The market for affordable small cars is incredibly competitive, and two of its top models are at it again as they compete for commuters in 2015. They both made their debut in the same era, with Toyota launching the Corolla in 1966 and Honda launching their Civic in 1972. They’re both in their ninth generation, and they’re both at the top of their game.

It’s going to be a fight to the finish for these two popular automobiles. Here’s a look at what they’ve brought this year.

Exterior
The 2015 Toyota Corolla got a brand new look last year, considered by most to be a conservative restyling of an already very popular automobile. It’s available in an astounding range of trims and sub-trims that offer such features as a rear spoiler, chrome-tipped exhaust, 17-inch alloy wheels, integrated fog lights and more. It may not snap any necks, but it was never meant to.

The 2015 Honda Civic is still sporting a look that’s received only minor adjustments since 2012. Its lower profile is coupled with slightly less conservative lines than those of the Corolla, giving it the appearance of a more aggressive car. It comes in its own, slightly less varied array of trims and sub-trims, with available features like 17-inch alloy wheels and an expanded driver’s side mirror.

Performance
Powered by a 1.8L 4-cylinder, 132-horsepower engine that boasts Dual Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i), the 2015 Toyota Corolla is an ideal commuter car. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) will ensure an estimated 29 city / 38 highway mpg, but you can also opt for the LE Eco trim that comes with an upgraded 1.8L, 4-cylinder, 140-horsepower engine running Valvematic technology for an impressive estimated 30 city / 40 highway mpg in ECO driving mode.

As the Corolla is designed for daily driving, it takes a hassle-free approach to handling that’s perfect for routine commutes. Simply put, this car won’t jump across the lane every time you twitch. That said if you’re looking for a bit more playfulness in your vehicle’s approach to the road, keep the manual six-speed transmission and opt for the S-trim, which comes with both Normal and Sport driving modes.

The 2015 Honda Civic comes with two engine options as well. The 1.8L, 4-cylinder, 143-horsepower i-VTEC engine gets an estimated 30 city / 39 highway mpg when you opt for the available CVT. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the 2.4L, 160valve, 205-horsepower DOHC i-VTEC with the Civic Si for an estimated 22 city / 31 highway mpg. Many drivers enjoy the Civic’s responsive drive-by-wire throttle system; however, be careful not to have too much fun and drive the efficiency into the floor.

When it comes to handling, the Honda Civic drives very lightly and features a slightly stiffer, slightly bumpier ride than what you’ll get in the Toyota Corolla. Its handling is also more sensitive than the Corolla, but drivers still complain about the model’s lack of road feel, making it difficult to get truly precise control over tighter handling. Altogether it’s a relatively athletic vehicle that requires a bit more of the driver’s attention than the Corolla might.

Safety
The 2015 Toyota Corolla truly shines when it comes to the level of safety it offers to its driver and passengers, making it a solid vehicle to trust with your everyday driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives it 5-Star ratings in every category but rollover, where it still receives a respectable 4-Star rating.

Toyota’s Star Safety System features integrated active safety systems that work together to prevent accidents. Its Pre-Collision radar system, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Departure Alert, and Pedestrian Safety Systems all help prevent the development of dangerous situations, while Traction and Vehicle Stability Control systems work with Anti-Lock Brakes, Electronic Break-Force Distribution, Brake Assist and Smart Stop Technology keep the driver in firm control, whatever happens.

If the worst should occur, the Corolla’s Impact Absorbing Body Structure features efficient crumple zones and a strong cabin structure. This, along with eight standard airbags, Whiplash-Injury-Lessening seats, and other standard safety features help to mitigate potential injury in a collision.

The 2015 Honda Civic, meanwhile, gets average safety ratings for its class – a 5-Star overall rating, a 5-Star side crash rating, and 4-Star ratings in frontal crash and rollover. The driver assisting features of the Honda Sensing system include a Lane Departure Warning with a Lane Keeping Assist System, a Forward Collision Warning with a Collision Mitigating Breaking System, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Honda’s Anti-Lock Braking System with Electronic Brake Distribution and Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control System help the driver keep control of the vehicle during potentially dangerous situations. However, if things go wrong, the Civic’s passive safety systems are almost as impressive as the Corolla’s.

Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure works much like the Corolla’s to temper the force of a crash. It works along with Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags, SmartVent Front Side Airbags, and Side Vurtain Airbags with Rollover Sensors to help reduce the chance of severe injuries.

Interior
As the Toyota Corolla is a slightly larger vehicle than the Honda Civic, its interior feels a bit more spacious. Last year’s makeover gave the Corolla a wholly improved cabin experience, featuring improved dashboard materials, stitched accents, and comfortable SoftTex seats. Overall, the new 2015 Toyota Corolla has a sense of style that, before last year, its predecessors had never possessed.

In terms of technology, the Entune Premium Audio with Navigation App Suite is a competitive infotainment system that features a convenient 6.1” – 8” touchscreen with clean, crisp graphics and a very easy-to-use interface. Advanced voice recognition, Bluetooth, and iPod / USB 2.0 connectivity are standard, to which you can add a rearview camera, HD Radio and HD Traffic, as well as Navigation and the Entune App Suite.

The Corolla’s audio system is impressively upgradeable as well. Its standard six-speaker system offers relatively good sound for a stock system, but it can be expanded to a Premium JBL 12- or 16-speaker surround sound system, providing aftermarket-quality audio right off the lot.

The 2015 Honda Civic features incredibly soft cabin materials and an impressively well-crafted design. The amount of passenger space is decent; however, it comes at the expense of having one of the smaller trunks in its class. Its sturdy yet upscale feel is created through silver-trim, black carpeting, and improved materials throughout.

The HondaLink infotainment system utilizes a 7-inch touchscreen display that unlike the Corolla, many drivers find difficult to use. Even basic functions require a bit of searching and setting. After some practice, though, many users enjoyed its functionality, especially the new gesture recognition feature.

This system comes with both Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port, as well as a rearview camera, SMS text messaging, Pandora compatibility, and available navigation features. The Civic comes standard with a four-speaker audio system that expands up to seven speakers in the Si model.

Summary
Overall, the 2015 Toyota Corolla and the 2015 Honda Civic are once again neck-and-neck in the battle for top compact commuter. All told, the Toyota Corolla is coming off a more recent overhaul, giving it a more contemporary look, as well as more advanced safety and entertainment features. While the Honda Civic offers a bit more power and a more engaging driving experience, the Toyota Corolla is the better option for drivers who prefer a safer, more relaxing daily drive.

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