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The 2022 Toyota Corolla LE offers better value than the base trim level Corolla L. With more features, a nicer interior, and other upgrades, the LE is a steal at just a few hundred dollars more than the Corolla L.
There are only slight differences between the Toyota Corolla L and the LE, the Corolla’s two least-expensive trim options, but they add up to a better bang for your buck when choosing the LE. Still, both models offer solid (if unspectacular) driving demeanors, plenty of safety, and dependability.
But if you want to get down to the nitty-gritty to discover the differences between the L and the LE, you’ve come to the right place.
Jerry
, the top-rated car insurance
app, has everything you need to know to decide whether a Corolla L or the LE is the best fit and a tip on how to save on your annual Toyota insurance costs.Pricing
If you’re mulling over whether to stick with the Corolla L or to splurge (a relative term) for the LE, there’s isn’t much of a difference in cost for the Corolla’s two lowest trim levels, as seen below:
Model | MSRP |
|---|---|
2022 Toyota Corolla L | $21,450 |
2022 Toyota Corolla LE | $21,900 |
Of course, if you don’t have a dollar to waste, sticking with the Corolla L will be the best choice. However, if you can part with a few hundred extra dollars, going with the Corolla LE is the better buy, as you get more for your money.
The true cost of ownership for both trim levels bears this out. According to Edmunds, the true cost of ownership over five years is very close for the L and. It will cost you $27,833 over five years with the L and $27,985 over five years with the LE—barely a difference. Both figures include your total insurance premium payouts over the same period—$4,459 for Toyota Corolla L insurance costs and $4,542 for Toyota Corolla LE insurance costs.
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If you’re looking for a performance difference between the Corolla L and LE, you won’t find one—both sport the same engine, driving and handling demeanors, and unfortunately-lagging acceleration.
The 2022 Toyota Corolla L and LE trim levels boast the same engine, a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 139 horsepower, and both feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT).If that’s not enough power to whet your whistle, you’ll have to upgrade to either the Corolla SE or XSE, both sportier trim levels that feature a more powerful 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 169 horsepower.
But if “L”is the letter of the day, then you’ll have to live with the L and LE’s less robust power plant. While you won’t wow anyone with the Corolla L or LE’s performance, both trim levels offer solid body control and handling, a pleasant ride, and dependable brakes.Still, the acceleration is anemic, and the engine is loud and unrefined.
If the LE is as high as you can go in terms of your budget, you won’t notice any performance upgrades over the base L Corolla, as their engine specs are identical.
Fuel efficiency
Considering both the Corolla L and LE have identical engines and powertrains, you shouldn’t be surprised that both trim levels offer the exact same fuel efficiency ratings, as outlined below:
Model | Engine | Fuel economy (city/hwy/combined) |
|---|---|---|
2022 Toyota Corolla L | 1.8L four-cylinder (base) | 30/38/33 mpg |
2022 Toyota Corolla LE | 1.8L four-cylinder | 30/38/33 mpg |
2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE | 1.8L four-cylinder | 53/52/52/ mpg |
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversNow, since we here at Jerry do enjoy throwing the occasional curveball (we’re still refining our split-finger fastball—apologies), we’ve included the fuel efficiency rating of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE. If better mileage is what you’re after, the hybrid LE gets a very solid 52 mpg combined. Granted, the gas-powered L and LE are no slouches, offering a decent 33 mpg combined.Of course, upgrading to the hybrid will cost ya—the Corolla Hybrid LE retails for $25,145, several thousand more than either the gas-powered L or LE.
Technology
While the Corolla L and LE are nearly identical, the technology inside the cabin is where they start to differ.
The Corolla L sports a 7-inch touchscreen with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, as well as a separate driver’s information display.
The LE gets you everything the L has and more, including a bigger 8-inch touchscreen, an extra USB port in the rear, and keyless ignition.
A WiFi hotspot is available for both the L and LE via subscription. Both trim levels offer Toyota Safety Sense™, the Japanese automaker’s suite of driver-assistance technology. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, forward collision mitigation, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist.
Reliability
Toyota is renowned for its reliability, and that extends to both the Corolla L and LE trim options.
Both the 2022 L and LE had identical reliability ratings from JD Power, scoring a rating of 82/100. While specific ratings for each trim level weren’t available from RepairPal, they gave the Corolla an overall score of 4.5/5 for reliability. RepairPal also ranks the Corolla first amongst 36 compact cars in terms of reliability.
Interior
The main interior difference between the L and the LE is that while the L has a cloth interior, the LE has premium cloth interiors. Other than that, the interior experience is identical. Both offer a sleek dashboard, cabin surfaces that are soft to the touch, and a decently spacious cabin space.
The interior specifications are the same for both the Corolla L and LE sedan:
Measurement | Toyota Corolla L & LE Sedan |
|---|---|
Cargo volume | 13.1 cubic feet |
Headroom (front seats) | 38.3 inches |
Legroom (front seats) | 42 inches |
Headroom (rear seats) 37.1 inches | |
Legroom (rear seats) | 34.8 inches |
The final word
True, you’ll save a few hundred bucks by sticking with the base Corolla L over the slightly more upscale LE. But for just those few extra dollars, you’ll get a nicer experience with the LE, including a premium interior and more technology features, along with the same Toyota driving assist features. For those reasons, we’d go for the LE, which costs roughly the same amount of money over five years to own as the base L.
How to find cheap car insurance for a Toyota Corolla
While it won’t cost you as much to insure a Toyota Corolla as it would one of the Japanese carmaker’s pickup trucks or SUVs, it will cost you more than necessary if you snap up the first policy offered to you. With the
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FAQs
Is a Toyota Corolla LE bigger than a Toyota Corolla L?
Nope! Both the L and the LE are the exact same size, both coming in at 182.8 inches in length.
Which is better on gas, the Corolla L or LE?
There is no difference—both the L and LE are rated at 33 mpg combined. If you upgrade to the Corolla Hybrid LE, you’ll get significantly better fuel efficiency, with a rating of 52 mpg combined.
Is the Toyota Corolla LE more expensive than the Corolla L?
The Corolla LE is slightly more expensive, starting at $21,900, while the L starts at $21,450. Both offer similar true cost of ownership rates over five years—$27,833 for the L and $27,985 for the LE.
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett.
- Pricing
- Performance
- Fuel efficiency
- Technology
- Reliability
- Interior
- The final word
- How to find cheap car insurance for a Toyota Corolla
- FAQs
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