2022 Honda Civic vs 2021 Toyota Corolla

The 2021 Toyota Corolla, particularly in its 12th-generation form, was considered one of the most attractive Corollas in recent history. The SE and XSE trims added sporty design elements like sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a twin-outlet exhaust, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Celestite Gray metallic paint with a blue undertone further enhanced its appeal. However, some design aspects, such as the hood shut line and the over-styled rear bumper, detracted from its overall look. The Apex Edition amplified these stranger design elements. The Corolla L, LE, and XLE trims offered a more anonymous look, while the Corolla Hybrid provided an affordable path to 50+ mpg.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Civic adopted a more conservative and plain appearance compared to its predecessor, resembling the larger Accord sedan. The new design aimed for a more tailored and mature look, which might have seemed boring to fans of the previous model. The Civic Touring trim, priced at $29,690 with destination charges, featured the new Morning Mist Blue paint. The Civic Sport, with the HPD appearance package, was estimated at just under $25,880. The interior of the Civic returned to a minimalistic approach, with a span of metal honeycomb mesh running across the dashboard to hide the air vents. The materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflected a maturity that the previous Civic lacked.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE were equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This engine was paired with a Dynamic Shift CVT, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. A six-speed manual gearbox with downshift rev-matching was also available for an extra $200. The Dynamic Shift CVT used a mechanical first gear to eliminate drivetrain slip, and its ten programmed ratios helped hide the typical CVT traits. The Corolla's TNGA platform provided a low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics. The SE and XSE trims featured 18-inch aluminum wheels and 225/40 all-season tires. The Corolla XSE demonstrated predictable handling characteristics and returned an average of 31.1 mpg on a mountainous route, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 34 mpg.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the EX and Touring trims. Both engines were paired with CVTs, featuring new Step Shift programming to mimic traditional automatics. The Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode for quicker responsiveness. The Civic's improved structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and enhanced steering feel made it enjoyable to drive. The Civic Touring returned 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile driving loop, falling short of the EPA's estimate of 34 mpg. The Civic's predictable and trustworthy demeanor made it a satisfying compact sedan for various driving scenarios.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE trim offered numerous upgrades, including SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and eight-way power driver’s seat adjustment. This feature provided added comfort and a commanding driving position. The rear seat cushions offered good support but had tight headroom and legroom, with no air conditioning vents for rear passengers. The Corolla sedan's trunk provided 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback offered 17.8 cubic feet. However, the sedan's trunk lid lacked an inside handle for easier closing.

The 2022 Honda Civic's redesigned front seats offered better support, especially in the leather-lined Touring trim, which featured a power driver’s seat with heating but no ventilation. The front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster but provided excellent thigh support. The Civic's low ground clearance made entry and exit challenging for some, but the back seat offered more legroom than most competitors. The rear seats had excellent thigh support, though the backrest angle might have felt too reclined for some. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents, and the Touring trim lost its heated rear cushions. The redesigned center console had less storage space but more accessible cupholders. The Civic's trunk volume was 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim, and included a small handle for easier closing.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla added Android Auto as standard equipment, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Every Corolla also had a free year of Safety Connect services and a Wi-Fi hotspot for three months or 2GB of data use. The SE and XSE trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with the XSE benefiting from Service Connect and Remote Connect. The SE and XSE also offered a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system, dynamic voice recognition, dynamic navigation, and Destination Assist service. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for radio volume and tuning, and physical shortcut buttons. However, the radio knobs could have extended further for easier grasping, and the JBL sound system lacked clarity.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim's display panel growing to ten inches. This larger panel offered greater customization and a Vehicle Activity display to show the status of the headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. The standard infotainment setup included a 7-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Sport and EX trims had eight speakers, while the Touring trim offered a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 premium surround-sound audio system. The Touring trim also featured a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The voice recognition technology performed well, though the system had a relatively slow load time.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla came with the standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Corolla also added standard rear side-impact airbags and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance occasionally displayed uneven braking and required driver intervention. The 2020 Corolla earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The 2021 model required re-testing due to the addition of new airbags.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured the upgraded Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The new wide-view front camera and eight ultrasonic sonar sensors improved the system's smoothness, accuracy, and refinement. The Civic replaced the LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert for the EX and Touring trims. The Civic's underlying vehicle architecture was stronger, with new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. Honda also included a standard rear-seat reminder system in every 2022 Civic.