In a comprehensive report by Epoch Times on February 7, 2025, Toyota and Honda cars have been popular among global consumers, especially among the global Chinese population. The models of these two Japanese car manufacturers are also competitors. Consumers sometimes struggle to decide which model to purchase.
Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have long been benchmarks in the compact car market, known for their reliability, efficiency, and enduring value. The competition between these two models dates back decades, and today, they remain dominant forces in the compact car sector.
Despite the impact of SUVs, Toyota Corolla has maintained strong global sales. On June 13, 2024, JATO Dynamics, a UK automotive research company, reported that the Toyota Corolla sedan ranked fourth with 803,000 units sold globally, a 19% decrease. In 2023, SUVs accounted for nearly half of global sales.
Honda Civic is a classic top-selling model in the North American market, with a total sales volume of 242,005 units in 2024, winning the prestigious “North American Car of the Year” award. In today’s fiercely competitive compact sedan market, Civic’s performance demonstrates its strong competitiveness.
An article in U.S. News & World Report compared these two cars comprehensively, examining which compact car dominates in interior comfort, performance, and reliability.
Here is a comparison of these two cars in ten aspects.
Winner: 2025 Toyota Corolla
The starting price of the Toyota Corolla is $22,175, which is over $2,000 lower than the Honda Civic’s starting price of $24,250. This pricing trend continues across mid-tier models as well. The Corolla SE sedan is priced at $24,615, while the equivalent Civic Sport sedan is priced higher at $26,250.
Even when moving to higher-end options, the Corolla’s upscale models remain more affordable. For example, the Corolla XSE hatchback is priced at $26,930, while the Civic Si sedan with similar specifications approaches $29,950 (excluding optional features).
Winner: 2025 Honda Civic
Based on J.D. Power’s predicted reliability scores, with 91-100 points being the best, 81-90 points excellent, 70-80 points average, and 0-69 points below average, Civic scored 82 points for predicted reliability, slightly higher than Corolla’s 79 points.
Both cars offer almost identical warranties – three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Both automakers also provide a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Winner: 2025 Honda Civic
Both rows of seats in the Honda Civic offer spacious head and legroom, ensuring even tall adults sitting in the back do not feel cramped.
While the Corolla’s front seats provide ample support, the rear space (especially in the hatchback) may feel a bit tight for passengers during long journeys. Both models come with manually adjustable front seats as standard and offer optional enhancements such as heated front seats and sport seats.
Overall, the Civic’s cabin is more accommodating for all passengers. If this criterion is your top priority, then the Civic is the better choice.
Winner: 2025 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic, a compact four-door sedan, boasts 14.8 cubic feet of trunk space, surpassing the Corolla sedan’s 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space. Opting for the Civic hatchback increases the maximum cargo capacity to 24.5 cubic feet, exceeding the Toyota hatchback’s 23 cubic feet of cargo space.
While both compact cars meet daily needs, Honda’s larger capacity gives it an advantage in this aspect.
Winner: 2025 Honda Civic
The Civic’s interior exudes a higher-end look and feel compared to the Corolla. Honda utilized various premium materials in the cabin, exceeding many people’s expectations for a compact car. Ultimately, the Corolla’s interior aligns more with its emphasis on affordability.
Both cars come with cloth upholstery as standard. The Corolla offers synthetic leather upholstery while the Civic provides leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob in higher trims.
Though neither car reaches luxury car levels, the Civic’s improvements make it a step ahead of the Corolla.
Tie: Both
Both the Corolla and Civic offer modern features drivers expect, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, touchscreen displays, and automatic climate control. Each car has its own strengths.
The standard 7-inch touchscreen in the Corolla matches the Civic’s size, but the Corolla features a larger 10.5-inch touchscreen compared to the Civic’s optional 9-inch display.
However, the Civic’s interface is responsive, with a simple and clear menu layout and convenient physical controls for easy adjustment while on the road. The Corolla’s interface is also good, but some may find it lacking in physical controls and occasionally slow responsiveness.
Winner: 2025 Honda Civic
The Corolla’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produces 169 horsepower and comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The power is adequate most of the time, but may require pressing the accelerator more when merging into high-speed traffic.
The Civic comes standard with a 150-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT. Whether accelerating from a stop or overtaking on the highway, the driver can rely on this combination for smooth and efficient power delivery. For those seeking more powerful performance, the Civic Si’s turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 200 horsepower.
Tie: Both
Both the Civic and Corolla have received praise for their fuel efficiency. The Civic LX sedan achieves up to 32 miles per gallon in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, while the Sport sedan attains 31 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.
On the other hand, the Corolla achieves between 30 to 32 mpg in the city and 38 to 41 mpg on the highway, rivaling the Civic.
Considering these comparable data, neither car clearly outperforms the other.
Winner: Tie
The Honda Civic offers nimble handling, a well-weighted steering system, and a compact suspension, providing a comfortable driving experience for daily use. While not particularly luxurious, it is still comfortable for everyday driving. The Sport Si version enhances performance with sharper handling, tires offering better grip, and a more responsive driving experience.
In contrast, the Toyota Corolla prioritizes driver comfort over handling agility, making it feel less sporty during sharp turns. If you value smooth driving over handling balance, then the Corolla is the better choice. Otherwise, if you prefer a more spirited driving experience than the Corolla, then choose the Civic.
Winner: 2025 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic achieved a safety score of 9.5 out of 10, slightly higher than the Corolla’s 9.3.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted comprehensive crash tests on the Corolla hatchback and Civic sedan, resulting in both receiving an overall safety rating of five stars (out of five).
The Corolla earned five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The Civic received four stars in frontal crash tests and five stars in side and rollover tests.
Both cars offer nearly identical safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and rear-seat reminder, among others.
Winner: 2025 Honda Civic
While both the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have received high praise in many aspects, the Civic emerges as the better choice for most shoppers. It surpasses the Corolla in reliability, seat comfort, cargo space, interior quality, acceleration, and safety. These advantages make it a more comprehensive compact car.
The Corolla, with its competitive pricing and reliable feature list, also exhibits strong competitiveness. However, the Civic’s dynamic handling, upscale feel, and higher ratings in key areas solidify its position as the winner in this comparison.