Compare the2023 Honda CivicVS 2023 Toyota Camry

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Camry’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Civic’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 Camry doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Civic and the Camry have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

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 Honda Civic is safer than the Toyota Camry:

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

As tested in Car and Driver the Civic EX/EX-L/Touring 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Camry 4 cyl.:

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

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Civic’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Camry doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Civic has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Camry doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Civic higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Toyota Camry (5 to 7). This means the Civic produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Camry every 15,000 miles.

The Civic offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The Camry doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Civic has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Camry doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Civic stops much shorter than the Camry:

The Civic EX/EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Camry LE’s standard 55 series tires.

The Civic has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Camry doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Civic Touring Sedan handles at .88 G’s, while the Camry XLE pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Civic Touring Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Camry SE (26.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Civic EX/EX-L’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Camry LE’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Civic Sport/Touring’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Camry AWD SE/XLE/XSE’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The Honda Civic may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 500 pounds less than the Toyota Camry.

The Civic Sedan is 1 foot, 1.1 inches shorter than the Camry LE/XLE, making the Civic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Civic Touring Sedan is quieter than the Camry LE (36 vs. 38 dB).

The Civic has 1 inch more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Camry.

The Civic’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Camry TRD doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The Civic’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Camry’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Civic Touring/Sport Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Camry’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the Civic’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Camry’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Civic and the Toyota Camry, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Civic as the 2022 North American Car of the Year. The Camry has never been chosen.