Compare the2022 Toyota Corolla HatchbackVS 2021 Honda Civic

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Corolla Hatchback has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Civic doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Corolla Hatchback has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Civic doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Corolla Hatchback has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Civic doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Corolla Hatchback (except SE Manual/Nightshade)’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Civic doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Corolla Hatchback’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Civic doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Corolla Hatchback and the Civic have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Hatchback is safer than the Honda Civic:

	Corolla Hatchback	Civic
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	187	201
Neck Compression	50 lbs.	53 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	34%
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/156 lbs.	445/224 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Hatchback is safer than the Honda Civic:

	Corolla Hatchback	Civic
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	204
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	252 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	404
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	68 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	260
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	37 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	727 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla Hatchback for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Honda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Civic.

There are over 16 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Honda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Corolla Hatchback’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fifth.

Engine

The Corolla Hatchback’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (168 vs. 158) and 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (151 vs. 138) than the Civic Sedan’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Hatchback gets better mileage than the Civic Sedan:

			MPG
Corolla Hatchback
	Auto	SE/Nightshade 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
		XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
Civic Sedan
	Auto	2.0 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		Touring 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		Sport 2.0 4-cyl.	29 city/37 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Hatchback gets better mileage than the Civic Hatchback:

			MPG
Corolla Hatchback
	Auto	SE/Nightshade 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
		XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
Civic Hatchback
	Auto	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
		Touring 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		Sport 2.0 4-cyl.	29 city/37 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Corolla Hatchback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Civic Hatchback Sport/Sport Touring requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Corolla Hatchback higher (7 out of 10) than the Honda Civic (3 to 7). This means the Corolla Hatchback produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Civic every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Toyota Corolla Hatchback has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The Civic doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Corolla Hatchback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Civic:

	Corolla Hatchback	Civic
Front Rotors	11.5 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	10.5 inches	10.2 inches

The Corolla Hatchback stops shorter than the Civic:

	Corolla Hatchback	Civic
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver

Suspension and Handling

The Corolla Hatchback XSE handles at .85 G’s, while the Civic Sport Sedan pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Corolla Hatchback XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Civic Sport Sedan (26.9 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

Chassis

The Corolla Hatchback is 5.9 inches shorter than the Civic Sedan, making the Corolla Hatchback easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Corolla Hatchback XSE is quieter than the Civic Sport Hatchback (71 vs. 73 dB).

Passenger Space

The Corolla Hatchback has .2 inches more front hip room and .5 inches more rear headroom than the Civic Sedan.

Cargo Capacity

The Corolla Hatchback has a much larger trunk than the Civic Sedan (17.8 vs. 15.1 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Corolla Hatchback’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. The Civic’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Corolla Hatchback’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Civic LX Sedan’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Corolla Hatchback and the Civic have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Corolla Hatchback is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Civic prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Corolla Hatchback’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Civic’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Corolla Hatchback’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Civic LX/Sport’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corolla Hatchback XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Civic doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Corolla Hatchback’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Civic EX/EX-L/Touring.

Both the Corolla Hatchback and the Civic offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Corolla Hatchback XSE has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Civic doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Honda Civic isn’t available as a wagon.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Corolla Hatchback owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Corolla Hatchback with a number “8” insurance rate while the Civic is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corolla Hatchback is less expensive to operate than the Civic because typical repairs cost less on the Corolla Hatchback than the Civic, including $45 less for a water pump, $143 less for a starter, $101 less for a fuel pump and $163 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Corolla Hatchback as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Honda Civic by 11833 units during the 2021 model year.