What is best, Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla?
   2014 Honda Civic Touring vs 2014 Toyota Corolla S. Click image to enlarge |
Originally published March 12, 2014
Review and photos by Jonathan Yarkony
It’s long past due for us to wade into this age-old rivalry between the Civic and Corolla, two of the bestselling cars in Canada year after year. What makes them so successful? Canadians love value, and the compact segment provides the bare necessities for practicality at the lowest possible price, and because of their popularity, manufacturers are able recoup the costs of high-tech features through economies of scale. Doesn’t hurt that both these iconic compacts are built right here in Canada, the Civic in Honda’s Alliston, Ontario facility and Corollas at a Toyota plant not far from there in Cambridge, Ontario.
Honda has sold no less than 55,000 Civics each of the past 10 years in Canada alone (and as many as 72K in 2008) and last year over 64,000. The Corolla hasn’t quite been able to keep up in Canada usually 10-20K behind the Civic (as little as 36K in 2011, as much as 57K in 2008, and 44,449 last year). In the US, it’s more of a back and forth affair with the Corolla on top some years and the Civic in others, both selling over 300,000 units in the States last year.
The Corolla has always been the safe bet, a practical appliance that promised excellent fuel efficiency, reliability and resale value. For 2014, the Corolla is reimagined as a stylish, sophisticated car that goes beyond logic and necessity. It actually looks nice!
The Civic has a much more colourful past, the cornerstone of the 90s tuning craze giving it street cred that went far beyond its anemic engines and used the reliable bones and engaging drive to create budget driver’s cars. Okay, credit where credit is due: the Corolla also has a cult following for one generation in its history – 1983-1987 Corolla rear-wheel-drive variants, known by its AE86 generation code, which was the car of choice for many racers during the evolution of drifting and immortalized in a cartoon series. This car has nothing to do with the Corolla you see before you.
Anyhow, here in the real world, Corollas are now exclusively front-wheel drive, as are the Civics with which they compete for sales and attention of consumers. Both are powered by variable-valve-timing 1.8L four-cylinder engines, and for our test, we secured two high-trim models, both provisioned with CVT transmissions, and both within $1,000 of each other when all the options were accounted for.
We set out to discover which of these provides the best combination of performance, practicality, ease of use, value and affordability.
Performance
Don’t worry, we’re not going to talk about handling at the limit or enthusiast-oriented aspects of the driving experience. No, we’re far more concerned with how this car performs as a simple commuter and possibly a family car in a pinch.
As mentioned, both the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic have a 1.8L inline-four under the hood, our testers with the new CVT transmissions each company offers for the first time this model year.
The Civic has an edge in power, with 143 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque, but with an extra 40 kg it shows little of its 11-hp advantage on the road, and that CVT seems a work in progress. Where the CVT in the Honda Accord is brilliant and superior to conventional automatics in its class, here it is shown up by a clever multi-mode CVT in the Corolla.
   2014 Honda Civic Touring vs 2014 Toyota Corolla S. Click image to enlarge |
The Corolla we tested was the S model, its 132 hp and 128 lb-ft hardly sporty, but the CVT manages to control its lurching revs when accelerating, something that cannot be said for the Civic. The Corolla’s CVT also offers a manual mode with seven simulated gears and paddle shifters to play with them. It’s not crucial for this segment or its mission, but it was handy on occasion.
Far more important than paddle shifter is ride quality. Both Jacob and I found the Corolla’s ride a tad more forgiving, although I found the Civic a touch quieter in controlling the thumps from road imperfections absorbed by the suspension. Of course, for years the darling of the sporting set (and engineered to be the basis for the hotter Si versions) the Civic’s handling and steering were superior in both feel and accuracy, although frankly we don’t feel that will be a priority to the majority of consumers. However, it is worth noting that the Corolla has closed the gap considerably in this area, offering decent steering weight and neutral, stable handling in typical conditions and speeds. Just don’t push it.
Of greater concern to the average consumer is fuel consumption. The EPA suggests that the Civic should come out ahead, its combined rating 7.1 L/100 km to the Corolla’s 7.4, but on our back-to-back driving loops, the Civic posted an 8.9 while the Corolla finished at 7.9, and after driving them for the rest of the week, both went up slightly though the gap remained.
For what it gives up in power, the Corolla is the smoother, more efficient and perfectly capable performer for everyday driving needs.
Practicality
Okay, these are both compact sedans, so there are slim pickings when it comes to finding differences between the two, but let’s see what the tale of the tape tells us.
The Corolla is longer (4,639 to 4,556 mm), wider (1,776 to 1,752) with a longer wheelbase (2,700 to 2,670) and higher roof (1,455 to 1,435). This means more room in both rows and the trunk for Corolla, though here the difference is negligible – a mere 16 L separating the two and nearly identical openings, and both offer 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The Civic has nifty seat-dropping handles in the trunk.
   2014 Honda Civic Touring. Click image to enlarge |
From the human perspective, the Corolla feels more spacious and an almost flat floor and bench seat mean moderate comfort optimized for three people rather than the more deeply sculpted outboard positions in the Civic offering superior comfort for two passengers. Jacob also found that squeezing between two car seats was easier in the Corolla if you have children of the car-seat ages and sometimes carry extra passengers.
 2014 Honda Civic Touring. Click image to enlarge |
Up front, despite the Civic’s leather to the Corolla’s SofTex simulated leather, the Corolla thrones impressed us as much as they did in our Mega Comparison Test of Compact Cars. Just the right amount of contouring and bolstering mean they wrap around you like a warm embrace and promise seemingly endless comfort. The Civic seats are passable, but the headrest seems canted too far forward and pushes your head forward uncomfortably.
Both have decent cupholders in the centre console and convenient access to the USB with a small tray ahead of the shifter for smartphone storage.
And while the Civic has some issues regarding its operating system, there is no question that the two-tier gauges are clear and effective, your speed always in the lower edge of your forward vision and the tach large and clear, plus a secondary information screen to the right of the speedo, while the Corolla features conventional two-bin gauge layout with tach on the left and speed on the right, with information sandwiched between the two in a small screen. The Civic steering wheel has always been lovely for this class, but now the Corolla’s is lovelier and the steering wheel controls simply felt more obvious and intuitive.
While the Civic does some of the little things better, again the Corolla seems like it would be easier to live with over the long haul.
    2014 Honda Civic Touring & 2014 Toyota Corolla S. Click image to enlarge |
Ease of Use
For ease of use, we considered two separate areas, the driving experience and the car’s infotainment and interior controls.
Both of these cars are easy to pilot anywhere from crowded urban thoroughfares or alleys to the open highway. Compact cars have grown enough to feel solid and secure, but they are still small and maneuverable enough to negotiate easily in tight quarters and nimble enough to change directions quickly, with light steering that any would find accommodating. While the Corolla is a tad larger, the Civic also has a tighter turning circle (5.4 m radius to the Corolla’s 5.8), slightly better sightlines (despite the weird blobby shape) and it has a larger screen (7.0 in. to the 6.1) for its back-up camera, with multiple viewing angles and dynamic guidelines. Civic also has the nifty LaneWatch blind-spot camera that displays on the touchscreen when signaling a right turn.
Although we might be getting into subjective preferences here, we feel that the more accurate and feelsome steering of the Civic make it an easier car to pilot in most conditions.
However, opinion was divided on the human-machine interfaces. Jacob found the Civic’s touchscreen system slow and convoluted, while I found it sleek and better organized, the touchscreen responsive to pinching to zoom in and out of maps, and the HVAC controls more logical.
   2014 Toyota Corolla S. Click image to enlarge |
Jacob adored the Corolla for its convenient hard buttons for various menu items and the knobs for volume and tuning, and we both appreciated its split-screen display that would show current artist and track with album cover art side by side with the map or other info. However, I found the display too small, and setting and selecting the presets on the touchscreen required more attention on the screen. The Civic has an entire extra screen on which to display audio or trip information, though it is low-res and poorly utilized.
Overall I felt the Civic was more streamlined and modern, and despite the conventional layout of the Corolla, it was not necessarily more efficient (except perhaps for adjusting volume, but I still think swiping is cooler!). Combined with the easier driving experience, the Civic comes out ahead in ease of use, with Jacob’s dissenting opinion noted.
   2014 Honda Civic Touring. Click image to enlarge |
Value
While these were not exactly equivalent trims, both models tested were within a grand with destination in, so let’s just take a look at them at face value.
Both are very well equipped models, the Civic Touring the top trim at $25,200 with a $1,495 destination fee, and the Corolla S trim starting at $19,215 and adding $985 for the CVT, $3,900 for the Technology package and a $1,520 destination fee. With the Technology package specified on the’Rolla, both have a long list of desirable features, including: 17-inch alloys, fog lights, disc brakes, proximity keyless entry with push-button start, smart key system, auto climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, satellite radio, navigation, eight-way power adjustable driver seat, heated seats and power slide and tilt moonroof.
About the only difference was the real versus simulated leather seating surfaces (frankly, I would have trouble picking the real leather in a blind test) and the Civic’s LaneWatch camera versus the Corolla’s high-tech and impressively illuminating LED headlights, so that’s pretty much a wash. All that for one thousand less in a Corolla and we give the value edge to Toyota.
And while we aren’t really factoring in styling, we both like the looks of the Corolla better inside and out, and that was also the consensus when we had the larger comparison, so we feel that adds to the overall value in many people’s minds.
Affordability
Affordability does not end with the purchase price or financing deal you’ve settled on. The biggest cost of vehicle ownership is actually depreciation, and here Honda has a slight edge, the brand earning ALG’s 2014 Residual Value Award (and 2013), and the Civic placing third in the compact segment. The Civic receives a top 5 Star Rating from ALG, while the Corolla ranks only a 3 Star Rating.
   2014 Toyota Corolla S. Click image to enlarge |
Going across the aisle and looking at Canadian Black Book 2014 Best Retained Value, neither the Corolla nor Civic makes the podium, though Toyota claims six category wins to Honda’s two.
  2014 Honda Civic Touring & 2014 Toyota Corolla S. Click image to enlarge |
Vincentric gives the brand award for value (based on cost of ownership projections) to Toyota, but the Civic Sedan wins the compact sedan segment in the US (in Canada it is edged out by the Jetta TDI), and kbb.com (Kelley Blue Book) likewise honours the Toyota brand as the Best Resale Value, but the Civic again shows up on the podium in the compact segment in second place. Dig a little deeper, though, and Kelley Blue Book finds the Corolla the best in class in terms of 5-Year Cost to Own, a combination of insurance, fuel, financing, repairs, maintenance and depreciation.
For reliability, we turn to J.D. Power, which finds the Civic the highest rated Compact in their 2013 Initial Quality Study, with the previous-generation 2013 Corolla not far behind and the brands separated by one point in the brand rankings. For JD Power’s 2014 Vehicle Dependability Study, the 2011 Civic trails only the Volt, and Toyota ties Honda in the brand rankings.
If you want one more prediction regarding long-term cost of ownership, I consulted a trusted source and asked whether the Civic and Corolla will be reliable, cost little to run and hold their value and my Magic 8-Ball foretells: “Most likely”.
Where does all that leave us? All this is to say that both the Corolla and Civic are paragons of reliability and long-term value. You really can’t go wrong and the odds are in favour of you getting a low-maintenance non-lemon that will serve you well for years.
Conclusion
Really, you can’t go wrong. Both promise a high probability of reliable, efficient, safe motoring (okay, the Civic has the edge here with an IIHS Top Safety Pick and NHTSA 5 Star ratings, while the Corolla only manages the NHTSA 5 Star) and extensive features in the mid-twenties (and no doubt a variety of lease and finance rates that you’ll have to research thoroughly as they change monthly). These are both very good cars, the Civic keeping its edge by updating the styling and adding a CVT to this Canadian favourite, while the Corolla has finally shaken its driving doldrums and beige reputation while retaining the excellent value and practicality Toyota has always packaged into the world’s bestselling car.
But here at Autos.ca, we always pick a winner, and this time it is the Toyota Corolla for its better value, impressive efficiency, affordable practicality and newfound charms both on the road and in its curbside appeal.
  2014 Honda Civic Touring & 2014 Toyota Corolla S. Click image to enlarge |
Pricing: 2014 Honda Civic Touring
Base Price (LE): $15,690
Base Price (Touring): $25,200
Options: None
A/C Tax: $100
Freight & PDI: $1,495
Price as tested: $26,795
Pricing: 2014 Toyota Corolla S
Base Price (CE): $15,995
Base Price (S): $19,215
Options: CVT – $985; Technology package – $3,900 (17-inch alloys, rear disc brakes, Auto climate control, Integrated SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Premium Navigation, 8-way Power Adjustable Driver Seat, SofTex Leather Seating Surfaces, Push-Button Start, Smart Key System, Electrochromic Rear View Mirror with Compass, Power slide/tilt moonroof)
A/C Tax: $100
Freight & PDI: $1,520
Price as tested: $25,720
Competitors:
Chevrolet Cruze
Dodge Dart
Ford Focus
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Forte
Mazda3
Mitsubishi Lancer
Nissan Sentra
Subaru Impreza
Volkswagen Jetta
Crash Test Results:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
