2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Toyota Corolla

The 2020 Honda Civic was celebrated as a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a blend of affordability and engineering excellence typically associated with luxury brands. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its compact size. The sedan featured an elongated, elegant body with a svelte roofline, while the hatchback had a quirky tall rump. The Civic's exterior was visually stimulating, with body panel creases, wide headlights, and sweeping LED taillights accentuating its low and wide stance. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch materials and a pleasing design. Updates for 2020 included new wheels, bumpers, and lighting, enhancing its already attractive appearance.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Corolla was noted for its attractive design, especially in the SE and XSE trims, which featured sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Celestite Gray metallic paint added to its appeal. However, some design elements, like the hood shut line and over-styled rear bumper, were seen as less cohesive. The Corolla offered a range of trims, including a hybrid version, providing options for different preferences and budgets. The interior of the XSE trim was praised for its quality materials and minimalist design, though it lacked practical storage solutions. Despite some design quirks, the Corolla was considered a competent and appealing compact car.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. Higher trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine producing 174 horsepower, with the hatchback versions offering 180 horsepower. The Civic Si and Type R models provided even more power, with 205 and 306 horsepower, respectively. The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and responsiveness, with the manual transmission offering a particularly engaging driving experience. The Si model featured adaptive dampers and a sportier suspension, while the Type R was noted for its impressive power and handling. Fuel economy varied, with the Si rated at 26 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE trims were equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower, paired with a Dynamic Shift CVT or an optional 6-speed manual transmission. The CVT was noted for its smooth operation, using a mechanical first gear to eliminate typical CVT slip. The Corolla's TNGA platform provided a low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics, with electric steering and a multi-link rear suspension contributing to its handling. While not a sport sedan, the Corolla XSE offered predictable handling and enough power to be engaging. Fuel economy for the XSE was rated at 34 mpg combined, with real-world testing averaging 31.1 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a spacious interior, with the hatchback providing additional sound insulation and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat on EX models. The steering wheel featured controls for the central display and instrument panel, while the center console offered configurable storage options. Rear passengers enjoyed ample space, though the lack of rear air vents was a noted oversight. The Civic's trunk provided 15 cubic feet of cargo space in the sedan, 12 cubic feet in the coupe, and up to 46 cubic feet in the hatchback with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE trim featured SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and an eight-way power driver's seat. The interior was designed for comfort and ease of entry, though rear headroom and legroom were limited. The Corolla's trunk offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, with the hatchback providing 17.8 cubic feet. The lack of a handle on the inside of the trunk lid was a minor inconvenience.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was considered outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on most models. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with Garmin-based navigation on higher trims. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, and LaneWatch, a camera system for blind-spot monitoring. Automatic climate control and Honda Sensing safety features were standard across the lineup.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla offered an impressive infotainment package, with an 8-inch touchscreen on SE and XSE trims. Standard features included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. The XSE trim added Service Connect and Remote Connect, with features like remote engine start and vehicle finder. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical knobs and buttons for easy navigation. The JBL sound system, while offering depth, lacked clarity.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it five stars in most categories, with a four-star rating for the passenger frontal crash in the coupe.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and more. New for 2021 were rear side-impact airbags and a rear cross-traffic warning function. The Corolla's safety systems performed well, though adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance had minor issues. The 2020 model received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with the 2021 model awaiting re-testing due to new airbags.