2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Toyota Corolla

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, with its redesigned exterior, initially presented a somewhat aggressive and unconventional appearance, reminiscent of modern Toyotas. However, when equipped with the SE or XSE trim and the appealing Celestite paint, the Corolla transformed into a more visually pleasing compact sedan. The interior of the XSE version showed significant improvements in quality, replacing the previous model's cheap plastics with soft-touch surfaces, although the transmission shifter still reminded drivers of its economy car status. The Corolla's pricing started at $19,600, with the XSE trim reaching around $28,800.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, particularly in the Sport Touring trim, offered a more refined and stylish look. The subtle tweaks to its design, such as body-color crossbars and smoked headlights, enhanced its appeal. The Platinum White Pearl paint on the test car highlighted the Civic's glossy black detailing, earning admiration from onlookers. Inside, the Civic Sport Touring featured stitched leather, soft surfaces, and quality materials, providing a comfortable and quiet cabin experience. The six-speed manual gearbox added to the driving enjoyment, with the Sport Touring trim priced at $28,980.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla offered a range of engine options, starting with a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 139 horsepower for the L, LE, and XLE trims. The SE and XSE trims featured a more powerful 169-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, paired with a sophisticated CVT and paddle shifters. The Corolla XSE's driving dynamics were well-tuned, providing a smooth and stable ride, thanks to its independent rear suspension. However, the lack of a turbocharger limited its acceleration capabilities, especially in dynamic driving situations. The Corolla XSE was EPA-rated at 31 mpg city, 38 highway, and 34 combined, with real-world testing averaging 29.8 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivered 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. The Civic's engine was quiet and refined, offering ample power for confident driving. The Sport Touring trim's six-speed manual transmission provided a unique driving experience, although the clutch travel and gearbox throws were longer than expected. The Civic Hatchback's ride was softer and more compliant than the Civic Si, making it more enjoyable for daily driving. The EPA rated the Civic Hatchback at 32 mpg combined, with real-world testing achieving 32.7 mpg.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, despite being classified as a compact car, offered a surprisingly roomy interior, officially rated as a midsize car by the EPA. However, the lack of rear air-conditioning vents and USB charging ports, along with the low seating position, were drawbacks for passengers. The trunk provided 13.1 cubic feet of space, accommodating several suitcases and bags. The interior lacked storage bins and cubbies, with small cupholders that could still hold large drinks.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback provided 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing the HR-V Touring's capacity. The Civic's interior featured heated leather front seats with ample thigh support, although the passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The rear seats offered good comfort and legroom, but passengers could feel the heat due to the absence of air-conditioning vents and tinted rear glass. The Civic's center console storage area was versatile, with a sliding armrest, tray, and cupholders, accommodating even oversized water bottles.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla came with the Entune 3.0 infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay compatibility but lacking Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with a high-mounted touchscreen, volume and tuning knobs, and main menu access buttons. The XSE trim offered additional features like advanced voice recognition, HD Radio, and a JBL premium sound system. The Corolla's infotainment system included various trial services, such as Safety Connect and WiFi Connect.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in all but the LX trim, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 12-speaker premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. The Civic's technology package included automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock. However, the infotainment system lacked a tuning knob and had limited voice-recognition capabilities.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, offering features like low-light pedestrian detection, daytime cyclist detection, and Lane Tracing Assist. The system generally operated with refinement and accuracy, although the lane-departure warning alert was considered irritating. The Corolla received a 5-star frontal-impact rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback included the Honda Sensing suite, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. However, the system lacked refinement, and the adaptive cruise control occasionally braked unexpectedly. The Civic did not have a blind-spot monitoring system, relying on LaneWatch for the right-side blind spot. The Civic received top marks for crash-test performance but did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to poor headlight performance.