2018 Toyota Corolla vs. 2017 Honda Civic

In the automotive world, the compact car segment is one of the most competitive. Buyers are inundated with multiple options from nearly every car brand, bringing the total number of compacts available on the market to staggering numbers.

With so much stiff competition out there, automakers are faced with standing out as the leader of the pack, or disappearing into the crowd of compacts that are doing it better. Two of the top contenders in the compact car segment hail from Japan, and both know exactly what buyers in this competitive class are looking for.

Toyota and Honda are both multinational car manufacturers that are headquartered in their home country of Japan. Both of these big brands have made a name for themselves in the compact segment, thanks to the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. These cars have become household names in the United States and throughout the world, and are worthy of consideration for buyers looking in this densely populated segment.

The rivalry between these two compacts has been in place from the moment they first co-existed on the market. The latest versions of the Corolla and Civic might just be the most competitive yet. Take a look at how the 2018 Toyota Corolla and the 2017 Honda Civic measure up, in this side-by-side comparison.

Price

The newer 2018 Corolla starts at $19,445, while the comparably equipped 2017 Civic comes in a bit higher with a starting MSRP of $20,415. The difference in price between these compacts may not be extreme enough to sway your decision one way or the other, so let’s continue to explore how else these two models stand apart.

Performance

Buyers who are looking for a peppier ride, will likely be happier with the 2017 Civic. While each of these compact sedans come equipped with a four-cylinder engine, the Civic outshines the Corolla with a horsepower rating of 158. The Corolla’s 132 horsepower rating is still impressive, but might not be enough for drivers looking for a bit more excitement in their daily commute. Both cars come with variable valve timing, an independent front suspension, and a standard automatic transmission.

Standard Features

The 2018 Corolla and the 2017 Civic come with their own impressive list of standard features and amenities. While most of these are fairly standard for their class and price point, there are a few standard features that help make these sedans stand out from one another. The 2018 Corolla comes with a CD player, an auxiliary input jack, an on-board computer, illuminated vanity mirrors, an MP3 player, a rear split folding bench seat, rear headrests, a six speaker audio system, and voice activated controls.

These convenience features come standard on the Corolla, but are either missing entirely from the 2017 Civic, or are offered at an additional cost.

Safety Features

The compact sedan segment sees a variety of buyers, including families, commuters, and young teen drivers. Because of this, Honda and Toyota each placed an emphasis on safety in the design of the Corolla and Civic. Both models come with standard 4-wheel ABS brakes, anti-theft protection, automatic headlights, a brake assist system, electronic traction control, front airbags, front side airbags, Hill Start Assist control, passenger airbag cutoff, side curtain airbags, and stability control. Above and beyond this list, the 2018 Corolla base model also adds standard front knee airbags, which are not available on the Civic.

Both of these compact sedans earned a 5-star driver side front crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, while the Civic bested the Corolla in the passenger side front crash test rating, earning a one star higher than the Toyota.

Fuel Efficiency

Compact sedans are typically neck-in-neck when it comes to fuel economy, and that holds true when comparing the 2018 Corolla and the 2017 Civic. The 2018 Toyota Corolla has an EPA rating of 28 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and a combined overall rating of 32 mpg. The 2017 Honda Civic outshines in this area, with an EPA estimated 31 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the highway, and a combined overall rating of 34 mpg. The Corolla has a larger fuel tank of 13.2 gallons compared to the Civic’s 12.4 gallon tank. That extra gallon of fuel might mean the difference between having to stop now, or having the luxury to stop when it's most convenient.

The Honda Civic stands out slightly from the Corolla’s mpg numbers, but these small gaps in efficiency likely aren’t enough to be the final deciding factor in which car to purchase.

Size and Measurements

The compact sedan segment isn’t known for being spacious, but buyers still find value in an interior that offers more room than the competition. The Corolla and Civic are close enough in size, that the subtle differences may go unnoticed by most new car shoppers. The Civic bests the Corolla in terms of cargo volume, with 15.1 cubic feet of space, while the Toyota sedan falls short at 13 cubic feet of total cargo capacity. The Corolla offers rear passengers 41.4 inches of legroom, while Civic passengers can only stretch out 37.4 inches in the backseat.

With the exception of these two areas, the Corolla and Civic are very close in size in every other way.

Which Will You Choose?

Comparing the 2018 Toyota Corolla to the 2017 Honda Civic hopefully shines a light on which compact sedan is right for you and your family. Both of these cars are great options, and are certainly worthy of consideration. Some of the differences between the Corolla and Civic were more subtle than others, but for the price point and standard features, the 2018 Toyota Corolla beats out the 2017 Honda Civic.  

If you are still undecided after reading about each model and checking out pictures, head to the dealership and take each car for a test drive. Sitting behind the wheel and feeling the difference in person, can be the final push you need to make a decision based on your personal preference.