Corolla or Camry: Which Sedan is Right For You?

When it comes to safe, reliable, family sedans, no company can match what Toyota provides. With the Toyota Camry and the Toyota Corolla, you have two of the best-selling, best-loved vehicles on the market today. What they bring to the table can make it hard to choose between the two of them - so how do you decide which is right for you and your lifestyle?

   

While the Toyota Corolla is considered a compact sedan with the Camry being considered a mid-size, you might be surprised to find that there is very little difference in how much space is provided for passengers and cargo.

Both vehicles offer ample headroom, with 38 inches or more in the front seat and 37 inches or more in the rear. Surprisingly, the Corolla offers more rear legroom than the Camry - 41.4 inches versus 38.0 inches. The Camry makes up for it in seat width, with 11 inches more of hip room in the rear seat and an extra inch of shoulder room. Either way, average adults will be comfortable on short trips around New Hampton or longer highway treks to Middletown or Goshen.

Cargo space is also relatively even, with the wider and longer Camry offering 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space versus 13 cubic feet even in the Corolla. Both are more than enough space for trips to the grocery store or soccer practice, you just get space for an extra bag on those long trips with the Camry.

Striking the balance between providing enough power to make every day driving pleasant but having fuel economy that doesn't break the bank is the goal of every car and SUV on the road today.

The smaller Corolla favors a balance between fuel economy and power. The 1.8L, four-cylinder engine can be coupled with a Continuously Variable Transmission or a six-speed manual one. It kicks out 132 horsepower and 128 lb.-ft. of torque. It's also incredibly efficient, getting 28 MPG around New Hampton and 36 MPG out on the highway. 

Adding more choices, the Camry also brings more power to the table. The base 2.5L four-cylinder engine knocks out 203 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. Paired with an efficient eight-speed automatic transmission, this means getting up to 29 MPG around town and 41 MPG on the highway - top numbers for not just a mid-size sedan, but better than many compacts. 

Of course, some drivers just want the ultimate in response at their beck and call, which is where the 3.5L V6 comes in. With 301 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque, it is quick off the line, and makes merging onto highways or overtaking traffic a breeze. The eight-speed automatic transmission keeps it fuel efficient, as it still gets 22 MPG around town and 32 MPG on the open road. 

But if you're more interested in fuel economy, and the base Camry just doesn't get good enough gas mileage for you, that's where the Camry Hybrid comes in, with a 2.5L hybrid powertrain engine that delivers 176 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the EV drive mode, it can get 51 MPG around Johnstown or 53 MPG on the highway - you'll be able to say goodbye to stopping at Sheetz on a weekly basis.

  

Being on the cutting edge of today's comforts, and providing great bang for your buck, inside every Camry and Corolla you'll get plenty of standard features and a plethora of available upgrades. 

The Corolla provides standard air conditioning with available automatic climate control with dust and pollen filters. The latter is standard on all Camry models, with optional single- or dual-zone automatic climate control. The latter can be paired with a humidity sensor and rear-seat vents for everyone's comfort. Both vehicles can be equipped with the Smart Key System with push-button start and remote keyless entry.

The trim throughout the Corolla is what you would expect with a value-minded vehicle, with durable fabric- and SofTex®-trimmed seating as well as easy-to-clean plastics and rubber. Ideal if you have messy children or pets that you need to transport. Front heated seats are available to counter chilly Johnstown winters. While the base level of the Camry features similar interior upholstery and trim to the Corolla, the upgrade options offer a luxury feel - leather-trimmed multi-stage heated front seats, and interior trims such as layered wood, embossed mesh, Tiger Eye wood, and textured metal.

Both vehicles bring the Entune™ Audio suite to the table, with Bluetooth® hands-free phone and streaming audio, Siri Eyes Free, and USB ports standard. The Corolla starts with a 6.1-in. touchscreen, with an available upgrade to a 7-in. touchscreen, with six speakers and iPod connectivity. SiriusXM® satellite radio can also be added, as well as HD Radio™ and integrated navigation. 

The Camry, on the other hand, starts with a 7-in. touch screen and can be upgraded to an 8-in. screen. Most importantly, it comes with Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring compatibility as standard, allowing you the ease of operation that comes with your everyday phone, no matter which trim level you choose. Toyota Wi-Fi Connect is also standard. The Camry can have SiriusXM® and HD Radio™ added, as well as multiple USB ports for charging. The premium Audio Plus system with JBL® and Clari-Fi™ technology features nine speakers, including a subwoofer amplifier, making for incredible sound while cruising the back roads of Monroe.

 

No carmaker on the market can compete with Toyota when it comes to standard and available safety features. 

Both vehicles come with a standard integrated backup camera with projected path. The Camry can be upgraded to feature dynamic guidelines with this camera as well, or a Bird's Eye View Camera with overhead 360-degree view in both Drive and Reverse. Both also get the Star Safety System as standard, including Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Brake Assist, and Smart Stop Technology.

What really sets the Camry and Corolla apart from the competition is that every trim features at least the basic Toyota Safety Sense P system. This includes driver assist features often found as cost-adding option on other cars, or in many cases, not available as options at all. This includes the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The Camry also offers a Blind-Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert as an option, as well as Intelligent Clearance Sonar with Rear Cross-Traffic Braking. No other carmaker has shown such a commitment to making the roads of New Hampton and Middletown safer for drivers and pedestrians alike.

All of this comes with amazing reliability - just like every other Toyota vehicle, the Camry and the Corolla are consistently rated two of the most reliable vehicles on the market by U.S. News & World Report. Come visit Johnston's Toyota and compare these two great vehicles side-by-side to see which one is the right fit for you and your lifestyle. Is it the value-minded, safe and economic Corolla, or the bigger, more advanced but a bit pricier Camry? Either one is a great choice, just like Johnston's Toyota in New Hampton is a great choice for new car shoppers across the region, from Goshen to Monroe.