2021 Honda Civic Vs. 2021 Toyota Corolla: Which is Better?

The Honda Civic has always been one of the top competitors of the Toyota Corolla, but for the 2021 models, it’s hard not to prefer the Civic.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
While they’ve always been tight competitors, the 2021 Toyota Corolla and 2021 Honda Civic have plenty in common—and even more that differs between them. Both were offered as compact hatchbacks or sedans, and both are powered by small inline-4 engines.
One thing you won’t find with the 2021 Toyota Corolla is performance-level options that can compete with the Civic Si or Civic Type R. On the other hand, the 2021 Toyota Corolla was available as a hybrid, while all of the 2021 Civics have all-gas powertrains.
But there’s far more between these two similar Japanese cars than this, and
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Pricing

MSRPs for entry-level trims of these two models were about $2,000 apart, with the 2021 Toyota Corolla being the more affordable option.
Pricing for used 2021 models of the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic shapes up as follows, although we’ve simplified the Toyota Corolla’s list, cutting things like Nightshade Edition and Apex packages. It is also of note that the
2021 Toyota Corolla hatchback was available in SE or XSE trim
.
Model
Approx. used price
Model
Approx. used price
2021 Toyota Corolla L
$20,000
2021 Honda Civic LX Sedan
$21,000
2021 Toyota Corolla LE
$20,000
2021 Honda Civic Sport Sedan
$23,000
2021 Toyota Corolla SE
$23,000
2021 Honda Civic EX Sedan
$25,000
2021 Toyota Corolla XLE
$24,000
2021 Honda Civic EX-L Sedan
$26,000
2021 Toyota Corolla XSE
$25,000
2021 Honda Civic Touring Sedan
$28,000
2021 Toyota Corolla XSE Hatchback
$24,000
2021 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hatchback
$29,000
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Note that the Toyota Corolla hatchback was available in SE or XSE trim, as well as the Nightshade Edition.
Looking at true cost of ownership, Edmunds gives the 2021 Corolla a True Cost to Own price of $37,242, while the Civic is almost the exact same, at $37,254. So while the initial cost of the Civic is higher, you may spend less on long-term recurring costs over the course of five years.
Over the course of five years, drivers will pay about $7,000 for
Honda Civic LX Car insurance
, while they’ll pay about $7,300 for
Toyota Corolla LE insurance
.

Performance

The 2021 Honda Civic has far more exciting performance ability than the Toyota Corolla, especially when you consider its factory performance upgrades that make it a
Civic Si
or a
Type R
. The 2021 Corolla doesn’t offer any performance models of this sort.
If we’re talking about the basics, The 2021 Honda Civic’s base-model  2.0-liter inline-4 engine offers 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. In comparison, the Toyota Corolla’s similar 2.0-liter I-4 offers 168 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, but this isn’t the base engine for the 2021 Corolla.
Instead, the base-model Corolla is equipped with a weaker, 139-horsepower 1.8-liter inline-4with 126 pound-feet of torque, using about the same amount of gas as the Civic’s base engine while producing 19 horsepower less. The 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid also delivers disappointing engine power, offering a total horsepower output of only 121.
And as we’ve mentioned, there’s no 2021 Corolla model that can level with the 174-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged I-4 of the higher Civic trims, let alone the 205-hp Honda Civic Si and the 306-hp Type R.
Even in their most basic forms, it’s well-agreed-upon that the handling and power of the 2021 Honda Civic outmatch the 2021 Corolla’s middling-at-best performance.

Fuel efficiency

Between these two models, you can’t beat the fuel efficiency of the 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Otherwise, the two models are extremely close to one another, the
Toyota Corolla SE
automatic just barely taking up the second place spot with its 2.0-liter engine.
Model
Engine
Fuel economy (city/hwy/combined)
2021 Toyota Corolla
1.8L four-cylinder (base)
30/38/33 mpg
2021 Toyota Corolla
2.0L four-cylinder
31/40/34 mpg
2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
1.8L four-cylinder
53/52/52/ mpg
2021 Honda Civic
2.0L four-cylinder (base)
30/38/33 mpg
2021 Honda Civic
1.5L four-cylinder turbo
29/38/33 mpg
Keep in mind that manual transmission versions of both of these vehicles get about 1 mpg less than their automatic counterparts.

Technology

The 2021 Toyota Corolla has a very user-friendly console, but the Honda Civic offers more tech extras.
Each comes standard with their company’s respective suite of safety features, including things like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane assist.
Both have similar standard touchscreen infotainment systems. The Civic’s higher trims offer an upgrade from a standard 5-inch to a 7-inch screen, while the Corolla’s standard screen size is 7 inches with an available upgrade to an 8-inch monitor.
The Honda Civic returned a much-needed volume knob to their center console, while the Corolla maintains plenty of extra analog buttons and knobs that make it easier and less distracting to control the various functions of your car. For this reason, the 2021 Toyota Corolla wins in this category.

Reliability

The Toyota Corolla is the #1-rated compact car for reliability according to RepairPal, which gives it a 4.5 out of 5.0 rating. The Honda Civic gets the same rating, but achieves a 3rd place ranking.
Furthermore, J.D. Power gives the 2021 Honda Civic an 82/100 for Quality and Reliability, while the Toyota Corolla gets 85/100.

Interior

The
2021 Honda Civic interior
is more upscale and comfortable compared to the 2021 Toyota Corolla interior. The Civic offers 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, while the Corolla’s is only 13.1 cubic feet. 
If you’re looking for faux-leather upholstery, you’ll want to find a 2021
Corolla XLE
or
XSE
, which features the Toyota SofTex that has graced higher Toyota trims for quite some time.
In terms of comfort, the Honda Civic wins out. Not only does the 2021 Civic’s interior feel much more sleek and upscale than the Corolla’s, its seats are also more supportive. This helps compensate for the more responsive and exciting handling of the Civic.
In terms of passenger seating, here’s how the interior dimensions of both models compare:
Measurement
Toyota Corolla Sedan
Toyota Corolla Hatchback
Honda Civic Sedan
Honda Civic Hatchback
Cargo volume
13.1 cubic feet
17.8 cubic feet
14.8 cubic feet
24.5 cubic feet
Headroom (front seats)
38.3 inches
38.4 inches
39.3 inches
39.3 inches
Legroom (front seats)
42 inches
42 inches
42.3 inches
42.3 inches
Headroom (rear seats) 37.1 inches
37.6 inches
37.1 inches
37.1 inches
Legroom (rear seats)
34.8 inches
29.9 inches
37.4 inches
37.4 inches
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Overall, the Honda Civic Sedan offers the most space for passengers, while the Honda Civic Hatchback easily wins out in the cargo capacity category.

The final word

These models both have plenty to offer despite their compact size and affordable pricing, but the 2021 Honda Civic is the better choice over the 2021 Toyota Corolla.The things about the Civic that swayed this decision are its better prioritization of space and comfort, far more enjoyable driving manners, and cheaper long-term costs of ownership.
But this doesn’t mean that the Toyota Corolla is a poor choice. If you’re in need of a hybrid, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is a great alternative to the gas-only Honda Civic.

How to find cheap car insurance for a Honda Civic

Compared to larger, more expensive models,
Honda Civic car insurance
is fairly affordable, but if you’re driving a newer vehicle, average insurance costs for any car can feel quite high—and they are!
That’s where
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FAQs

A 2021 Toyota Corolla sedan has a length of 182.3 inches and a wheelbase of 106.3 inches. The 2021 Civic sedan has a length of 182.7 inches and a wheelbase of 106.3 inches, making the Honda Civic slightly bigger by about half an inch.
Fuel efficiency is pretty much the same between the two models’ all-gas versions, although the Corolla Hybrid is the best at conserving fuel among all of them.
The Honda Civic costs about $2,000 more, but it does have a lower projected cost of ownership over five years, according to Edmunds.
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