone front suspension, adaptive dampers, and SH-AWD system provided consistent grip and balanced handling. The engine's broad torque, minimal turbo lag, and Sport+ driving mode made for an enjoyable driving experience. The steering offered decent road feel, and the Brembo front brakes performed well. However, the exhaust note was subdued, even on the Type S. The regular TLX was more softly sprung, suitable for comfortable driving but lacking the sportiness of the Type S. The Type S maintained comfort without compromising performance, though the summer P Zero tires emitted extra noise on the highway. Fuel economy for the Type S was 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the regular TLX with SH-AWD achieved 21/29/24 mpg.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's interior felt decently roomy, though Toyota hadn't released specific headroom and legroom measurements. The low beltline improved outward visibility, but the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard hindered forward visibility. The driver's hip point was lowered, and the seat was moved rearward for optimal positioning, but long-legged drivers might still find knee space lacking. The tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel helped with finding an ideal driving position. The front and rear seat cushions were squishy and not very supportive.

The Corolla sedan offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, less than competitors like the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra. A 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat was standard, and a power trunk release was available on certain trims. The sleek interior design limited storage space for smaller items, with a thin center console and shallow cupholders. The angled phone tray was too small and oddly shaped to be useful.

The 2022 Acura TLX, despite its large exterior, felt tight for four passengers inside. The back seat had decent headroom but limited legroom. The front seats were comfortable, with the Type S offering a thigh extension and adjustable side bolsters. The driving position was low, and controls were well-marked. The touchpad interface for the infotainment system required acclimation, as it wasn't a traditional touchscreen. The pushbutton, pull-tab gear selector also took some getting used to.

The climate control was straightforward, and the infotainment system had few settings to adjust. Trunk space was mediocre at 13.5 cubic feet, less than a Honda Civic. The TLX's double-wishbone suspension took up more space than a conventional setup, limiting trunk and cabin space.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's infotainment system was starting to show its age. The base model had a 7-inch touchscreen, while other trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, Amazon Alexa integration, and SiriusXM satellite radio, along with a six-speaker audio system. A nine-speaker, 800-watt JBL audio system was available on the XSE and XLE trims, as well as CVT-equipped SE models.

The interface was relatively easy to use, with helpful home buttons for each menu, but some tasks, like selecting a radio station, were more cumbersome compared to other automakers' systems. The graphics looked dated, and wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not available. The Corolla also lacked novel features like the Hyundai Elantra's Digital Key.

The 2022 Acura TLX's infotainment interface was simple and quick, but the typefaces for certain settings and radio stations were too small to read easily. The central display in the instrument panel also had small type. The TLX had a great head-up display, available only with the Advance Package, which allowed the driver to interact with various functions from the steering wheel.

The Advance Package also included 360-degree cameras, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel, which were not available on the Type S. The ELS Studio audio system with 17 speakers was included, offering excellent sound quality. Standard features included quick and accurate voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and 12-way heated front seats. The Technology Package linked the climate control to the navigation system, adjusting the air based on the sun's position and intensity. Standard features included "Jewel Eye" LED headlights, "chicane" running lights, a garage door opener, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The AcuraWatch suite of driver assistance features provided semi-automated control on marked highways.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan and hatchback received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests. However, the Corolla's headlights received lower "Acceptable" or "Marginal" ratings, depending on the trim level. The NHTSA gave the Corolla a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests.

The Corolla came with a comprehensive list of standard driver-assist features under the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 banner. These 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.

The 2022 Acura TLX, starting with the 2021 model year, was rated a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top "Good" ratings in all six crash tests, headlight visibility, anti-glare, and forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The NHTSA gave the TLX a five-star overall score, with five stars in most crash tests except the frontal passenger-side test, where it received four stars.

Standard safety features included knee airbags for the driver and passenger, a unique Honda-engineered passenger airbag, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors were included in the Technology Package and higher trims.