2020 Honda Civic vs 2020 Toyota Corolla

Performance: The 2020 Honda Civic Sport features a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The engine in the 2020 Toyota Corolla LE is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that only produces 139 horsepower and 126 lb-ft of torque. The engine in the 2020 Honda Civic Sport clearly outperforms the engine in the Toyota Corolla LE.

Exterior Style: While both have moderately attractive exterior designs, the Civic stands out with a bold look that incorporates neat angles, creases and vents that cannot be found in the Corolla. Notable features brought forth in the Honda include a broad black plastic grille, bejeweled headlights on upper trims, a sloping rear roofline and bracket-shaped taillights. While the Toyota gets LED lighting on its upper trims that add exterior appeal, its taillights are connected by a black bar, which is a nod to a popular Japanese design element that dates back to the 1980s and 1990s.

A look inside: The Honda brings forth more energy on its interior, with a wider variety of surfaces than the Toyota and various shapes and materials. Air vents flank the sides of the gauge cluster, and the center infotainment screen is found on the center stack just above the HVAC controls. The cabin also features a generously sized storage shelf which is located ahead of the shifter. By comparison, the Toyota is brought forth with a much more conservative interior, including a dashboard with air vents and oddly the airbag warning lights. The Toyota is dominated by flat surfaces that lack inspiration. In contrast, the Honda boasts an infotainment screen that sits atop the dashboard somewhat like an iPad, which is a popular design trend. Drivers can position this screen without raising the height of the entire dashboard, thus not hindering visibility. Where a comparison is especially helpful and notable is in rear-seat legroom and cargo volume. In these areas, the Honda encompasses 37.4 inches of second row legroom and 15.1 cubic feet of cargo volume. The Toyota is smaller in both of these dimensions, with just 34.8 inches of second row legroom and 13.1 cubic feet of cargo.

Power is key: A look under the hood of the new Honda Civic will reveal a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. Similar to the Toyota, it offers a 6-speed manual on certain trims. But most iterations of the Civic come with a CVT that is good for 30 mph city/38 mph hwy/33 mpg combined. The EX Touring and EX-L models come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4 cylinder. The turbo makes an impressive 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque and in the sedan, comes exclusively with a CVT. The turbo results in better fuel economy, coming in at 32 mpg city/42 mpg hwy/36 mpg combined. The Toyota, by comparison, is offered with two engines, with the basic L and LE models coming with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder putting out 139 horsepower and 126 lb-ft of torque. It returns 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway and 33 mpg in combined driving. The SE models and up come with a more powerful 2.0-liter 4 cylinder engine that makes 169 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque.

Eco-Friendly Design: There's a lot of extensive engineering that has gone into both of these vehicles in order to ensure that they save on gas. You'll find a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT) aboard both of these vehicles. These systems provide an improved fuel economy by providing you with a spectrum of gear ratios to work with so you're always getting the power that's right for you. You'll find it much easier to save gas aboard the Honda Civic, though, thanks to its standard Eco Assist™ System. With this feature, your vehicle will provide a green ring around your speedometer to notify you when you're utilizing an economic driving style. Just keep your speedometer in the green and you'll always know you're saving the most gas possible.

Tech Savvy: While both the Honda and Toyota come with a nice array of technology features, it is important to note what comes standard in the Honda. Noteworthy features offered on the base model Civic LX include 16-inch wheels, automatic climate control and LED running lights. Upper trims reveal such cool features as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, a sunroof, heated front seats, more USB ports and more. Toyota drivers are treated to standard LED lighting as well as a standard 7-inch center infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CaPlay. Upper trims bring forth additional USB ports, an 8-inch center infotainment screen, a 7-inch gauge cluster display, a JBL audio system and more.

Safety & Security

Safety is a cornerstone of a great sedan, and you'll see that the Civic and Corolla come with similar safety suites and driver-assistive technology like Honda Sensing® and Toyota Safety Sense™, which are standard throughout both of their respective lineups. With the Honda Sensing® Suite you can have added peace of mind thanks to features like Lane Keeping Assist System, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Traffic Sign Recognition, and so much more.

Just F.Y.I.