2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 Toyota Corolla

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as stylish as the 2019 Mazda3, still brought its own brand of upscale style. It featured a new gloss-black upper grille, a revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels. The sedan's silhouette was graceful, with a long hood balancing a sizable cabin and short tail, which had unique wraparound LED lights. The Touring-trim test car came with chrome door handles and LED headlights that looked like hundreds of tiny crystals. For 2019, Honda added a new Sport trim with a center-mounted exhaust and some exterior flash of the performance-oriented Si trim for thousands of dollars less.

The Civic Hatchback, listed as a separate model, had a tall and aggressive rear end, while the Coupe model offered a more balanced alternative. The max-attack Civic Type R, available only in hatchback form, was essentially a race car. The interior maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme with a central LCD screen for the tachometer and speedometer, a thin center stack with minimal buttons, and clean, linear lines. Despite a starting price under $20,000, the Civic's fit and finish felt high quality, with switchgear, buttons, and fabrics built to last.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, redesigned with a modern look, was not initially considered pretty. However, when equipped with SE or XSE trim and the attractive Celestite paint color, it became a compact sedan that looked terrific. The Corolla's face was more palatable than other Toyota sedans, and with time, it was expected to grow on people, much like the Honda Civic did.

Inside, the top-of-the-line XSE version showed significant improvements in perceived quality. Soft-touch surfaces replaced the cheap, hard plastics of the previous version. However, the transmission shifter reminded drivers of the Corolla's economy car roots, lacking the solid feel found in Hyundai or Kia models. The Corolla started at a base price of $19,600, with various trims available, including a hybrid version for maximum fuel economy. The XSE trim, with its top option package, could cost around $28,800.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engines. The LX and Sport sedans and coupes came with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The sedans had a standard 6-speed manual transmission, while the coupe's manual was standard only on the Sport. EX and above trims, like the Touring, received a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hatchback exclusively featured the turbo engine, making 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport with a standard manual transmission. Front-wheel drive was the only configuration available for all Civic models.

The Si and Type R models were the real gems, with the Si boosting the 1.5-liter engine to 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R producing 306 hp and 295 lb-ft from a heavily boosted 2.0-liter engine. Both came exclusively with a stick shift. The turbo engine was recommended for its quick response and better mid-range acceleration. The CVT was impressive, simulating gear ratios without straining the engine. The Civic's handling was superb, with excellent steering feel, a well-tuned suspension, and strong brakes, making it a joy to drive.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla offered a tame 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 139 horsepower for the L, LE, and XLE trims, paired with a CVT and 16-inch wheels. The SE and XSE trims added a more powerful 169-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, a sophisticated CVT with paddle shifters, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The SE trim also offered a 6-speed manual gearbox. The Corolla XSE's driving dynamics were expertly tuned, providing a smooth and stable ride with an independent rear suspension.

However, the Corolla XSE lacked adequate sound insulation and steering feedback, though it handled confidently. The brakes were excellent, but the car struggled with acceleration, especially when passing slower vehicles or climbing mountains. The CVT performed unobtrusively during commutes, but the powertrain detracted from the otherwise impressive driving experience. The Corolla SE with the 6-speed manual gearbox was recommended for a more fun driving experience. The XSE trim was EPA-rated at 31 mpg city, 38 highway, and 34 combined, though real-world testing averaged 29.8 mpg.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and five shortcut buttons, making it easier to use than previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display in the instrument panel, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat was surprisingly roomy, with optional two-stage heated outboard seats. Cargo space was significant, with 15.1 cubic feet in the sedan's trunk (14.7 in the Touring trim), 11.9 to 12.1 cubic feet in the coupe, and up to 46.2 cubic feet in the hatchback. The center console offered ample storage, and visibility was good in all directions.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, rated as a midsize car by the EPA, provided a roomy interior. However, the lack of rear air-conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and privacy-tinted rear glass made it uncomfortable for rear passengers. The front seat lacked a height adjuster, making it difficult for shorter drivers. The driver's seat was comfortable, with cloth seat inserts helping to mitigate SofTex's tendency to trap sweat. The back seat was comfortable but had limited headroom for taller passengers. Storage bins and cubbies were lacking, and the trunk offered 13.1 cubic feet of space, enough for a couple of suitcases and additional bags.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while good in 2016, felt dated compared to newer Honda models. The Garmin-based navigation was a standout, with better graphics and quick, accurate voice-based input. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were redeeming features, and the 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo on the Touring trim was improved. Honda's LaneWatch, available on certain trims, provided a live feed of the blind spot, enhancing safety.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla featured the next-generation Entune 3.0 infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with a high-mounted touchscreen, volume and tuning knobs, and main menu access buttons. The voice-recognition system worked well with Apple CarPlay, and wireless device charging was available for XSE and XLE trims. The system included Amazon Alexa compatibility, Siri Eyes Free, and various trial subscriptions for navigation and connectivity services. The Entune 3.0 Plus added advanced features, but the standard setup was sufficient for most users.

The 2019 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing as standard on all trims except the Si and Type R. This suite included forward-collision alert with emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The IIHS rated the Civic with its top Good rating in all six crash tests and Superior for crash-prevention features. The NHTSA awarded the 2019 Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash rating.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included low-light pedestrian detection, daytime cyclist detection, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. The system operated with impressive refinement and accuracy, though the lane-departure warning alert was irritating. The Corolla also had a blind-spot monitoring system, standard on XLE and XSE trims and optional on LE and SE trims. The NHTSA gave the Corolla a 5-star rating for frontal-impact protection, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick for 2019.