East Bay Times

2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid defines value

- By James Raia

Car buyers often maintain brand and style preference­s for decades. It’s among the reasons hybrid and all-electric vehicle sales have increased slowly.

As an example, the Toyota Prius is now nearly 22 years old. As the first mass-produced alternativ­e fuel vehicle in the United States, it once dominated the country’s alternativ­e fuel vehicle annual sales. That still represente­d less than four percent of all car sales.

The Prius’ popularity has waned, but Toyota still maintains its dominance in the hybrid segment. The Toyota RAV4 now reigns with 28 percent of the hybrid market share.

Still, buying a hybrid or electric further polarizes buyers, with Toyota part of the issue. Gas stations are everywhere; Electric charging stations are not. And then there’s the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Buyers during the Corolla Hybrid’s three-year history are purchasing one option in the stable of the best-selling cars in history. The Corolla is rated at 53 and 52 miles per gallon in the city and freeway driving with its gas-electric hybrid. Its overall mileage rating is one less mpg than a Prius, and it has a more mainstream presentati­on.

While the Toyota Prius family has continued to evolve into numerous

areas, the Corolla Hybrid is offered in one variety. It’s competing against vehicles by the same manufactur­er, and thus Corolla Hybrid’s short history seems oddly logical.

Regardless, the 2020 Corolla Hybrid is among the country’s best car values.

Sold only in the LE trim, the hybrid model is equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, frontwheel drive and a continuous­ly variable transmissi­on. It’s joined by two electric motors energized with a lithium-ion battery, for a total output of 121 horsepower. The hybrid battery is covered by a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty. An 8-year/100,000-mile warranty applies to the hybrid drive components.

While accommodat­ing a battery pack, the Corolla Hybrid matches its non-hybrid sibling with a 60/40 split rear seat and a worthy trunk with 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Standard features include LED headlights and

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 ?? ?? 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Photo courtesy of Toyota.
2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Photo courtesy of Toyota.

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