Camry vs Corolla | Which is for You? (Specs, Reliability, Safety)

Searching for an affordable new car without the necessary information and tools can be frustrating. Here, we compile the bulk of available information on an automobile to provide you, the consumer, with a comprehensive product summary. In this essay, we will compare two reasonably priced Toyota automobiles.

The same company manufactures the Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla, yet they vary subtly in several respects. These two Toyotas offer average comfort levels, engine power, and fuel economy.

As car technology improves, infotainment systems that are up-to-date and simple to use are becoming increasingly crucial. Both vehicles include such systems.

Here is the comparison between the two brands.

Engines Options

Toyota Camry engine

The Toyota Camry and Corolla engines offer a solid balance of power, fuel efficiency, and dependability. The base version of the Toyota Camry is equipped with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 205 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque for peppy city driving.

Its eight-speed automatic transmission achieves EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 28/39 mpg. An optional 3.5-liter V6 engine with 301 hp and 276 lb-ft of torque is available for maximum acceleration and passing power. EPA estimates the fuel efficiency to be outstanding at 22/33 mpg city/highway.

The centerpiece of the Camry’s powertrain options is the hybrid model’s renowned hybrid system. The Camry Hybrid offers 208 horsepower and an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 51/53 mpg. There is only one engine option for the 2021 Toyota Corolla, but it’s a good performance that’s easy on the wallet.

Using a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque and a continuously variable transmission, the Corolla achieves an EPA-estimated 30/38 mpg city/highway. There is also a six-speed manual transmission for people who want to row their gear.

Comparing the available engines for the Camry with the Corolla comes down to personal preference. Do you desire a simple engine with adequate power and fuel economy? Or do you desire a vehicle with increased horsepower or exceptional gas mileage? If this is the case, the 2021 Toyota Camry is the superior option.

Seat Comfort

Toyota Camry seats

Although the Toyota Camry and the  Toyota Corolla can take each seat up to five passengers, the Toyota Camry comes standard with a few more seating conveniences than the Toyota Corolla does. Both vehicles come standard with cloth seating, while upholstery made of synthetic leather is available. Additional features, such as complete leather upholstery and front seats with ventilation, are available for the Toyota Camry.

Both versions include seating that is comfortable for adults in the front and back seats but depending on whether you purchase the sedan or hatchback version of the Corolla, there is a difference in the amount of headroom available. When it comes to seat comfort, the Camry is the clear winner.

Cargo Space

Toyota Corolla cargo space

Regarding the amount of space available for cargo, the Toyota Corolla Hatchback offers the most, earning it the title of winner in this category. The trunk capacity available in the sedan version of the Corolla ranges from 13.1 to 23.3 cubic feet, while the hatchback version provides between 17.8 and 23.3 cubic feet.

The hatchback’s performance numbers are remarkable for the class and offer a lot of practicality. With a capacity of 15.1 cubic feet, the cargo space offered by the Toyota Camry is not quite as spectacular.

Even if it might not win this category, it is important to remember that the Camry belongs to the more spacious class of midsize cars (as opposed to the compact Corolla), so it still has plenty of storage for things like luggage or groceries.

Interior Quality

2022 Toyota Camry interior slays

The Toyota brand is not known for producing the most abundant products available, and the brand’s vehicles’ interiors often feature substantial and robust materials. The Toyota Camry and the Toyota Corolla focus on practicality over luxury and are equipped with very few extra features.

Inside, the Toyota Corolla features a modern layout composed of a balanced combination of hard and smooth plastics. The well-built cabin centers itself around a central display, contributing to its contemporary appearance.

The base model of the Toyota Camry has a feel comparable to that of the Corolla, but higher trim levels have a feel that is noticeably more premium, which earns it the victory in this area.

Technology

Again, the Camry and the Corolla share a great deal of genetic material regarding their onboard electronics, but the Camry’s tech is slightly superior. The standard on both is a 7-inch touchscreen. Although the Camry can be upgraded to a 9-inch screen, the Corolla can only be upgraded to an 8-inch screen.

The Toyota Safety Sense suite of driver assistance features is standard on the Camry and the Corolla. Still, the Camry comes standard with the more advanced Safety Sense 2.5+, which includes automatic high-beam headlights and road sign recognition.

The Corolla fails to wow with its incremental enhancements, such as a sunroof or slightly wider wheels, as one ascends the trim levels. However, the Camry’s highest trim levels are packed with features, including:

  • Tuned suspension for sport
  • Full-speed adaptive cruise control (that can even halt a moving vehicle!)
  • Pad for wireless charging
  • Leather furniture
  • Aerodynamic body trim

Acceleration

One of the most notable distinctions between the Toyota Camry and the Toyota Corolla can be found beneath the hood of each vehicle. The Toyota Camry has various potent engine options, with horsepower ratings ranging from 204 to 301.

This midsize car can reach 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds thanks to the V6 engine found in the Camry. With horsepower ratings ranging from 139 to 169, the Toyota Corolla is neither as swift nor as powerful as its competitors.

The standard engine of the Corolla is sufficient for driving around the city, but if you want to take the car on the highway frequently, you should go for the more powerful trim. In this particular category, the winner is the Toyota Camry.

Fuel Economy

The Toyota Corolla may not be as powerful as the Toyota Camry, but it achieves superior fuel economy and wins this category. The Toyota Corolla is offered two engine options: a 1.8-liter four-cylinder as standard and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder as an option.

The Corolla’s standard engine achieves 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the interstate. With the optional engine and automatic transmission, the city fuel efficiency increases to 32 mpg and the highway fuel economy to 41 mpg.

The Toyota Camry is also available with a four-cylinder and a V6 engine. The Camry is available with all-wheel drive, unlike the Corolla, which only offers front-wheel drive. The Camry’s fuel economy can reach up to 29 city/39 highway mpg with the standard engine and front-wheel drive.

Fuel economy drops to 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive. Lastly, with the optional engine (which is only available with front-wheel drive), the Camry’s city/highway fuel economy is only 22/32 mpg.

Ride and Handling

The Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla have excellent driving dynamics and steering responses. Nevertheless, the Toyota Camry wins in this area.

The Toyota Camry provides a well-balanced ride over most road surfaces with sporty handling to inspire confidence on winding routes. Even the track-tuned suspension is included in the Camry TRD, the sportiest version.

The Toyota Corolla is an excellent commuter vehicle; it handles city streets effectively and absorbs road imperfections well. The Corolla combines comfort and handling well, but the Toyota Camry is the superior option.

Safety

The Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Camry are both safe and reliable sedans. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Toyota Corolla a perfect score of five stars for overall vehicle safety (NHTSA). Additionally, it is equipped with many standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and lane keep assist.

Additionally, the NHTSA awarded a perfect score of five stars out of a possible five for the Toyota Camry. In addition, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ranked it as a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle (IIHS). The Camry has the same features as the Corolla as standard equipment, but it also has a few more available features, including front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view parking system, and a head-up display.

The Toyota Camry is the winner in this category. These Toyota sedans compete favorably inside their respective classes and against one another. Nevertheless, the Toyota Camry emerges victorious in this competition.

Overall Performance

It’s a toss-up, but the Camry comes out on top in the performance department over the Corolla thanks to its agile and responsive handling, above-average stopping power, and optional V6 engine. The standard engines are a significant point of differentiation between the Camry and the  Corolla models.

The Camry comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 203 horsepower, while the Corolla comes standard with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that produces 139 horsepower. Although more powerful versions of both engines are available as add-ons, the Corolla’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which has had its displacement increased, is still unable to compete with the Camry’s standard engine, let alone the Camry’s optionally available V6.

The transmissions of these two cars couldn’t be more different. While the Camry utilizes an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Corolla is powered by a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Both automobiles come standard with automatic transmissions. However, select trim levels also offer the choice of upgrading to a manual transmission.

But how does all of this play out when you take it out on the road? However, neither the Camry nor the Corolla can claim that they are lightning fast. Both automobiles require more than eight seconds to reach sixty miles per hour. On the other hand, the more potent engine of the Camry typically makes all the difference.

Conclusion

Although these two vehicles are extremely comparable, the Toyota Camry emerges victorious due to its more exciting driving dynamics, higher-quality interior, roomier seats, and superior safety ratings.

However, the Corolla could be a better choice for drivers who prioritize estimated fuel efficiency, and the Corolla hatchback could provide you with more capacity for cargo than the sedan version.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments