Camry vs. Corolla

Just a few decades ago, the sedan was the household car. Station wagons were popular with families, coupes were for the singles, and convertibles for the extroverts, but at the center of it all was the 4-door sedan. Today, crossovers, which are basically today’s station wagons, have supplanted the sedan as the default vehicle. Still, there remains a place for the sedan in today’s world, and two of the best, the Camry and Corolla, are sold here at Valley Hi Toyota.

If you have just one vehicle, a crossover is a good choice, particularly for its ability to be a cargo carrier when called upon.  However, the sedan could be the best choice for the next vehicle in the stable. A lower ride height and more aerodynamic shape combine for greater fuel economy. Closing off the cargo area often makes the interior quieter, and, of course, the trunk contents are always hidden from prying eyes.

Toyota makes two of the most popular sedans in the world, and the question is, which is best for you?  These two sedans, of course, are the compact Corolla and midsize Camry. 

Does Size Matter?

The funny thing about all sedans, including these two, is that they generally have the same utility. They all seat five, have a trunk for cargo, and most are front-wheel drive.  Of course, the primary difference between the Camry and Corolla is size. And where that size most manifests itself is in the rear seat. The Camry cabin is wider for both front and rear seat passengers, but two adults will fit fine in the front seats of either model. The back seats of both vehicles seat three, but the Corolla and other cars in its class work best as four-seaters for adults, which can carry five in a pinch. The Camry’s 3.7 more inches of shoulder room is enough additional space to fit a fifth average-size adult without multiple shoulders fighting for the same space. The Camry also has 3.2 inches more rear legroom, which can make a difference when adults are in both front and back.  

The Camry gives you a 15% larger trunk. Specifically, it is 15.1 cubic inches compared to the Corolla’s 13.1, which, in practical terms, is the equivalent of 1.2 more inches of width, height, and depth. The other advantage of a larger car is a longer wheelbase. Besides enabling more rear legroom, the Camry’s nearly five more inches of wheelbase can also result in a more relaxed highway ride where bumps in the road translate to less body movement, all things being equal.

Efficient and More Efficient

Of course, a bigger car means more weight, leading to a larger engine and less fuel mileage. The most popular Camry weighs about 385 pounds more than the most popular Corolla.  As a result, the standard Camry engine is 2.5 liters to the Corolla’s 2.0 liters. As a result, the Camry has an EPA estimate of 28 / 39 / 32 (city/highway/combined) to the Corolla’s 32 / 41 / 32.  

Of course, if fuel mileage is a priority, the Camry Hybrid bests the standard Corolla with EPA figures of 44 / 46 / 46.  But the Corolla has a hybrid model of its own, which delivers 53 / 47 / 50.  In both cases, you will find a more significant difference between the Corolla and Camry’s fuel mileage when driving in the city rather than on the highway. Thus, the type of driving you would do with this car could make a significant difference in determining whether the small size is worth the difference in mileage.  These figures are for front-wheel drive models, which has to be said because both the Camry and Corolla also offer all-wheel drive on some grades.

The outlier for the Camry is that it is still available with a V6 engine, one of the last in the class to do so. The XLE-V6 and XSE grades are available with a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. The Corolla has no such high-performance upgrade unless you include the 300 GR Corolla Hatchback, which is a whole other animal.

Either is a Safe Choice

When it comes to safety, the Camry comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5) while the Corolla has TSS 3.0, both of which feature:

• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD)
• Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA)
• Automatic High Beams (AHB)
•  Lane Tracing Assist (LTA),
• Road Sign Assist (RSA)
• Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)

The Corolla adds Proactive Driving Assist (PDA). Both models have an overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA, and the Corolla is an Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick, while the Camry is a Top Safety Pick+.  Both are good results, with the Camry scoring better on the IIHS side impact test.

Similarly, both models have the enviable reputation for quality, reliability, and durability that help establish Toyota’s reputation in the industry. Consequently, both have some of the highest resale value in their respective classes. 

So, in general, you can’t go wrong with either Toyota sedan, and choosing which one can largely depend on how often the rear seat is used and who will use it, your fuel efficiency priorities, and how you drive. If you are still not sure, then come to Valley Hi Toyota and test drive them both. 

Tags: Camry, Compare, Corolla, Power, Size, Toyota, Vehicle Comparison
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