2021 Lexus IS vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Lexus IS made a bold statement about its driver with its athletic proportions and great stance. Its design captured motion even while standing still, exuding elegance with a well-measured distance between the front axle and dashboard. The fast roofline and the kick-up of the window base at the back of the passenger door added to its sporty and compact look. The new spindle grille with diamond mesh and narrow headlights gave the IS an assertive squint. Inside, the dash was tastefully simple, with a retro hi-fi feel to the center stack. The interior matched the exterior with bold, assertive choices and a modern aesthetic, although the analog clock felt outdated.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla aimed to counter Toyota’s reputation for boringness with extroverted exterior styling, including scowling LED headlights and a wide grille. However, it couldn’t out-weird the Hyundai Elantra or match the cohesive design of the Honda Civic. Different trim levels offered varied styling elements, with the SE and XSE models featuring an aggressive front fascia, and the Nightshade and Apex Editions adding unique touches. The Apex Edition, in particular, had a sporty presence with its body kit and model-specific wheels. Inside, the Corolla had a simple, appealing look, but the piano black plastic trim was prone to dust and smudges. The SE Apex Edition’s interior was essentially the same as the standard SE, with light gray upholstery that seemed prone to stains.

The 2021 Lexus IS brought serious sportiness to the luxury sports sedan category. It was tested and developed at the Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama, debuting the “Lexus Driving Signature” for seamless transitions in various driving situations. The IS 300 RWD featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The IS 300 AWD had a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 260 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, while the IS 350 models, both AWD and RWD, had the same V6 engine tuned to 311 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. RWD models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and AWD models had a six-speed automatic. The IS had a top speed of 143 mph, with 0-60 mph times ranging from 6.9 seconds for the IS 300 RWD to 5.6 seconds for the IS 350 RWD. Fuel efficiency varied, with the IS 300 RWD rated at 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan offered two engine options. The Corolla 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 four-cylinder engine with 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, with the Apex Edition versions getting a sport exhaust system. The smaller engine came with a CVT, while the 2.0-liter engine was available 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 didn’t have any tire, brake, or engine upgrades, and acceleration was modest. The manual transmission helped manage the power, and the Apex Edition was fun in corners, unlike the standard Corolla, which was comfortable but not exciting.

The 2021 Lexus IS excelled in driver-centered form and function. It had a great driver position with easily adjustable, comfortable, and supportive seats. The F Sport trim’s bolstered seat, standard in IS 350 models, included heating and ventilation. The IS featured perforated NuLuxe fabric, a synthetic upholstery that looked and felt like leather but was eco-friendly, lightweight, and easier to clean. Storage space was ample, with an open cubby, twin cupholders, big door pockets, a decent glovebox, and an under-armrest compartment. The second row was comfortable for two but cramped for three, with legroom negotiable with front-seat occupants. Trunk space was adequate at 10.8 cubic feet, with a deep configuration and a temporary spare stored beneath the trunk’s load floor.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla felt decently roomy, with a low beltline aiding outward visibility. However, the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard made forward visibility challenging. The driver’s hip point was lowered, and the seat moved rearward for optimal positioning, but long-legged drivers might still find knee space lacking. The tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel helped find an ideal driving position. The front and rear seat cushions were squishy and not supportive. The Corolla sedan’s 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space was behind competitors, but it included a 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat as standard. The sleek interior design limited storage space for smaller items, with a thin center console and shallow cupholders.

The 2021 Lexus IS finally offered a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The touchpad remained but was no longer the default option. Lexus Enform Safety Connect, Service Connect, WiFi, and Remote were included with free trial periods. The Navigation Package included Dynamic Navigation and Destination Assist for the first three years. The Mark Levinson 17-speaker, 1,800-watt premium surround-sound audio system was a recommended option, providing superb audio quality and including a CD player.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla’s infotainment system was starting to fall behind. A 7-inch touchscreen was standard on the base model, with an 8-inch touchscreen on other trims. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, Amazon Alexa integration, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard, along with a six-speaker audio system. A nine-speaker, 800-watt JBL audio system was available on higher trims. The interface was easy to use, but some tasks were less intuitive, and the graphics looked dated. The Corolla didn’t offer wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto or novel features like Hyundai’s Digital Key.

The 2021 Lexus IS hadn’t been rated for crashworthiness by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it was expected to receive good ratings based on the previous generation. It came with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign recognition, enhanced lane-tracing assist, full-speed dynamic adaptive cruise control, and intelligent high beams. Other features included vehicle dynamic integrated management, tire pressure monitoring, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a backup camera, LED headlamps, taillamps, and running lights, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect with a three-year trial.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla received an IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” award and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It had top scores in all crash tests, but the headlights received lower ratings depending on the trim level. 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.