2021 Corolla vs. Civic Comparison
On every road way and in every parking lot you are sure to come across at least one Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Why? It's simple. They have great track records for being stylish, safe, fuel efficient, fun-to-drive, and affordable.
For those looking for a car with safety features, both the 2021 Corolla and Civic have impressive safety suites. The Corolla comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0). The 2021 Civic has its own suite of safety features called Honda Sensing®.
The 2021 Toyota Corolla also has a lot of standard media features like Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM® to bring excitement to your drive. The 2021 Civic LX misses out on these features.
Find out what other standard features the 2021 Corolla and 2021 Civic have in this head-to-head comparison.
Published Date: 06/23/2021
Safety
- While both cars have extensive safety suites, the Honda Civic lacks a Road Sign Assist feature.
- Also, the base model Civic LX and Sport model don't have the option for blind spot monitoring with Honda LaneWatch™.
- The Corolla has additional driver knee airbag, passenger seat cushion airbag, and rear side airbags.
Safety features in cars today include more than just seatbelts and emergency airbags. The 2021 Corolla and Civic, for example, are packed with impressive active safety features.
Standard Safety Features
As briefly touched on before, the 2021 Corolla has Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0). Models with CVT have a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC). The only differences if you choose the SE or SE Apex Edition with a manual transmission are that you get Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) instead of Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) and Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) is not available.
Comparatively, Honda has its own suite of safety features called Honda Sensing®. It has a Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Auto High-Beam Headlights, and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). However, the Honda Civic specs page doesn't mention a comparable Road Sign Assist feature.
On top of all the features mentioned, the Corolla LE also has available Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) with the LE Convenience Package. Even with this add-on, your starting MSRP would only be $21,625. The comparable Honda LaneWatch™ is not available on the base model Civic LX or Sport. To get this feature standard you'd need to get the Civic EX starting at $24,400.
When it comes to airbags, the 2021 Corolla has ten total. These include the driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, a driver knee airbag, passenger seat cushion airbag, rear side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags. The Civic includes Advanced Front Airbags (i-SRS), SmartVent® Front Side Airbags, and Side Curtain Airbags with a Rollover Sensor. It does not include a driver knee airbag.
Interior
- The Civic LX lacks a lot of comparable multimedia features. You'd need to upgrade to the Sport model or higher to get them.
- The base model Corolla is Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay®, and Amazon Alexa compatible.
- A Fold-Down Rear Seatback 60/40 Split for the Civic is only an option on the Sport model and higher. The Corolla has this feature standard.
Both of these vehicles offer the latest in interior touches. However, the 2021 Corolla has more of what you want even on the lowest grade when compared to the Civic.
Multimedia
The 2021 Toyota Corolla has a plethora of media options. Standard with the Corolla L you get a 7-in. touchscreen, 6 speakers, Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay®, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Plus, you can also test out SiriusXM® with a 3-month All Access trial. The 2021 Civic LX has a 5-inch Color LCD Screen, only four speakers, and misses out on Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration. To get these connectivity options and a bigger 7-inch touchscreen, you'd need to go for the Civic Sport or higher. You can only find SiriusXM® if you choose the Civic EX or higher. Not to mention, all Civic trims miss out on Amazon Alexa entirely.
It's also worth mentioning that while a 7-inch touchscreen is the largest display size you can get with the Civic, the Corolla LE and higher have a standard 8-inch touchscreen.
When you need to plug in, Corolla drivers also get one front USB 2.0 port, USB media port, and one USB charge port standard. The Civic, on the other hand, has one 1.0-Amp USB Audio Interface standard. To get an additional 1.5-Amp USB Smartphone/Audio Interface you'd need to get the Sport or higher.
Aside from all the tech, you also get a more versatile interior with the Corolla's standard 60/40 split fold-down rear seat. A Fold-Down Rear Seatback 60/40 Split for the Civic is only an option on the Sport or higher.
Performance
- Whether you choose the gas or hybrid, the Corolla and Civic both have competitive EPA-estimated MPG ratings.
- The Honda Civic doesn't have a hybrid model.
- The Corolla comes standard with a factory-scheduled maintenance plan. Honda's maintenance plan costs extra.
The 2021 Corolla and Civic have the same EPA-estimated MPG ratings in a base-grade gas-model comparison. However, when you compare other grades, the 2021 Corolla has better EPA-estimated MPG ratings than the Civic. The 2021 Corolla Hybrid LE has the best EPA-estimated MPG ratings in the Corolla vs Civic comparison.
Estimated Mileage
Both the 2021 Corolla L and the 2021 Civic LX have an EPA-estimated rating of up to 30/38/33 (city/highway/combined) MPG. But, there are a few differences in the other trims. For instance, the Civic Sport with a manual transmission has an EPA-estimated MPG rating of 25/36/29 (city/highway/combined). The Corolla SE also has an available manual transmission, however, it has a better EPA-estimated MPG rating of up to 29/36/32 (city/highway/combined).
To really save gas, the Corolla LE has an available hybrid engine which has an EPA-estimated MPG rating up to 53/52/52 (city/highway/combined). The Honda Civic does not list an available hybrid model.
When it comes to keeping your car in top performance shape, all Toyotas come with a factory-scheduled maintenance program called ToyotaCare. This program lasts two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. It also comes with Roadside Assistance which lasts two years and unlimited mileage. With the Civic you get Honda Roadside Assistance for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Honda also has a prepaid maintenance program, however, it will cost you extra.
Conclusion: Corolla vs. Civic
- The Corolla has more standard safety features than the Civic.
- The Corolla has more standard connectivity options in a base grade comparison.
As this information no doubt shows, these two cars are great competitors. When it comes down to the details, there was one sedan that really shined, however.
The 2021 Corolla has Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) and the 2021 Honda Civic has Honda Sensing®. While these safety suites have a lot of comparable features, Honda Sensing® does miss out on Road Sign Assist.
Civic drivers also miss out on standard media features as well. The base trim Civic lacks Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™, and Amazon Alexa, while these are standard in every Corolla model.
Another big plus that comes with the Corolla is the available hybrid engine which the Civic lacks.
For all these reasons and more, the winner is clear: the 2021 Toyota Corolla.