2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2022 Toyota Corolla, having been around since its 2019 hatchback debut, aimed to shake off Toyota's reputation for blandness with its bold exterior design. It featured striking LED headlights and a wide grille, though it didn't quite match the eccentricity of the Hyundai Elantra or the cohesive design of the Honda Civic. The Corolla offered varied styling across its trims, with the SE and XSE models sporting an aggressive front fascia, while the Nightshade Edition added blacked-out trim, and the Apex Edition included a subtle body kit. Despite its attempts at a sporty appearance, the interior remained simple, with standard cloth upholstery and optional SofTex leatherette. The fit and finish were typical of Toyota's high standards, although the piano black plastic trim was prone to dust and smudges.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback, redesigned and produced in Indiana, sought to capture the dwindling hatchback market. It shared its front design with the Civic sedan but featured unique elements from the front doors back. The Civic hatchback aimed to balance practicality with driving enjoyment, offering trims like LX, Sport, and Sport Touring. The Sport Touring trim boasted sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, enhancing its modern appeal. The Civic's interior was praised for its high-quality controls and comfortable seating, though some passengers noted the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger seat and absence of rear air conditioning vents. The Civic hatchback's design and features positioned it as a strong contender in the compact car segment.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla offered two engine options. The L, LE, and XLE models were equipped with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine producing 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The SE and XSE models, along with the Apex Edition, featured a more powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. The Apex Edition also included a sport exhaust system and a model-specific suspension, enhancing its handling capabilities. However, the Apex Edition did not receive any tire, brake, or engine upgrades, which limited its performance potential. The Corolla's manual transmission was a good fit for the SE Apex Edition, providing a more engaging driving experience, though the ride quality was notably stiffer.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine's peak torque was available from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm, making it accessible for most driving situations. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option. The Sport and Sport Touring trims featured a well-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels, providing a balanced ride. The CVT worked well with the turbo engine, while the six-speed manual transmission offered a delightful driving experience. The Civic hatchback excelled in fuel efficiency, nearly matching official estimates during real-world testing.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla provided decent headroom and legroom, though long-legged drivers might find knee space lacking. The low beltline improved outward visibility, but the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard hindered forward visibility. The Corolla's cargo space was 371 litres, falling short of competitors like the Honda Civic. The interior design limited storage space for smaller items, with a thin centre console and shallow cupholders. Despite these limitations, the Corolla included standard features like a 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat, air conditioning, and keyless entry.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, offering a generous 693 litres of trunk space and a two-piece cargo shade. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. The Civic's seating was comfortable, with sufficient legroom, though some passengers noted the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger seat and absence of rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, and the Sport Touring trim included heated front and rear seats. The Civic's interior materials varied by trim, with black fabric seats in the LX, combination cloth and synthetic leather in Sport, and black leather in Sport Touring.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's infotainment system was starting to show its age, with a 7-inch touchscreen on the base model and an 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The XSE and XLE trims offered a nine-speaker JBL audio system. While the interface was user-friendly, the graphics appeared dated compared to competitors. The Corolla lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as novel features like a digital key.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen on LX and Sport trims and a 9-inch touchscreen on Sport Touring. The Sport Touring trim included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Civic's infotainment system addressed previous criticisms with physical knobs for sound controls and a shelf for hand stability. The voice recognition system worked well, and digital instrumentation was standard across all trims, with a more comprehensive display on the Sport Touring.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla received top safety ratings, earning an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It featured eight airbags and a suite of standard driver-assist features under Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on higher trims.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. New features included low-speed following and Traffic Jam Assist, though these were only available with the CVT. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, thanks to its advanced safety engineering and new frontal-impact airbags. The driver aids worked well, though some functions were not entirely seamless.