Toyota Corolla Hybrid

For years, if you wanted a fuel-efficient Toyota hybrid, your choices were the somewhat dorky Prius hatchback or a more expensive option like a Camry, RAV4 or Highlander. Two years ago, the big T debuted the Corolla Hybrid — an electrified version of one of the best-selling cars of all time. Our verdict? Marrying the Prius' thrifty powertrain with the sporty styling of the current-generation Corolla makes this fuel-efficient sedan worth consideration.

That said, unlike its non-electrified counterpart, the Corolla Hybrid is only available in the sparsely equipped LE trim. That keeps costs low, but the cabin feels a little low-rent. Fortunately, the newly available Premium Interior package dresses up the Corolla with Toyota's SofTex imitation leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It's a highly recommended upgrade and should go a long way in making the cabin feel more comfortable.

While the Corolla Hybrid remains a solid pick in the compact hybrid class, some rivals offer a more pleasant driving experience, elevated interior materials or additional rear seat room. Among its direct competitors, we think the Honda Insight and Kia Niro are worth checking out first. But if you're set on an affordable Toyota hybrid, be sure to read out our MatoCar' Expert Rating below to see if the Corolla Hybrid is what you're looking for.

Which Corolla Hybrid does MatoCar recommend?

As its name suggests, the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is an electrified variant of the popular Corolla. It's available only in the sedan body style and solely in the modestly equipped LE trim level. Power comes from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. Total combined output between the two sources is 121 horsepower. The engine and motor power the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. Here's what you'll get:

LE The Corolla Hybrid's only trim level is generously equipped with:

• 15-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Keyless entry and start
• Height-adjustable driver's seat
• Automatic climate control
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Six-speaker sound system
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa compatibility
• Satellite radio
• In-car Wi-Fi hotspot
• Voice recognition

Also on deck is a suite of driver aids that Toyota calls Safety Sense 2.0. It consists of:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Toyota and the car in front)

Optional for the Corolla Hybrid are:

• Premium Interior package
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Imitation leather upholstery
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Also adds heated mirrors