If you’re looking for a perfectly reliable, fuel-efficient, and cost-effective means of transportation, then you can’t go wrong with either a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla. The Honda Civic has been a mainstay in the compact car segment for over 40 years, and the Toyota Corolla has always been nipping at its heels. However, while the two cars have been perennial rivals, one thing is for sure; they are both normal cars that made for everyone.

The Honda Civic is aggressively normal

There’s really no other way to put it; the Honda Civic is a normal car. Sure, it was completely redesigned for the 2016 model year, when Honda made it longer, fatter, and more angular. But at least it came with a turbocharged engine and some tech-savvy features like a digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that put it ahead of it’s time. However, it’s getting a little long in the tooth, and we can’t wait for another complete update.

On the road, the Honda Civic drives just as it should, or as Consumer Reports puts it: “a mature, substantial compact car.” They also said that the Civic “handles with confidence” and it that it feels “secure and predictable with minimal body lean.” It’s no wonder they gave it an overall 76 out of 100 on the road test scores. Car and Driver echoed these praises calling the Civic “a jack of all trades” as the Civic “strikes a great balance between comfort and driver engagement.” As we can see, it’s safe to say that the Honda Civic does its job well and stay true to its efficient and economical roots.

The Toyota Corolla is progressively normal

Let’s face it, the Toyota Corolla has always been known for being somewhat bland and boring to drive, however, it’s been redesigned for the 2020 model year and is out to change your mind. With a progressive new look that features more aggressive-looking head and tail lights and protruding front and rear bumpers. All things considered, it’s a brave departure from the car’s last generation, however, it is welcomed.

For the new model year, the Toyota Corolla is available sedan and hatchback form and comes with either a 1.8-liter engine or a more-powerful 169-hp, 2.0-liter engine. Does that make it super fun to drive and does it blow the Civic out of the water? Not really. According to Car and Driver, the “Corolla’s progressive steering is satisfactory, but not exemplary,” and its “coarse engine sounds” upon hard acceleration “diminished its refinement.”

They also mentioned that the Corolla is less exciting than the Honda Civic. Ouch. But it sounds like Toyota is getting a little closer to the mark, however, the brand still has a little catching up to do if it wants to make it’s bread-and-butter compact better than the rest.

Which compact car should you choose?

As we stated before, either the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla will suit your daily driving needs perfectly fine. They both come standard with Apple Carplay, a host of driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, and they both cost about the same. What’s more, they even more come in either a sedan or hatchback form to boot. So, if you’re looking for a car that’s perfectly normal for your perfectly normal (and traffic-laden) commute, then choose either the Toyota Corolla or the Honda Civic. It all comes down to personal preference.