Toyota Corolla vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The 2022 Toyota Corolla continued the path set by its current generation, first introduced in 2019 with the hatchback and 2020 with the sedan. Toyota made an effort to shed the reputation of the Corolla being a plain vehicle, endowing it with bold exterior features like scowling LED headlights and a prominent grille. However, while its attempt was commendable, it didn’t quite match the quirky elegance of the Hyundai Elantra or the cohesive design of the newly redesigned Honda Civic.

Toyota offered varied styling across different trims. The SE and XSE models showcased a sporty front fascia, somewhat reminiscent of a mouth guard, while the Nightshade Editions flaunted blacked-out elements. The Apex Editions stood out with a subtle body kit incorporating bronze accents and lighter model-specific 18-inch wheels.

In Cement (gray), the SE Apex Edition managed to turn heads, channeling a “Fast and Furious” vibe. Toyota’s ambition to make the Corolla appear more than basic transportation was evident, although the less flashy trims catered to more conservative tastes.

Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform introduced with the Prius, the Corolla shared structural elements with the Camry and RAV4. Inside, the Corolla’s interior was more traditional, with an emphasis on simplicity. While the fit and finish met Toyota’s high standards, the piano black trim was both a dust magnet and prone to smudges. The SE Apex Edition's interior mirrored the standard SE, sporting light gray upholstery that seemed susceptible to stains. Cloth upholstery was standard, while SofTex leatherette was available in higher trims.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla provided two engine choices based on the trim level. The L, LE, and XLE models housed a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine yielding 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The SE and XSE models featured a more robust 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. The sportier SE and XSE Apex Editions retained the same engine but included a sporty exhaust system.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) was mandatory for the smaller engine, but the 2.0-liter variant offered a six-speed manual gearbox option on the SE and SE Apex Edition. All 2022 Corolla models were front-wheel drive, with an all-wheel-drive option expected in 2023.

Our SE Apex Edition test car, enhanced with a sport exhaust system and a unique suspension, embraced sportiness, offering nimble handling and a heightened front-end feel. Despite the suspension improvements compromising ride quality, driving enthusiasts might have found it acceptable. However, the Apex Edition wasn't a full-blown performance model, lacking significant upgrades in tires, brakes, or engine performance. While it entertained in corners, it lagged in power during straight-line accelerations, showing that it prioritized fun over sheer speed.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class was a different beast. The C300 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing an impressive 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This setup contributed up to 20 additional horsepower in short bursts. With a zero to 60 mph time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed limited to 130 mph, it displayed commendable performance for a luxury sedan.

Mercedes-Benz also hinted at a more powerful AMG C43 version, with a 402-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, cutting the zero to 60 mph time to 4.6 seconds and raising the top speed to 155 mph, or 165 mph with upgraded wheels.

Our C300 4MATIC test car felt powerful but exhibited noticeable turbo lag and occasional rough transmission shifts. However, its ride quality was luxurious, absorbing bumps gracefully while maintaining a blend of sportiness and comfort. On twisty roads, the C-Class showed good body control, although it demanded a more deliberate driving approach.

For the 2022 Toyota Corolla, specific headroom and legroom measurements were not provided, but the cabin felt adequately spacious. A low beltline improved outward visibility, though the steeply raked windshield and deep dashboard hampered forward visibility and made judging the end of the hood difficult. The latest redesign supposedly lowered the driver's hip point and moved the seat rearward, enhancing positioning but still lacking in knee room for taller drivers. The tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel offered some relief in finding an optimal driving position.

The seat cushions, both front and rear, were plush but lacked firm support. The Corolla sedan's cargo capacity stood at 13.1 cubic feet, trailing behind the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra. Toyota provided a standard 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat, with certain trims offering a power trunk release.

The compact design limited storage for smaller items, with a narrow center console and shallow cupholders. The wireless phone tray, available with wireless charging, was oddly shaped and not very practical.

The new 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class was exclusively available as a sedan, and its increased dimensions provided a touch more interior space. Front headroom was up by 0.1 inch, rear headroom by 0.4 inch, and rear legroom increased by 0.8 inch. These changes placed the C-Class at the top of its segment for front headroom and rear legroom, though front legroom remained near the bottom.

Its seats balanced comfort with enough bolstering for spirited driving. Visibility was generally excellent, marred only by thick rear pillars that created a bit of a blind spot. Interior trim occasionally produced distracting glare, and the location of the wireless charging pad made phone access tricky when the cupholders were in use.

In terms of cargo space, the C-Class excelled with 17.9 cubic feet of trunk space, far surpassing its rivals. The wide trunk opening facilitated loading and unloading, and the 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench allowed for longer items to be carried, although a cargo-space figure with the seat folded was not provided.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla’s infotainment system showed signs of aging, lagging behind more modernized competitors. The base Corolla L featured a 7-inch touchscreen, while other trims upgraded to an 8-inch screen. Standard across the lineup were Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, WiFi connectivity, Amazon Alexa integration, and SiriusXM satellite radio, complemented by a basic six-speaker audio system. Higher trims like the XSE and XLE, as well as CVT-equipped SE models, offered a nine-speaker, 800-watt JBL audio system.

While the system boasted a user-friendly interface with analog climate controls, it stumbled with tasks like radio station selection. The graphics appeared outdated, and wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were missing. Furthermore, the Corolla lacked innovative features seen in rivals, such as Hyundai’s Digital Key.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class adopted an infotainment setup modeled after the S-Class, featuring a freestanding digital instrument cluster and a portrait-oriented touchscreen. Even the base C300 Premium model included a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch touchscreen, angled six degrees toward the driver.

Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The mid-tier Premium trim introduced a Burmester 3D surround-sound system, while the top-tier Pinnacle trim added a head-up display and an augmented-reality navigation system.

The MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) system incorporated a “Zero Layer” interface from the EQS electric car, displaying multiple functions on the screen simultaneously. The voice recognition system proved exceptionally effective, and touch controls on the steering wheel were logically grouped and easy to use.

Our test car’s optional augmented-reality navigation system displayed front-camera feeds with overlaid arrows, showing exactly where to turn—an innovative and useful feature.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla earned accolades for safety from both the IIHS and NHTSA. The Corolla sedan and hatchback scored the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, with top “Good” ratings in all crash tests, though the headlights received mixed ratings. NHTSA awarded the sedan and hatchback five-star overall ratings, with strong performance in frontal and side crash tests and a four-star rollover rating.

The Corolla featured an extensive list of standard safety equipment under Toyota Safety Sense 2.0: 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. Optional blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert added a layer of safety but wasn’t standard on all trims.

At the time of publication, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class hadn’t received crash-test ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA. However, the significant safety features included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist, a driver-attention monitor, Pre-Safe functions, and Pre-Safe Sound, which emits a “pink noise” to help protect hearing.

Optional safety technologies were extensive, featuring lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera, dashcam, park assist, and two levels of Distronic adaptive cruise control. The more advanced system could resume driving after up to 30 seconds of stopping, though both fell short of Cadillac’s hands-free Super Cruise. Additionally, the C-Class offered Car-to-X communication, sharing real-time information between vehicles, which effectively provided updates, such as warnings about upcoming potholes.