Compact cars have long been the backbone of commuters, entry-level drivers, fans of fuel mileage, and folks looking for something capable and economical. Within the compact car segment, two models have constantly pushed each other harder, and have become ubiquitous with the segment in the minds of drivers across America – the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. It’s a match-up that goes back over 50 years, and in 2024, it’s as competitive as ever.

Both the 2024 Toyota Corolla and the 2024 Honda Civic offer a base edition and a sport edition. In the case of the Corolla, it’s the GR Corolla with a turbocharged three-cylinder engine that can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds. The Honda Civic’s top end Type R edition has more horsepower on tap, however, it hasn’t been able to crack the 5-second barrier, having been tested in the 5.1-second range.

It's not just speed where the Corolla has an advantage – Toyota also offers the Corolla in a hybrid form. Capable of getting up to 50 MPG combined, it provides intelligent power and acceleration. The best fuel economy available in the Civic line-up comes with the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which tops out at 36 MPG combined. Non-hybrid Corolla models get 34 or 35 miles per gallon combined.

Both vehicles eke out roomy exteriors despite having some of the smallest vehicle footprints on the road. There is only a difference of tenths of an inch when it comes to most interior measurement, and both the Corolla and the Civic feature relatively roomy trunks. One of the most notable differences is rear hip room, with the Civic having 48.9 inches and the Corolla offering 51.3 inches, which can certainly make a bit of a difference when you’re trying to use all three seats in the second row.

Similarly, the interiors are smartly laid out and feature quality materials. Both also offer plenty of conveniences and amenities at different trim levels, including heated seating, upgraded upholstery and more. Leather-trim is optional in both vehicles to wrap the steering wheel, although only the Corolla features sports seats for the Nightshade edition.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are standard on both the 2024 Toyota Corolla and the 2024 Honda Civic. However, only the Corolla comes with Amazon Alexa standard. The Corolla also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard on every model, and all Corolla models come with six speakers standard. While the Civic does offer a 9-inch screen, it’s a cost-adding option, as the standard screen is a 7-inch version. The bottom three trim levels of the Honda Civic only come with four speakers, providing a somewhat lackluster audio experience. The Corolla also offers more USB ports – the Honda has a single front port, with a second front console charging port and two second-row ports available. The Corolla has two front and two rear USB-C ports standard.

The latest iteration of the industry-leading safety system, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 is standard on every 2024 Toyota Corolla, including the hybrid and the GR Corolla. This suite of driver-assistive systems includes the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Proactive Driving Assist, Road Sign Assist, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and more. The Civic has the Honda Sensing suite standard, which includes a similar combination of driver-assistive technologies.

Both the 2024 Toyota Corolla and the 2024 Honda Civic offers excellent packages, but the Corolla comes through with everything at a lower price point. Entry-level Corolla models come with an MSRP that is nearly $2,000 below that of the cheapest Civic. At the same time, the Corolla comes with the renowned Toyota reliability – Toyota vehicles are considered the most reliable non-premium brand on the market today, per Consumer Reports.

It's clear that, while both of these are excellent packages, the 2024 Toyota Corolla and the available Corolla Hybrid are more complete than the Honda Civic. Safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and affordable, there’s a reason why the Corolla is constantly at the top of the compact car segment.

If you would like to test drive the new Corolla or Corolla Hybrid please contact us to schedule  an appointment.