If you plan on purchasing a compact sedan, then fuel efficiency is likely high on your list. In that case, there are no two better rivals than the 2022 Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla to provide the fuel-sipping commuting that you’re looking for. However, if you’re shopping between these two compact cars, you might wonder which one is more fuel-efficient. Let’s take a closer look.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla is available with a hybrid model

Both the 2022 Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are equipped with a few fuel-saving features like auto-engine shut-off technology and an idle-stop feature. However, the Corolla has one trick up its sleeve – a hybrid model. The Corolla Hybrid is powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that’s paired to an electric motor and connected to a CVT. This powertrain puts out a combined horsepower rating of 121, which is low, but that’s not what it’s about.

Instead, the main highlight of this drivetrain is its ability to achieve up to an EPA-estimated 53 mpg in the city and 52 mpg on the highway. That’s a huge difference over the available 2022 Civic models, especially since a hybrid model is not offered on that platform.

Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla: Which one is more efficient?

Hybrid models aside, the 2022 Toyota Corolla is still fuel-efficient in its own right. The base-model Corolla comes equipped with a naturally aspirated, 139-hp 1.8-liter engine that can achieve up to an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. However, the upper trim Corolla trim levels come with a larger 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 169 hp. Surprisingly, this engine can achieve up to 31 mpg in the city and up to 38 mpg on the highway despite its larger size.

The 2022 Honda Civic has two different engine choices as well. The base models are powered by a 158-hp, 2.0-liter engine that’s capable of up to 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. While the upper trim levels are powered by a more-potent turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that produces 180 hp. Unsurprisingly, this engine can achieve up to 33 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway, which is indicative of its force-fed architecture.

Which fuel-saving compact should you pick?

All things considered, if fuel efficiency is high on your list of important attributes when shopping for a compact sedan, then the Corolla Hybrid is the best choice. It may be slow, but achieving over 50 mpg on a regular basis could be worth the lack of performance.

However, the 2022 Honda Civic could be the better choice if you’re not into hybrid powertrains. The two engines offered on the Civic get better fuel economy than the gas-only engines found in the 2022 Corolla. As an added plus, the Honda Civic is more powerful, which means that better performance is still a factor. Just note that you may end up paying a little more for the Civic than the Corolla.