Specs at a Glance
2018 Honda Civic
Cargo Space
  15.1 cu. ft.
Horsepower
  158 hp
2018 Toyota Corolla
Cargo Space
  13.0 cu. ft.
Horsepower
  132 hp
2018 Honda Civic vs 2018 Toyota Corolla
Proudly Serving Nashville, TN
Top fuel efficiency that does not come at the expense of cabin and trunk room is what makes compact sedans so attractive. Two top contenders in this arena are the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. The determined rivalry between them always ensures good outcomes for consumers, but there still has to be one winner in the contest. Read on to find out who that is for 2018.
Volume
Cabin size appears to be virtually identical in both vehicles with the 2018 Honda Civic providing 97.8 cubic feet while the 2018 Toyota Corolla supplies 97.5 cubic feet. Both sedans have nearly same vertical dimensions to accommodate rider’s heads and legs although the Civic does manage an extra inch of front headroom beyond the Corolla’s 38.3 inches. Horizontal dimensions are another matter as the Civic offers 56.9 inches of shoulder room along with 53.7 inches of hip room up front while the 2018 Corolla only reaches 54.8 inches for shoulders and 53 inches for hips. It’s the same story in the second seating row with the Civic stretching to 55 inches of shoulder leeway and 47.3 inches of hip clearance while the Corolla limits things to 54.8 inches and 43.9 inches respectively. Likewise, Corolla trunk space is merely 13 cubic feet while the Civic offers 15.1 cubic feet.
Performance
Typically, there’s a trade-off between power and fuel savings, but Honda decided to maximize both. The 2018 Honda Civic does this with either of its two engine options. The entry-level 2-liter 4-cylinder block achieves 158 horsepower while accomplishing up to 28 mpg city1 and 40 mpg1 highway in league with a 6-speed manual transmission. Replacing this with a continuously variable transmission or CVT pushes fuel economy up to 31 mpg city1 and 40 mpg highway1. For those wanting more brawn, the turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 motor outputs 174 horses yet boosts mileage to 31 mpg city1 and 42 mpg highway1 when paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Trading the manual transmission for the super-efficient CVT takes savings to 32 mpg city1 and 42 mpg highway1. In the Civic hatchback with its twin center-mounted exhaust pipes, muscle grows to 180 horses. By comparison, Toyota makes choosing much simpler by allowing only one choice in the form of a 1.8-liter inline-4 that manages 132 horsepower. Teamed with a 6-speed manual transmission, the Corolla reaches just 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. The situation is improved slightly in the Corolla LE Eco model by including a CVT for 140 horsepower with 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.
Safety
Protection against collisions is a leading selling point for the Civic and the Corolla. Test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety award top scores across the board for both sedans. With an Overall Safety Rating of 5 stars from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration2, these labels seem to be justified, but a closer inspection reveals that the 2018 Honda Civic got its overall score by grabbing a 5-star rank in all the individual crash tests. The Toyota Corolla, on the other hand, managed five stars just for the side impact test. In frontal crashes and rollovers, it earned a somewhat concerning four stars.
Toyota has a worldwide reputation as a topnotch auto manufacturer, and the Corolla is seen as one of their best performers. When the real numbers get crunched, though, it’s clear that the 2018 Honda Civic takes the lead in a lot of relevant categories. While the numbers sound good, seeing what they represent in the flesh is even better. Stop by our dealership and test drive a Civic today.
1 28 city/40 highway/32 combined mpg rating for LX model with 6-speed manual transmission. 31 city/40 highway/34 combined mpg rating for LX & EX CVT models. 31 city/42 highway/35 combined mpg rating for EX-T model with 6-speed manual transmission. 32 city/42 highway/36 combined mpg rating for EX-T, EX-L and Touring CVT models. Based on 2018 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.
2 Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side airbags (SAB).
