2022 Toyota Corolla vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Toyota Corolla, which had been around since its 2019 hatchback launch and 2020 sedan debut, aimed to shed Toyota's "boring" reputation with bold exterior styling. It featured scowling LED headlights and a wide grille, though it couldn't quite 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, blacked-out trim on Nightshade Editions, and a subtle body kit with bronze accents on Apex Editions. The SE Apex Edition, in particular, stood out with its "Fast and Furious" vibe, thanks to its Cement gray color and model-specific 18-inch wheels.

Inside, the Corolla's design was simpler but still appealing. The fit and finish met Toyota's high standards, although the piano black plastic trim was prone to dust and smudges. The SE Apex Edition's interior mirrored that of the standard SE, with light gray upholstery that seemed susceptible to stains. Cloth upholstery was standard, with SofTex leatherette available on higher trims. The Corolla used the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, sharing structural elements with the Camry and RAV4.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, fresh off a complete makeover in 2021, retained its fantastic looks. The S-Class, rooted in the 1954 "Ponton" models and officially starting with the 1972 W116 series, represented the seventh generation of Mercedes' flagship sedan. The sleek exterior featured a long distance between the front axle and dashboard, exuding elegance. The proud Mercedes-Benz grille and star hood ornament added to its distinguished appearance.

Inside, the S-Class dashboard delighted with open-pore wood trim and a 12.8-inch touchscreen. The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, separate from the infotainment screen, allowed for distinct functions. High-quality materials adorned the cabin, meticulously fitted and assembled, ensuring a luxurious experience for all occupants.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan offered two engine options. The 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, delivering 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. Apex Edition versions of the SE and XSE had the same engine but with a sport exhaust system. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) was standard with the smaller engine, while the 2.0-liter engine could be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox on SE and SE Apex Edition models. All 2022 Corollas were front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive expected in 2023.

The SE Apex Edition test car, with its manual transmission, sport exhaust, and model-specific suspension, offered nimble handling and excellent front-end feel. However, the stiffer suspension compromised ride quality. The Apex Edition wasn't a full-performance model, lacking tire, brake, or engine upgrades, but it was fun in corners. The standard Corolla, while comfortable, wasn't particularly exciting, making the Volkswagen Jetta a better choice for a commuter car.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled in both weekday commuting and weekend pleasure driving. The S500 test vehicle featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost, adding up to 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque to the engine's 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The S580 model had a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with the same EQ Boost system. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and standard 4Matic AWD. Despite their weight (4,740 pounds for the S500 and 4,775 pounds for the S580), both were quick off the line, with the S500 reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and the S580 in 4.4 seconds. Handling was flat and predictable, with powerful braking.

The S-Class offered a smooth ride for commuting and responsive driving for weekend fun. The S500 achieved up to 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined, while the S580 was rated at 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. With a 22.2-gallon fuel tank, long drives were possible without frequent stops.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla's interior felt decently roomy, though Toyota hadn't released headroom and legroom specs. The low beltline aided outward visibility, but the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard hindered forward visibility. 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 with finding an ideal driving position. The front and rear seat cushions were squishy and not very supportive.

The Corolla sedan's 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space lagged behind competitors like the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra. A 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat was standard, with a power trunk release available on certain trims. The sleek interior design limited storage space for smaller items, with a thin center console and shallow cupholders. The angled phone tray, even with wireless charging, was too small and oddly shaped to be useful.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled in form and function, offering a roomy and comfortable cabin with ample storage and cargo space. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds and a Panorama Sunroof. The 13.8-cubic-foot trunk provided lushly carpeted storage. The cabin featured six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply in the second row.

The driver and front passenger enjoyed standard raid-heating and ventilating active multicontour seats with massage, memory, lumbar support, and comfort headrests. The Luxury Line added a heated steering wheel, heated armrests, rear-seat heating, electronic rear seats with memory, and the "Energizing Comfort" system. The Executive Line (exclusive to the S580) upgraded the rear seats to active multicontour with headrests, occupant restraint protection, and neck and shoulder heating. It also included the MBUX high-end rear-seat entertainment system with 11.6-inch touchscreens.

The S-Class's doors opened wide, making it difficult for seated occupants to reach the door to pull it closed. However, the soft-close feature prevented door slamming. Mercedes-Benz's basic and powertrain warranty covered the 2022 S500 for four years/50,000 miles.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla lagged in infotainment tech. The base model had a 7-inch touchscreen, while other trims got an 8-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, Amazon Alexa integration, and SiriusXM satellite radio, along with a six-speaker audio system. A nine-speaker, 800-watt JBL audio system was available on higher trims. The interface was user-friendly, but some tasks were cumbersome, and the graphics looked dated. Toyota didn't offer wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto or novel features like the Hyundai Elantra's Digital Key.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, with its recent makeover, boasted the latest tech. The 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen interface for the MBUX infotainment system offered superior image quality and energy efficiency. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel provided crisp imagery and customizable themes. The optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest, enhancing warning and driver assistance features.

The standard augmented video for navigation superimposed arrows or house numbers over the video of surroundings, making navigation clearer. The available augmented reality head-up display (HUD) projected these instructions onto the windshield, offering a fighter pilot-level of active driver assistance. The standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system provided high-fidelity audio, with an available Burmester 4D Surround system adding headrest speakers and enhancements.

The S-Class's powertrain and chassis also featured advanced tech, including the EQ Boost system and available rear-axle steering, which improved maneuverability by reducing the turning radius.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan and hatchback received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests. However, the headlights received lower "Acceptable" or "Marginal" ratings, depending on the trim. The NHTSA gave the Corolla a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. Standard safety features 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.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was loaded with standard and available safety and advanced driver assistance systems. Significant features included Magic Vision Control, which adjusted windshield spray based on various factors. Driver assistance features included active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist, active brake assist with cross-traffic function, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist with Parktronic, Pre-Safe Plus with Pre-Safe Sound, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side. The S-Class also featured car-to-x communication, sharing warning messages about road conditions. For executives, the S-Class offered rear-passenger airbags, rear-seat belt bag, and easy adjust headrests with occupant restraint protection.