2022 Lexus ES vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2022 Lexus ES, a staple in the Lexus lineup since its debut in 1990, had evolved over seven generations by 2022. Despite a decline in sales since its peak in 2007, the ES remained a popular choice among an older demographic. Lexus faced the challenge of appealing to younger buyers without alienating its loyal customer base. The ES, built on the Global Architecture-K platform, offered a front-engine, front-wheel drive layout with an option for all-wheel drive. Its design featured elegant proportions, a sleek roofline, and the distinctive Lexus "spindle" grille. The interior, while precisely assembled, had an asymmetrical dashboard and bold two-tone leather seating in the F Sport model, which added a sporty touch.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla, part of the current generation launched in 2019, aimed to shed Toyota's reputation for blandness with its bold exterior styling. The Corolla featured scowling LED headlights and a wide grille, though it couldn't 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 and the sporty Apex Edition with bronze accents. The Corolla shared the Toyota New Global Architecture platform with other models, providing a solid foundation. Inside, the Corolla's design was simple yet appealing, with fit and finish meeting Toyota's standards, though the piano black plastic trim was prone to smudging.

The 2022 Lexus ES offered three models with distinct powertrains. The base ES 250 AWD featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It achieved an EPA rating of 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway/28 mpg combined. The ES 350, with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivered 307 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, achieving 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. The hybrid ES 300h combined a 176-hp four-cylinder engine with a 39-hp electric motor for a total of 215 hp, excelling in fuel economy with 43 mpg city/44 mpg highway/44 mpg combined. The ES 250 AWD, while smooth and predictable, felt slow compared to its luxury sedan peers.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla offered two engine options. The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine in the L, LE, and XLE models produced 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 added a sport exhaust system. A CVT was standard with the smaller engine, while the 2.0-liter engine offered a six-speed manual option. The Apex Edition's suspension enhancements improved handling but compromised ride quality. Despite its sporty aspirations, the Apex Edition lacked significant performance upgrades, making it more fun in corners but not a full-fledged performance model.

The 2022 Lexus ES offered a generous 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space, with the hybrid ES 300h maintaining the same capacity. The sedan's lower center of gravity and ground clearance compared to SUVs like the Lexus RX contributed to better handling and fuel economy. Inside, the ES provided ample storage with big bottle pockets, cupholders, and a spacious glove compartment. The dashboard layout, while not visually appealing, was functional, with a prominent volume knob for the audio system.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's interior felt roomy, aided by a low beltline for better visibility. However, the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard affected forward visibility. The driver's seat positioning was optimized, but long-legged drivers might find knee space lacking. The Corolla offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than competitors. The interior design limited storage for smaller items, with a thin center console and shallow cupholders. The angled phone tray was too small for practical use.

The 2022 Lexus ES came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. A 10-speaker Pioneer sound system was standard, with an upgrade to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a Mark Levinson 17-speaker audio system available on upper trims. The ES included a touchpad interface, which was an improvement over previous setups but still challenging to use on rough roads. A 10-inch head-up display was standard on upper trims, enhancing safety by displaying critical information in the driver's line of sight. The Lexus Enform suite offered connected services, including Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Remote features.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's infotainment system lagged behind competitors. A 7-inch touchscreen was standard on the base model, with an 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard. A nine-speaker JBL audio system was available on select trims. The interface was user-friendly, but some tasks were less intuitive compared to other automakers' systems. The graphics appeared dated, and wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not offered. The Corolla lacked novel tech features like Hyundai's Digital Key.

The 2022 Lexus ES received top safety ratings, earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, and Intelligent High Beam Control. Standard blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and 10 airbags contributed to its safety credentials.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla also earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, 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.