2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, part of the W213 generation, debuted in 2017 with a design shift towards fluid, curvier forms, aligning with the 2014 S-Class and 2015 C-Class. Mercedes' chief designer, Gorden Wagener, described this aesthetic as "sensual purity." The 2021 model introduced a slightly edgier front with squinted headlights and an inverted trapezoid grille, while the rear resembled the W212 with horizontal taillights. The E-Class maintained its elegant and handsome appearance across sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible variants, although the classic standing hood ornament was discontinued in favor of a more popular Sport style featuring a large star emblem in the grille.

Inside, the E-Class was a showcase of luxurious materials and exuberant style. Rich woods, aluminum, and carbon fiber adorned the cabin, complemented by intricate details like metal speaker grilles and elaborate stitching. The ambient lighting system was particularly impressive, interacting with the car's climate and mood settings. The dashboard featured two 12-inch screens with crisp detail and brilliant color, and the 2021 model replaced analog gauges with a standard digital display. The new steering wheels, especially the AMG model with its touch-sensitive controls and additional screens, added to the car's modern and lavish feel.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla, launched as a hatchback in 2019 and a sedan in 2020, aimed to shed Toyota's reputation for blandness with bold exterior styling, including scowling LED headlights and a wide grille. However, it couldn't match the eccentricity of the Hyundai Elantra or the cohesiveness of the redesigned Honda Civic. The Corolla offered different styling elements for various trims, with the SE and XSE models featuring an aggressive front fascia, and the Nightshade and Apex Editions adding unique touches like blacked-out trim and bronze accents.

The Corolla's interior was less imaginative but had a simple, appealing look. The fit and finish were up to Toyota's usual standards, though 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 susceptible to stains. Cloth upholstery was standard, with SofTex leatherette available on higher trims.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class saw a significant change with the switch from conventional V6 engines to electrified inline-six powertrains for the E450 model, making it a hybrid. This system, introduced on the AMG E53 in 2019, used a 48-volt electrical system to power an electric starter-generator, providing extra power and torque for brief periods. The E450's 3.0-liter I6 engine produced 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with additional overboost from the battery. The base E350's 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, revised for 2020, delivered adequate performance but felt underwhelming for a luxury car.

The AMG E53 added a second turbo, powered by the 48-volt battery, to the E450's engine, resulting in 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The AMG E63 S, with a hand-built 4.0-liter V8 engine, produced 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, making it a high-performance variant with features like variable-rate air suspension and rear-biased AWD. Fuel economy for the AMG models was poor, with the E53 sedan rated at 25 mpg combined and the E63 sedan at 18 mpg combined. The E450 4Matic and E350 4Matic sedans offered better fuel economy, with 26 mpg and 25 mpg combined, respectively.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan offered two engine options: a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 139 hp and 126 lb-ft of torque for the L, LE, and XLE models, and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque for the SE and XSE models. The Apex Edition versions of the SE and XSE featured 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 the SE and SE Apex Edition models. All Corollas were FWD, with AWD expected for the 2023 model year.

The SE Apex Edition's manual transmission and sport exhaust system, along with model-specific suspension, made it more nimble and fun to drive compared to other Corolla models. However, the Apex Edition's suspension changes resulted in a stiffer ride. The standard Corolla, while comfortable, lacked excitement and was better suited for commuting.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a redesigned infotainment system with a touchscreen, making everyday tasks easier. The touchpads on the steering wheel were reshaped, and shortcut buttons for navigation, stereo, and other settings remained. The cabin was spacious for four adults, with ample headroom and legroom, though some features like rear USB ports and heated rear seats were missing in the E53 model. The coupe's rear seats were usable, while the convertible's were less so due to the folding soft top. The wagon offered more cargo space, with 35 cubic feet or 64 with seats folded, while the sedan had 13 cubic feet of trunk space.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's interior felt roomy, with a low beltline aiding visibility. However, the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard made forward visibility challenging. The driver's seat positioning was optimized, but long-legged drivers might find knee space lacking. The Corolla sedan's 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space was less than competitors like the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra. The sleek interior design limited storage space for smaller items, with a thin center console and shallow cupholders.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured the MBUX infotainment system with a touchscreen interface, better-organized menus, and natural voice processing. The system included features like live camera feeds with overlay arrows, massaging seats, and seat kinetics. However, it didn't support OTA updates, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto weren't wireless. Optional driving assists allowed for limited autonomous driving, and the instrument cluster offered customizable graphics.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's infotainment system was starting to feel outdated. A 7-inch touchscreen was standard on the base model, with an 8-inch touchscreen on higher 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 easy to use, but some tasks were less intuitive, and the graphics looked dated. The Corolla lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and didn't offer novel features like Hyundai's Digital Key.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and wagon received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and for rollover vulnerability. The 2020 E-Class sedan was rated a "Top Safety Pick+" by the IIHS. The coupe and cabriolet models were not tested but were considered equally safe. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring, with additional optional driver-assist features.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan and hatchback received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award and a five-star overall safety rating from the 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.