2023 Toyota Corolla vs Honda Civic: Battle of the Compact Sedans

Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla

Table of Contents

Compact sedans are a popular choice for many car buyers, offering the perfect balance of efficiency, affordability, and practicality. In this segment, two names have consistently stood out: the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic. With the release of their 2023 models, the competition is as fierce as ever. So, which compact sedan is the better option? Let’s break it down and find out.

Performance

The 2023 Toyota Corolla comes with two engine options: a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 139 horsepower and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 169 horsepower. Both engines come standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), although the 2.0-liter variant also offers a 6-speed manual transmission option.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda Civic has three powertrain options: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower, a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder producing 180 horsepower, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder in the Civic Si, delivering an impressive 205 horsepower. The base engine is mated to a CVT, while the turbocharged engines offer a choice between a CVT or a 6-speed manual transmission.

When it comes to performance, the Honda Civic has a slight edge, offering more horsepower in each of its engine options.

Fuel Efficiency

Both the Corolla and the Civic are known for their fuel efficiency. The 2023 Corolla boasts EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway for the base 1.8-liter engine, while the 2.0-liter engine achieves 31 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.

The 2023 Honda Civic’s base 2.0-liter engine returns an EPA-estimated 31 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, while the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine offers an impressive 33 mpg city and 42 mpg highway. The performance-oriented Civic Si gets a slightly lower 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

When it comes to fuel efficiency, the Civic’s turbocharged engine gives it a slight advantage over the Corolla.

Interior & Features

Standard features in both models include touchscreen infotainment systems, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a suite of advanced driver-assist technologies. The Civic, however, offers more upscale features on higher trim levels, such as a digital instrument cluster, wireless smartphone charging, and a premium audio system.

Seating

Both the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic offer comfortable seating for up to five passengers, with well-designed interiors that provide ample space for occupants.

The Corolla features cloth upholstery as standard, with higher trims offering SofTex-trimmed sports seats for added comfort and style. The front seats are designed with adequate support and are available with power-adjustable and heated options. Rear passengers benefit from a comfortable bench seat with sufficient legroom and headroom. However, taller passengers might find the rear headroom slightly limited due to the sloping roofline.

The Civic provides a more spacious cabin compared to the Corolla, with increased legroom and headroom for rear passengers. Cloth upholstery is standard, with higher trims featuring leather-trimmed seats and heated front and rear outboard seats. 

The Civic’s front seats offer excellent support and are available with power-adjustable and ventilated options. The rear seats provide more space than the Corolla, making the Civic a more comfortable choice for taller passengers.

In the seating category, the Honda Civic has a slight advantage over the Toyota Corolla due to its more spacious cabin and additional seat options, such as ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats.

Trim Levels

Both the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic offer a variety of trim levels, allowing buyers to choose the configuration that best suits their needs and preferences.

2023 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla is available in six trim levels:

  • L: The base trim features a 1.8-liter engine, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite.
  • LE: Adds an 8-inch touchscreen, premium fabric-trimmed seats, and automatic climate control.
  • SE: Upgrades to a 2.0-liter engine, sporty exterior styling, SofTex-trimmed sports seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
  • XLE: Builds on the LE trim with SofTex-trimmed heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, blind-spot monitoring, and a power moonroof.
  • XSE: Combines the features of the SE and XLE trims, adding sport-tuned suspension, paddle shifters, and an upgraded audio system.
  • Hybrid LE: Comes with a hybrid powertrain for improved fuel efficiency, along with most features found in the LE trim.

2023 Honda Civic

The Civic is available in five trim levels:

  • LX: The base trim features a 2.0-liter engine, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and the Honda Sensing suite.
  • Sport: Adds a sporty exterior appearance, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and a rear spoiler.
  • EX: Upgrades to a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, an 8-inch touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power moonroof, and heated front seats.
  • EX-L: Builds on the EX trim with leather-trimmed seats, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
  • Touring: The range-topping trim includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, a digital instrument cluster, a premium audio system, and ventilated front seats.

In the trim levels category, both the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic offer a wide range of options to cater to various preferences. The choice ultimately depends on the buyer’s priorities, with the Corolla offering a hybrid option for fuel-conscious drivers and the Civic featuring slightly more upscale features on higher trims.

Storage & Accessibility

Both the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic offer practical storage solutions and accessibility features designed to meet the needs of compact sedan buyers.

The 2023 Toyota Corolla features multiple storage spaces throughout the cabin, including a generously-sized glovebox, door pockets with integrated bottle holders, and a center console with cupholders and a storage bin. Rear passengers also benefit from a fold-down armrest with cupholders. The Corolla’s 60/40 split-folding rear seats allow for additional cargo flexibility, making it easier to accommodate longer items when necessary.

The 2023 Honda Civic also offers ample storage options, with door pockets, a spacious glovebox, and a center console with cupholders and a storage compartment. The Civic further boasts additional storage nooks, such as a tray under the center console and a multi-functional center armrest. Like the Corolla, the Civic comes with 60/40 split-folding rear seats, increasing cargo capacity when needed.

In terms of accessibility, both the Corolla and Civic have well-designed cabins with easy-to-reach controls and user-friendly infotainment systems. 

Both vehicles feature power-adjustable driver’s seats, tilt and telescoping steering wheels, and keyless entry with push-button start on higher trim levels. Rear seat accessibility is comparable in both models, with wide door openings and ample legroom, making it easy for passengers to enter and exit the vehicles.

While both the 2023 Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic excel in storage and accessibility, the Civic’s additional storage nooks and slightly more spacious interior give it a minor advantage in this category.

Safety & Driver Assistance

Safety and driver assistance features are crucial aspects of modern vehicles, and both the 2023 Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic excel in these areas, offering a comprehensive suite of advanced technologies to protect occupants and assist drivers.

The 2023 Toyota Corolla comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which includes a range of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Key features include:

  • Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
  • Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
  • Automatic High Beams
  • Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
  • Lane Tracing Assist
  • Road Sign Assist

Higher trim levels of the Corolla also offer blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, providing additional driver assistance.

The 2023 Honda Civic is equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist technologies as standard across all trim levels. These features include:

  • Collision Mitigation Braking System
  • Road Departure Mitigation System
  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
  • Lane Keeping Assist System
  • Traffic Sign Recognition
  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Lane Departure Warning

Additionally, the Civic offers blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic monitor and parking sensors on higher trim levels.

Both the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic have received high safety ratings from organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reflecting their commitment to safety.

When it comes to safety and driver assistance features, the 2023 Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are closely matched, with both offering a wide array of advanced technologies as standard equipment. Buyers can feel confident in the safety of either compact sedan, as both manufacturers have made safety a top priority in their vehicles.

Pricing & Value

The 2023 Toyota Corolla starts at $20,925 for the base L trim, while the top-of-the-line XSE trim starts at $26,725. The 2023 Honda Civic starts at $22,350 for the base LX trim, and the range-topping Touring trim starts at $28,300. Both vehicles offer excellent value for their price, but the Corolla has a slightly lower starting price.

Features Breakdown

Here’s a features breakdown for the 2023 Toyota Corolla and 2023 Honda Civic:

2023 Toyota Corolla

Standard Features:

  • 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine (139 horsepower) or 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine (169 horsepower)
  • Continuously variable transmission (CVT) or 6-speed manual transmission (2.0-liter engine only)
  • 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
  • Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite (Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beams, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist)
  • LED headlights and taillights
  • Cloth or SofTex-trimmed seats
  • Automatic climate control (LE trim and above)
  • Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (XLE trim and above)
  • Power moonroof (XLE trim and above)
  • Sport-tuned suspension and paddle shifters (XSE trim)

Optional Features:

  • Upgraded audio system
  • Wireless charging
  • Navigation system

2023 Honda Civic

Standard Features:

  • 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine (158 horsepower) or 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (180 horsepower)
  • Continuously variable transmission (CVT) or 6-speed manual transmission (turbocharged engines only)
  • 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
  • Honda Sensing suite (Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Traffic Sign Recognition, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning)
  • LED headlights
  • Cloth or leather-trimmed seats
  • Dual-zone automatic climate control (EX trim and above)
  • Heated front seats (EX trim and above)
  • Power moonroof (EX trim and above)
  • Blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic monitor (EX-L trim and above)
  • Parking sensors (Touring trim)

Optional Features:

  • Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (Touring trim)
  • Wireless charging (Touring trim)
  • Digital instrument cluster (Touring trim)
  • Premium audio system (Touring trim)
  • Ventilated front seats (Touring trim)

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the 2023 Toyota Corolla and 2023 Honda Civic are both strong contenders in the compact sedan segment, offering a mix of performance, fuel efficiency, comfort, and safety. While the Toyota Corolla has a slightly lower starting price and a hybrid option, the Honda Civic edges ahead in terms of performance, fuel efficiency, interior space, and available features.

Ultimately, the choice between the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic will come down to individual preferences and priorities. Buyers looking for a more budget-friendly option or a hybrid powertrain may lean towards the Corolla, while those who prioritize performance, a more spacious cabin, and a wider range of upscale features may prefer the Civic.

Both vehicles have earned their reputations as reliable, practical, and efficient compact sedans, making either choice a solid investment for car buyers. We recommend test driving both models to determine which one best meets your needs and preferences before making a decision.

About Marcus The Car Guy

I've been in car sales and finance for over 20 years, working at the highest volume dealerships in the nation including Fletcher Jones, DCH and more. Want to pick my brain on finding cars, negotiating cars, and structuring car deals?

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