2022 Toyota Corolla vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Toyota Corolla, a staple in the compact car segment, built its current look since the 2019 model year with the sedan version arriving in 2020. The Corolla's design aimed to shake off Toyota's old reputation for blandness, featuring distinct styling with stern LED headlights and an expansive grille. However, its design was less eccentric than the Hyundai Elantra and not as harmonious as the Honda Civic's recent redesign.

Toyota offered different styling cues for various Corolla trims. The SE and XSE trims sported a fierce front fascia, making them look aggressively sporty, while the Nightshade Editions came with blacked-out trims. The Apex Editions added a body kit with bronze accents and unique 18-inch wheels that, according to Toyota, reduced weight by 2.2 pounds. These were available with standard all-season tires or optional summer tires.

Our test model, an SE Apex Edition in Cement gray, offered a "Fast and Furious" vibe, striking an impressive presence. We appreciated Toyota's effort to give the Corolla more character, appealing to buyers not interested in understated styling. The car’s foundation, the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), debuted with the 2016 Prius and shared elements with larger models like the Camry and RAV4.

Inside, the Corolla's design was more muted. Our SE Apex Edition's interior maintained a simple appeal, even with its sportier exterior. The fit and finish met Toyota’s high standards, though the piano black plastic trim attracted dust and smudges. The interior, shared with the standard SE, had light gray upholstery prone to staining. Cloth upholstery was standard, with SofTex leatherette on higher trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Sentra, redesigned in 2020 and largely unchanged for 2022, resembled a smaller Altima. Its sleek, modern, coupe-like body was a significant upgrade over earlier models' more simplistic designs. Our gray test model understatedly complemented the Sentra's sharp appearance. Vibrant color options like bold blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember" were also available, some with a contrasting black roof.

The Sentra’s interior shone with a blend of modern and functional elements. The dashboard featured a trio of vents, and a touchscreen that stood as the focal point. The S trim started with 16-inch steel wheels, active grille shutters, and an array of power features. A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was standard. The SV and SR trims added upgrades like 16-inch alloy wheels, proximity keyless entry, heated mirrors, and a larger 8-inch touchscreen. The Midnight Edition package offered dark accents and 18-inch black alloy wheels, enhancing the SR trim's edgy appeal.

Our Midnight Edition test Sentra also included ambient cabin lighting and external under-car lighting, reminiscent of early 2000s trends but executed more tastefully this time around. The interior’s thoughtful design combined with its advanced features made the Sentra a compelling choice.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan offered two engine choices depending on the trim. The L, LE, and XLE models featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The SE and XSE trims upgraded to a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. The Apex Edition of SE and XSE models shared this engine, enhanced by a sport exhaust system.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) was standard with the smaller engine, while the 2.0-liter engine could pair with a six-speed manual transmission on the SE and SE Apex Edition. All Corolla models for 2022 operated with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive planned for the 2023 models.

Our SE Apex Edition, with its manual transmission, felt sportier, aided by its enhanced suspension with unique coil springs, lower solid stabilizer bars, and increased spring rates. This setup made the car more agile, improving cornering with excellent front-end responsiveness and minimal understeer. However, the stiffened suspension compromised ride comfort, a trade-off driving enthusiasts might accept. The Apex Edition lacked performance upgrades to the tires, brakes, or engine, evident in its moderate acceleration.

On the other hand, the 2022 Nissan Sentra used a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine across all trims, producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. Standard features included a CVT and front-wheel drive. While not exceptional, the engine and transmission offered manageable power and responsiveness. The Sport button on the shifter, though subtle and somewhat hidden, marginally enhanced performance.

The Sentra excelled with consistent performance in both city and highway driving, providing satisfactory low-end acceleration and steady highway cruising. Its steering was well-balanced, and its cornering abilities were commendable, although it wasn’t marketed for high performance. The suspension handled most road bumps well but struggled with more severe conditions or deep potholes, underscoring its strength as a comfortable commuter and city car.

Toyota didn’t release specific headroom and legroom measurements for the 2022 Corolla, but it felt spacious, aided by a low beltline enhancing visibility. However, the steep windshield angle and deep dashboard hampered forward visibility and pushed the front seats back, limiting knee space for tall drivers despite the adjustable steering wheel. The front and rear seats were cushioned but lacked firm support.

The Corolla sedan offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, less than competitors like the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra, though a 60/40 split-folding rear seat was standard. Storage for smaller items was limited, with a narrow center console and inadequately designed phone tray.

Conversely, the 2022 Nissan Sentra boasted 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, surpassing many rivals, though slightly less than the Kia Forte's 15.3 cubic feet. The Sentra’s 60/40 split-folding rear seat allowed for additional cargo capacity, but the load floor wasn’t flush, potentially complicating larger items’ loading. While it didn’t have a power trunk, it offered remote opening via key fob or dashboard button, with a spring mechanism providing a power-assisted feel.

The Sentra excelled in passenger comfort, providing ample headroom and legroom in the front and decent space in the rear. The front row featured sizable door storage trays and bottle holders, complemented by a center console with ample cupholders and storage spaces, making it practical for daily use.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla lagged behind newer compact cars in infotainment technology. The base L model had a 7-inch touchscreen, while other trims featured an 8-inch screen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM radio, with a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims like the XSE and XLE, along with CVT-equipped SE models, offered a nine-speaker, 800-watt JBL audio system.

The infotainment interface was user-friendly with straightforward home buttons, but tasks like finding a radio station were cumbersome compared to competitors. The graphics were dated, and Toyota didn’t offer wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Additionally, the Corolla lacked innovative features like Hyundai’s Digital Key, which might matter to tech-savvy buyers.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, by contrast, came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, complemented by a USB port and Bluetooth. Higher trims, SV and SR, upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen. The system's menu navigation was intuitive, aided by physical buttons and volume/tuning dials.

However, similar to the Corolla, the Sentra’s graphics needed refreshing, and it also lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which were becoming standard in non-luxury vehicles like the Honda Civic. Despite this, the easy-to-use interface and functional design made the Sentra's infotainment system convenient and accessible.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla garnered significant safety accolades, including the IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” award with top “Good” scores in all crash tests. However, its headlights varied in ratings from “Acceptable” to “Marginal.” The NHTSA awarded the 2022 Corolla five stars overall, with top marks in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover tests.

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-keep assist (Lane Tracing Assist), adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on select trims.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra matched the Corolla with an extensive list of standard safety features, including forward/reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Our test model further included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control, though the latter's abrupt braking at close distances was noteworthy.

The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating across all IIHS crash tests. The IIHS also rated the Sentra’s driver-assistance systems as “Superior,” though headlight ratings were lower. Still, these scores merited a “Top Safety Pick” award.