Toyota Corolla vs Camry: Which Is Right for You?
John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John’s focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of an academic team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of the battery thermal control designer. After earning his engineering degree, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University. For 20 years, he applied his engineering and sales talents in the worlds of semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceutical production, and automotive electronics supply chain. Always a writer, John has published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to online publications such as Car Talk, John’s work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers, and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites.
We compare and contrast two of America’s top-selling sedans. Which sedan is your perfect vehicle, the Camry or the Corolla?
The Camry is the larger of the pair, but the Corolla is also surprisingly roomy. Aside from size, the Camry has more to offer for buyers who prioritize performance. Both offer excellent green powertrain options.
Here is our breakdown of these great Toyotas.
Table of Contents
Toyota Corolla vs. Camry Comparison
Specifications |  |  |
| Length/Width/Height | ||
| Passenger Volume | ||
| Cargo Volume | ||
| Top Power Rating | ||
| Drive Type | ||
| Best Fuel Economy (Hybrid Trims) | ||
| IIHS Rating | ||
| Consumer Reports: Actual and Predicted Reliability* |
* Actual reliability is for the 2020 model year, predicted for 2021
The Tale of the Tape
Our chart above shows the dimensions of the Camry vs. the Corolla. The Camry is meaningfully larger in every way except height. FindTheBestCarPrice has test-driven both the Camry and Corolla in their current generations, and we find them to feel larger inside than many competitors with similar specifications. Toyota wisely carves out room in the driver’s space so that one does not feel confined in the right knee, shoulder, or headroom areas. The Corolla, in particular, will feel roomier than its competitors if you drive them back to back.
The cargo area is where you may see a small difference between the two. The Camry has two cubic feet more space. To Toyota’s credit, the Corolla and Camry both have a spare tire. We feel this is an advantage since many competitors now delete that important safety feature.
Pricing
The Toyota Corolla is a less expensive car than the Camry, starting at just $21,020, including destination charges. By contrast, the larger Camry starts at $25,965. Do the math, and that is a sizeable 23% difference. If you are looking for a lower-priced option, the Corolla is the place to begin your search.
Both the Corolla and Camry have a broad range of trims from which to choose. The top trim Corolla Apex has a price of $29,305. The Camry XSE V6 has a price of $36,540. Looking ahead, the Camry and Corolla will retain their values in a similar way. Both are average for their class or better in terms of resale value.
Current Toyota Corolla Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
Current Toyota Camry Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Toyota deals here.
Performance
The Corolla offers a choice of three engines. The base four-cylinder engine produces 139 hp. The upper trims offer a larger engine with 169 hp. The Hybrid is an interesting choice. It has the least hp, but the electric assist boosts starting torque, and the mileage is an amazing 52 MPG. Most Corollas use a CVT transmission, but a manual stick shift is available on the SE trim.
The Camry’s engines are all best in class choices. The base four-cylinder engine has 200 hp, the top trims with the optional V6 offer 301 hp, and the Hybrid has a combined hp of 208 with added electric torque. The Camry Hybrid also earns a 52 MPG rating. The Camry offers optional all-wheel drive in some trims, something no Corolla does.
Infotainment
The great news for budget shoppers is that even the Corolla L, the least-equipped trim, does have standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. That provides navigation, music, and more at no added cost. The Corolla trims offer four steps up in audio quality from the base trim with JBL Premium audio as an available option.
The Camry also offers standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Optional JBL audio can be paired with a subwoofer and a large 9-inch infotainment display in top Camry trims.
Safety Ratings
Both the Camry and Corolla are very safe vehicles with a legacy of IIHS Top Safety Pick ratings. One way the two differ is that the 2021 Camry has the higher Top Safety Pick Plus rating, the highest possible from IIHS. Toyota was the first in the industry to commit to including automatic emergency braking on all models and the Corolla and Camry both have a long list of active safety systems.
Quality Ratings
Ask most Toyota shoppers to name their top requirements, and many will include “reliability.” Here the Corolla and Camry shine. Both models have a 5/5 rating for reliability from Consumer Reports for the 2020 and 2021 model years. Neither model has any red flags going back to 2013. These cars top the segment in reliability for both new and used years.
Fuel Economy
With both the Corolla and Camry earning a segment-best 52 MPG in their Hybrid trims, it is easy to call either the best choice for green buyers. Toyota’s Prius is no better in fuel economy. We dug a bit deeper and compared the conventional four-cylinder Corolla to the four-cylinder Camry. We found just a $50 annual fuel cost difference between the two.
The Driving Experience
We’ve driven many Corolla and Camry cars over the years, and we have found one thing to be true - They all feel different. A base Corolla does not feel like a mid-trim or the Apex top trim. The same is true of the Camry. We suggest that you speak to your sales advisor and tell them what you value most. Is it a quiet ride? The Hybrids are for you. Do you want sporty handling and sharp steering? The Corolla Apex or Camry TRD will deliver. In between, each Corolla or Camry will have a class-competitive driving satisfaction.
Toyota Corolla vs. Camry: Conclusion
Having both driven and analyzed the Camry and Corolla, we find the Camry is the standout, and not just because of the higher price point. The Camry is a world-beater. It can offer all-wheel drive, a V6 with over 300 hp, or 52 MPG. The Camry is also the highest-rated car in its size for safety and adds in the best possible reliability scores. If you want the better car, the Camry is the obvious choice.
That said, the Corolla’s value is amazing. For around $25K, one can drive home in a very well-equipped sedan with the best reliability record in its segment. Those looking for a great commuter car or a long-term all-around use vehicle with a limited budget will find the Corolla is hard to beat.
