Compare the2025 Honda CivicVS 2024 Toyota Corolla

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Honda Civic have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota Corolla doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Civic are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Corolla doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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

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 Corolla’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Civic Sport Touring Hybrid has a standard Low Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Corolla doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Civic and the Corolla have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors, 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 Corolla:

	Civic	Corolla
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	241 lbs.	243 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	50 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	189/372 lbs.	330/310 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Civic is safer than the Corolla:

	Civic	Corolla
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

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 Corolla:

	Civic	Corolla
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	286 lbs.	330 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda Civic Sedan is safer than the Corolla:

	Civic	Corolla
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	201 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.38 in	1.61 in
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1049 lbs.	1339 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	825 lbs.	1026 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Honda Civic has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Corolla was last only a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023 but no longer qualifies.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Civic has a standard 500-amp battery. The Corolla’s 360-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

The Civic Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 31 more horsepower (200 vs. 169) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 151) than the Corolla’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Civic Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Toyota Corolla:

	Civic	Corolla
Zero to 30 MPH	2.4 sec	2.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	8.2 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.5 sec	13.9 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.1 sec	4.2 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.1 MPH	86.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		MPG
Civic Sedan
	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/47 hwy
	LX 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
Corolla
	LE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	SE/XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy

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

		MPG
Civic Hatchback
	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/45 hwy
Corolla
	LE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	SE/XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Civic Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Corolla doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 (not available Hybrid). The Corolla doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Civic uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Corolla requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

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 Corolla doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Civic	Corolla
Front Rotors	11.1 inches	10.8 inches

The Civic stops shorter than the Corolla:

	Civic	Corolla
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Civic has larger standard tires than the Corolla (215/55R16 vs. 205/55R16). The Civic Sport/Touring’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla (235/40R18 vs. 225/40R18).

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Civic has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Corolla LE has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Civic has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Civic flat and controlled during cornering. The Corolla’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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 Corolla doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Civic’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Corolla (107.7 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

The Civic Sport Sedan handles at .87 G’s, while the Corolla XSE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Civic Sport Touring Hybrid Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Corolla XSE (27.1 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The Civic Sedan is 3.5 inches shorter than the Corolla, making the Civic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Civic has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Corolla uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Civic Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Corolla doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Civic a Mid-size car, while the Corolla is rated a Compact.

The Civic has 10.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla (99 vs. 88.6).

The Civic has 1 inch more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.6 inches more rear legroom and 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla.

Cargo Capacity

The Civic Sedan has a much larger trunk than the Corolla (14.8 vs. 13.1 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Civic has a standard Pushbutton Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. The Smart Key System costs extra on the Corolla.

The Civic’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Corolla’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Civic Sport Hybrid’s standard wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers and the Civic Sport Hybrid Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Corolla SE/Nightshade/XSE’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

The Civic’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Corolla doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The Civic Sport Hybrid/Sport Touring Hybrid’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Corolla doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Compared to the Toyota Corolla, the Honda Civic Touring/Sport Touring eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Civic owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Civic will cost $520 less than the Corolla over a five-year period.

Recommendations

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

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 9 more times in the last 40 years. The Corolla has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.