The
2016 model year is rounding the corner and you know what that means! I am
reviewing the 2016 Toyota Corolla S and the 2016 Honda Civic EX. These two are some of the
bestselling models in each manufacturer’s line-up, and rightfully so, seeing as
these small sedans give you a lot of value considering money. We will begin
with the Civic. The EX trim-line comes standard with a moon roof, and Smart
Entry. Smart Entry unlocks the car as soon as the driver comes within 32 inches
of the driver door, allowing the driver to enter the car and drive away without
ever touching the key. The car will lock as soon as the driver is out of range,
as well. Further features included on the EX trim are heated mirrors, push
button start, a backup camera with guidelines, and Honda LaneWatch. LaneWatch
uses a left wing mirror located camera to help drivers monitor their blindspot.
The image plays on a screen on the center console when the system or turn
signal is activated. Speed Sensitive Volume control is self-explanatory, as is
a texting function, and Pandora Capability. Apple Car Play or Google Android
Auto is standard on the Civic EX for the first time. These systems come from
Apple iOS and Android operating systems for the infotainment instead of
in-house developed systems. HondaLink also comes standard, which basically
pairs your phone to give access to it in the vehicle. The screen in the dash
that all of this plays on is a 7 inch color touchscreen. This rounds off the
significant features in the Civic, so let’s move on to the Corolla S. The
Corolla has standard LED headlights with Halogen high beams. The Corolla has
heated mirrors as well, with this car, though, they are also powered instead of
manually adjusted. Noticeably absent is a moonroof, a big miss for some buyers,
although it is on the option list. The Corolla gets 17 inch alloy rims, while
the Civic’s are one inch smaller. Instead of Apple or Android operating
systems, the Corolla stays with Entune Audio, which tries to achieve much the
same thing, though it doesn’t come with Sirius XM and the touch screen is only
6.1 inches. A similar key system is used in the Corolla like that of the Civic,
and again a backup camera is standard. The Corolla starts at $19,995, while the
Civic comes in at $21,040. That sums up value, so now I will tackle MPG. The
Corolla achieves 29 miles per gallon in the city and 37 on the highway, which
pales in comparison to the Civic’s 31 city 41 highway numbers. For two cars
that are so close, those numbers are very different. Safety is very important
in vehicles like these. Both come with the standard array of airbags and
monitoring systems, and the now common stability and traction control. The
Corolla, however received a score of marginal in the new small front overlap,
while the Civic got a good. The Civic is a top safety pick, and the Corolla is
not, which is also significant. The styling of the new Civic is bolder and more
attractive than the previous car. The exterior of the Corolla isn’t horrible,
but I like the Civic’s better. As far as interiors go, the Civic takes the cake
by a small margin, owing to the better looking materials used on the dash. The
Civic EX has not yet been tested in terms of acceleration, however estimates
fall at about 8.7 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour and a 16.4 quarter mile time.
The Corolla has a dismal 10.5 second
crawl to 60, driving a quarter mile in a leisurely 17.4 seconds. Poor results
result from a poor drivetrain, a place where the Corolla is long in the tooth.
It has a 1.8 liter inline four cylinder with 132 horsepower and 128 pound feet
of torque, paired with a CVT that hunts for fuel economy instead of best
performance. Seeing as how the Civic’s 2 liter 4 cylinder is good for 158
horsepower and 138 pound feet, as well as getting better mileage out of its
CVT, Toyota needs to take notes. Based on the history of the two cars, the
reliability of each will remain better than average for the Corolla, and
average for the Civic. Hopefully, the 10th generation Civic can
bring the dependability up! Here are the results of the comparison. Keep in
mind that the 2016 Civic is an all new model, while the Corolla dates back to
2014. However, the Civic is the clear victor here. To see the video of these two, click here.
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