2012 Honda Civic Vs 2012 Toyota Corolla:

Compact Comparo
Antony Ingram
0 Jun 19, 2012
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2012 Honda Civic EX

Other cars may steal the headlines, but the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have spent plenty of time in
the best-sellers lists.

That's because each offers a wide range of talents to a wide range of individuals and families. They may
lack the excitement of other models, but if you want a safe, comfortable, cheap-to-run four-door sedan,
one or the other is probably near the top of your shopping list.
With the Corolla rapidly ageing and the Honda relatively new to the market, which is most relevant to the
cost-conscious buyer?

Read our reviews of the 2012 Honda Civic and 2012 Toyota Corolla

Gas mileage

There was a time when the Civic and Corolla were among the most economical cars on the market.

Indeed, it was Honda that really made the first move in the 1970s, launching its Civic into a market winded
by the fuel crisis. With 30 mpg--and even 40 mpg, if driven carefully--it was comfortably two or three
times more economical than many of the other popular cars of the day.

The Civic is still efficient now, though it's the hybrid version you really want if gas mileage and low
emissions are a concern. For those who can't stretch to the 44 mpg, $24,050 hybrid (and don't want to
buy used), a regular, 5-speed manual transmission Civic with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine can be had for
$15,755, and it'll do 31 mpg combined.

Add a little more green from your wallet for the auto transmission and you get a little more green at the
pumps, with 32 mpg combined and 39 highway.

Either way, the Civic out-punches the Corolla. With a manual transmission, the $16,130, 132-horsepower
Corolla manages 30 mpg combined, and 34 highway.

You also spend extra to get less with the auto, which can only reach 29 mpg combined. Still, both
automatic Civic and Corolla are rated at around 33 mpg by drivers entering real-world figures on the EPA's
fueleconomy.gov website.

Side-by-side

In other respects, both cars are quite similar. Familiarity may have bred contempt with the Corolla's
styling, and being very kind we could describe it as "inoffensive".

The Civic looks a little more sleek and modern, though again it's nothing particularly special to behold. It's
a similar story on the inside, though here the Civic has more of an advantage, with its dual-level
instruments and high-tech feel. Unfortunately, the plastics themselves err on the 99c-store kid's toy side
of nasty, so it's better to look at than it is to touch.
2011 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla is to exciting interior design as a barn is to the Louvre, but it's comfortable at least and if you
avoid the base model, the equipment levels are good.

Interior space is similar in each. The Civic offers 3 cubic feet extra space inside, at 95 cu. ft, and each has 12
cubic feet of trunk space.

Both should prove reliable too--these are cars renowned for going on and on, so they'll get you there
even if they don't entertain on the way. When we reviewed the Corolla we described its handling as
"somewhere between inoffensive and soggy". The Civic fares better, its handling described as
"rewarding". Both manage to ride well, so neither will be uncomfortable on longer drives.

Conclusion

Choosing between Civic and Corolla is unlikely to be one of the most exciting decisions of your life, but
both are worthy options in the compact class. Both have a talent for meeting the needs of buyers
unconcerned by such niceties as style and image, while costing relatively little to buy and run.

You'll get greater gas mileage from each maker's hybrid cars--Honda offers the Civic Hybrid and Insight in
that class, Toyota fields the slightly larger Prius--but with the reassurance of new-car warranties the low
MSRPs of each car combined with 30 mpg-plus economy makes them good choices.
The Civic is more talented all-round, but you can be sure that Toyota will up the game another step with
its next Corolla.

+++++++++++

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 2012 Honda Civic

2012 Toyota Corolla

DX 2dr Coupe

L 4dr Sedan
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Overview
MSRP

$15,755

$16,130

MPG (Combined)

33

30
Engine

140-hp, 1.8-liter I-4 (regular gas)

132-hp, 1.8-liter I-4 (regular gas)

Transmission

5-speed automatic w/OD ,

5-speed manual w/OD

4-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual ,

5-speed manual w/OD

Drivetrain

FWD

FWD

Seats

Consumer Rating

4.5
<a href="/research/honda-civic-2012/consumer-reviews/">Consumer Reviews For honda civic 2012</a>
4.5
<a href="/research/toyota-corolla-2012/consumer-reviews/">Consumer Reviews For toyota corolla 2012</a>

Shop for this Car

Local Inventory <a href="/for-sale/searchresults.action/?mkId=20017&mdId=20823&yrId=39723&trId=23530"> View Local Inventory</a> Local

Inventory <a href="/for-sale/searchresults.action/?mkId=20088&mdId=20861&yrId=39723&trId=23139"> View Local Inventory</a>

Pricing
List Price

$16,545

$16,925

MSRP

$15,755

$16,130

Invoice Price
$14,660

$15,243

Destination Charge

$790

$795

Fuel Economy
Combined MPG

33

30

City MPG

28

27

Highway MPG

39

34

Convenience
Cruise Control

Not available

Not available

Adaptive Cruise Control

Not available

Not available

Compass

Not available

Available

Illuminated Vanity Mirrors

Not available

Not available

Steering Wheel Material

Urethane

Urethane

Gear Shift Knob Trim

Metal-look

Urethane

Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column

Standard

Standard

Clock

Not available

In-dash

12-Volt DC Power Outlet

Retained Accessory Power

Standard

Standard

Dome Light

Fade

Fade

Glovebox Light

Not available

Not available

Map Light

Not available

Front
Cargo Light

Standard

Standard

Cupholders

Front

Front and rear

Programmable Garage-Door Opener

Not available

Not available

Voice Recorder

Not available

Not available

Tire Mobility Kit

Not available

Not available

Rearview Mirror

Day-night

Day-night

Rear Window Defogger

Standard

Standard

Floor Mats

Available: Rubber front & rear

Available: Rubber front & rear

USB Ports

Not available

Not available

Hands Free Auto-Opening Liftgate/Trunk

Not available
Not available

Proximity Key

Not available

Not available

Specifications
Length

175.5 "

180.0 "

Wheelbase

103.2 "

102.4 "

Front Track

59.0 "

60.2 "

Rear Track

59.9 "

60.4 "

Width

69.0 "

69.4 "

Turning Radius

17.7 '

17.7 '

Height

55.0 "

57.7 "

Horsepower
140 @ 6,500 rpm

132 @ 6,000 rpm

Torque

128 @ 4,300 rpm

128 @ 4,400 rpm

Fuel Tank Capacity

13.2 gal.

13.2 gal.

Bore and Stroke

3.19 / 3.44 "

3.17 / 3.48 "

Drag Coefficient

Not available

.29

Curb Weight

2,597 lbs.

2,734 lbs.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Not available

3,836 lbs.

Maximum Trailer Weight

Not available

1,500 lbs.

Passenger Volume

83 cu.ft.

92 cu.ft.

Front Legroom

42.2 "

41.7 "
Front Headroom

38.1 "

38.8 "

Front Hip Room

53.2 "

53.0 "

Front Shoulder Room

55.1 "

54.8 "

Rear Legroom

30.8 "

36.3 "

Rear Headroom

34.3 "

37.2 "

Rear Hip Room

49.0 "

43.9 "

Rear Shoulder Room

52.2 "

54.6 "

Maximum Luggage Volume

11.7 cu.ft.

12.3 cu.ft.

Interior Cargo Volume

11.7 cu.ft.

12.3 cu.ft.

Interior Cargo Volume Seats Folded

Not available
Not available

Maximum Interior Cargo Volume

11.7 cu.ft.

12.3 cu.ft.

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