The Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are two of the nation’s most popular cars, and there are good reasons for that. Both deliver economy, reliability, comfort, and safety among their many virtues. They are inexpensive to buy and affordable to own. The two cars feature standard safety features that outclass many luxury-brand models in the Honda Sensing and Toyota Safety Sense suites of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). And when it finally comes to parting ways with either, owners typically find that their resale value is higher than other vehicles in the segment.
Both the 2023 Honda Civic and the 2023 Toyota Corolla are available as 4-door sedans and 4-door hatchbacks. They offer a variety of trim levels, so you can choose a car with a price and equipment level to match your lifestyle. Toyota sells well-regarded hybrid versions of the Corolla, a powertrain choice not matched by the Honda Civic. Honda has offered performance-oriented sub-models like the Civic Si and Civic Type R for several years. Recently, Toyota has equipped some limited-production Corollas to compete for enthusiast drivers. The GR Corolla takes the car to a rarified level of performance.
Of course, typical Civic or Corolla buyers aren’t interested in tire-smoking performance. They want to get to work, the grocery store, and the doctor’s office safely and economically. They want a car they can rely on, which is just what both these models have been offering for decades. Here is a detailed comparison of the 2023 Honda Civic and the 2023 Toyota Corolla.
Reliability and Quality
2023 Toyota GR Corolla
The Honda Civic does not rank among the top three models in the Compact Car segment in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership. The Civic also does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS).
The 2023 Honda Civic has the following warranty, roadside assistance, and scheduled maintenance coverage:
- Standard warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Scheduled maintenance: 2 years or 24,000 miles
The Toyota Corolla ranks highest in the Compact Car segment in the 2022 VDS and second in its segment in the 2022 IQS.
The 2023 Toyota Corolla has the following warranty, roadside assistance, and scheduled maintenance coverage:
- Standard warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Roadside assistance: 2 years and unlimited mileage
- Scheduled maintenance: 2 years or 25,000 miles
Advantage: Toyota Corolla
Performance and Efficiency
2023 Honda Civic Sedan Touring
The same engines found in the previous-generation model power the 2023 Honda Civic. The base engine in the LX and Sport trims is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. It delivers 158 hp and uses a CVT to drive the front wheels. The EX, EX-L Hatchback, Sport Touring Hatchback, and Touring trims use a 180-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder. The Sport and Sport Touring hatchbacks offer a 6-speed manual transmission in addition to a CVT.
In addition to Normal and Eco driving modes, the Sport, Sport Touring, and Touring trims have a Sport mode that provides a performance feel. The Civic Si delivers more zing with a 200-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder; Honda fits it with a 6-speed manual transmission. The Type R is the hottest of the Civics. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine produces 315 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque. It, like the Si, has a 6-speed manual transmission.
The Honda Civic boasts impressive fuel-economy ratings. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a Civic sedan with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine delivers an estimated 33 mpg combined. With the 1.5-liter turbo, fuel economy is even better. The EPA rates the EX sedan at 36 mpg combined. The Civic Hatchback models are less fuel-efficient. The EPA rates the Sport Hatchback at 29 mpg combined with the manual transmission and 32 mpg combined with the CVT. With the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, the Civic Hatchback turns in 35 mpg combined. The EPA rates the Civic Si at 31 mpg combined and the high-performance Civic Type R at 24 mpg combined.
In a headline-grabber for 2023, Toyota drops the previous 1.8-liter base engine and replaces it with a more powerful 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine the company also uses in the 2023 Toyota Corolla hatchback. It delivers 169 hp—an increase of 30 hp versus the previous base engine. A fuel-economy-oriented CVT drives the front wheels.
Toyota equips the hybrid models with the most interesting powertrains. The front-drive hybrids combine a 138-hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with a 93-hp permanent synchronous magnet electric motor. The AWD hybrids add a 40.2-hp rear motor driving the rear axle. The added 30 hp in the conventionally powered Corollas improves their overall drivability significantly versus the previous model-year Corollas. That said, the AWD hybrids are arguably the most satisfying to drive. The quick-acting torque of the electric motors smooths overall operation and comes in handy at tip-in. The GR Corolla has an entirely different feel with its turbocharged 1.6-liter 3-cylinder engine squeezing out 300 hp and up to 295 pound-feet of torque.
The Corolla hybrids are the fuel economy champs. According to the EPA, a front-drive Corolla hybrid sedan will deliver an estimated 50 mpg combined. With AWD, fuel economy drops slightly to 48 mpg combined. The conventionally powered Corolla sedan and hatchback models have similar fuel-economy estimates. The EPA rates the LE sedan and SE hatchback at 35 mpg combined with the CVT. The performance-minded GR Corolla gets 24 mpg combined.
Advantage: Toyota Corolla
Safety and Driving Assistance
2023 Toyota Corolla XSE
The 2023 Honda Civic offers an extensive list of ADAS grouped under the Honda Sensing banner. The systems included in Honda Sensing differ somewhat by configuration. Standard Honda Sensing in the Civic sedan includes forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-centering assistance. Lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, and traffic-sign recognition also join the array.
The Civic Hatchback and Civic Si offer the same basic equipment, but the manual transmission cars don’t have low-speed follow as part of their adaptive cruise control. The Civic Type R has the most extensive standard Honda Sensing gear list. In addition to the previously mentioned systems, it features a blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic warning.
The 2023 Honda Civic benefits from improvements to systems in the Honda Sensing suite. A new single camera provides a wider field of view than the previous radar-and-camera-based automatic emergency braking system. According to Honda, it can more quickly and accurately identify pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles. Honda’s traffic-jam assist, which leverages the car’s standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance systems, feels less intrusive.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded 5-star overall ratings to all versions of the Civic except the Type R, which it has yet to rate. Meanwhile, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Civic its highest rating, naming the 2023 Civic a Top Safety Pick+.
Toyota was one of the leading brands in the “democratization” of electronic ADAS. For 2023, the automaker enhanced its Toyota Safety Sense system to level 3.0. It includes upgraded versions of its pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning is standard on the 2023 Toyota Corolla XSE and available as a package on other trims. In addition, front and rear parking assist with automatic braking and adaptive front lighting are available on some Corolla trims.
The NHTSA awarded 5-star overall ratings to all Corolla variants except for the GR Corolla, which it has yet to rate. The IIHS has not yet rated the 2023 Corolla, but it gave the structurally similar 2022 Corolla its highest rating—Top Safety Pick+.
Advantage: Neither
The Civic and the Corolla offer a comprehensive list of standard advanced safety equipment. Both cars also receive top ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS.
Infotainment and Technology
2023 Honda Civic Sedan Touring
Honda’s infotainment systems have markedly improved in the past few years. Sport, Sport Hatchback, EX, and EX-L Hatchback trims of the 2023 Honda Civic have a standard 7-inch touchscreen, accompanied by power/volume and tuning/selection knobs. A row of buttons lets users skip music tracks, navigate the audio menu, and select among phone, radio, Bluetooth, and USB media. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto require a wired connection. The standard audio system has 8 speakers.
The Touring, Sport Touring Hatchback, Si, and Type R get a 9-inch touchscreen with a volume knob. Mode selections are at the bottom of the touchscreen, and there’s a finger rest. Sirius XM satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard with the larger touchscreen, but the unit lacks a tuning knob. The larger touchscreen system also has the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System that features voice recognition and real-time traffic. The system incorporates a Bose premium audio system with 12 speakers and an 8-inch subwoofer.
As part of a mid-cycle upgrade, Toyota equips all 2023 Corollas with its new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, engineered by Toyota’s Texas-based Connected Technologies team. The system uses an 8-inch touchscreen but also facilitates voice activation. It responds to natural-voice phrases after being awakened by saying, “Hey, Toyota.” Via voice, users can get directions, find points of interest, adjust audio controls, and change the climate control settings.
Toyota Audio Multimedia enables standard dual Bluetooth phone connectivity, HD Radio, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Cloud navigation gives users access to the latest maps. Users opting for the subscription Drive Connect connected services can access intelligent assistance and destination assistance. An available Wi-Fi Connect subscription offers 4G connectivity for up to five devices.
The standard audio system has 6 speakers. The Corolla SE, XSE, and XLE offer an optional 9-speaker JBL premium audio system with an 800-watt amplifier and 10-inch subwoofer.
Available with a subscription after a trial period, Safety Connect includes an emergency assistance button (SOS), 24/7 roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, a stolen-vehicle locator, and collision assistance. A three-year trial of Service Connect offers owners vehicle health reports, maintenance alerts, and reminders.
Advantage: Toyota Corolla
Comfort and Utility
2023 Toyota Corolla XSE
One of the most important benefits of the 2023 Honda Civic’s interior is its all-around comfort. The interior of the 5-passenger Civic is among the largest in the segment. Accordingly, four adults or a young family won’t feel confined during a long drive. Also, a pair of child safety seats will easily fit in the rear seating area.
While Honda interiors have generally been more functional than attractive, the interior of the Civic is both. The well-designed dashboard integrates vents into a retro mesh treatment below the high-mounted infotainment screen. The heating/ventilating/air conditioning controls reside right below.
The 2023 Civic sedan provides 14.8 cubic feet of trunk space, while the Civic Hatchback offers 24.5 cubic feet of luggage space with both rows of seating in use. The Honda Civic Si has 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space plus a degree of swagger. The Civic Type R has the same 24.5 cubic feet of luggage area as the other hatchbacks, plus even more swagger.
No one will mistake the 2023 Toyota Corolla’s interior for that of a limousine, but it is comfortable and well-designed. A sea of high-quality plastic in a matte finish and contrasting gloss piano black confronts occupants. The center console is not especially wide but houses graduated-height cupholders and a storage array. Buyers can equip the XSE with a Qi wireless device charging pad as part of an optional package.
Toyota covers the seats in many Corolla trim levels with cloth, while the higher trims get SofTex simulated leather. Front bucket seats in the SE and XSE trims have thigh and shoulder bolsters reminiscent of racing seats.
A high-mounted 8-inch touchscreen that is standard across the lineup dominates the dash. Most Corollas have a configurable 4.2-inch information display sandwiched between the tachometer and speedometer. The XSE trim has a 7-inch digital gauge cluster.
The Corolla sedan has less interior space than the Civic sedan, as the EPA measures it. Trunk space in the Corolla sedan is 13.1 cubic feet, while the hatchback offers 17.8 cubic feet or 23.0 cubic feet for those who eliminate the spare tire and opt for the added cargo space while relying on a tire repair kit—or AAA.
Advantage: Honda Civic
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