Toyota Corolla vs. Toyota Camry | 2023 Comparison + The Best Model Year For Every Budget

Based on interior volume, both cars fall into the mid-size category, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, this is where the similarities end. There’s a substantial difference in cabin space. Passenger volume for the Corolla sedan is 88.6 cubic feet (84.6 cubic feet for the hatchback) compared to 100 cubic feet for the Camry. 

We’ll get more into interior and exterior measurements later. 

Engine Options & Specifications:

The contrasts between the Corolla and Camry continue under the hood. Power for the standard Corolla is based around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. With 169 horsepower, it won’t win any stoplight races, but that’s not the purpose of economy cars like the Corolla. 

Meanwhile, the Camry starts with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, making 202-206 horsepower (depending on trim and drivetrain). Greater displacement translates into a quicker 0-60 MPH time: 7.5 seconds for the Camry versus 8.2 seconds for the Corolla. 

The Camry’s exclusive V6 is another separator between the two cars. So is the 0-60 time for this engine at 5.6 seconds. It’s a quickness that’s very unusual for a mainstream family vehicle. 

But rapid acceleration isn’t everyone’s thing. Others are focused on squeezing every mile possible out of a gallon of gasoline. That’s where the hybrid versions of the Corolla and Camry come in. 

The core technology is the same (an internal combustion engine teamed with an electric motor), but the base engines differ. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder handles the duties for the Corolla, while the Camry gets a 2.5-liter unit. 

The fuel economy for both cars is downright impressive, with the Corolla Hybrid LE and XLE getting rated for 53 MPG in the city and 46 MPG on the highway. The larger Camry LE delivers equally notable results: 51 MPG around town and 53 MPG on the open road. 

Fuel economy is reviewed in greater detail later.

Transmission Options & Specifications:

One way manufacturers stretch fuel economy is by using continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). These systems use sophisticated technology to blend better mileage with reasonable acceleration. An eCVT is at the heart of the Corolla Hybrid’s powertrain. Think of it as a CVT on steroids. See the “Tech Talk” section below the charts to learn about CVTs and eCVTs.

While many automakers (including Toyota) have rapidly increased the use of CVTs, that’s not the case with the standard Camry. Interestingly, this sedan gets a tried-and-true eight-speed automatic. Toyota does use an eCVT with the Camry Hybrid.

TECH TALK: CVTs

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) does not use gears like a typical automatic transmission. Instead, it has two pulleys connected by a belt. One pulley connects to the engine, and the other connects to the wheels. The belt transfers the power between the pulleys. This setup allows the pulleys to continuously change positions as needed. The CVT automatically adjusts the pulleys as required, providing smooth and efficient power delivery.

An electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) uses electronic controls and electric motors to vary gear ratios instead of a belt and pulley system. Unlike a regular CVT, an eCVT has no physical pulleys or belts—the gear ratio is adjusted seamlessly by controlling the speeds of electric motors and generators. This electronic control allows faster, smoother gear ratio changes compared to a traditional CVT. An eCVT also provides more flexibility, needing less space and having fewer moving parts.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is quite common in modern mainstream automobiles. The arrangement is cheaper to manufacture and provides better fuel economy and bad-weather handling. 

But Toyota stands out by offering all-wheel drive (AWD) with the Corolla and Camry. This upgrade is restricted to a few trims. Nonetheless, these versions mean buyers don’t have to get an SUV if they want the confidence of AWD.

AWD is available only with a few hybrid trims (LE, SE, and SE Infrared) for the Corolla. Yet, the hybrid and AWD combination isn’t available with the Camry. Camry shoppers who want traction in all four corners will have to settle for the base four-cylinder gasoline engine.

NHTSA Safety Ratings

FIXD surveys tell us that many Corolla and Camry owners spend a great deal of time behind the wheel. 41% of Corolla owners use their cars for family transportation. It’s even more significant for those with a Camry (52%). Meanwhile, 39% of Corolla owners and 36% of those with a Camry in the driveway are busy commuting and taking long trips. 

It all adds to safety being a key factor. Something that Toyota engineers recognized in building the 2023 Corolla and Camry. Both vehicles receive flawless 5 out of 5 overall safety scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There are similar achievements in frontal and side crash testing. 

The one shortfall is the Corolla received a 4 (out of 5) in its rollover evaluation (the Camry scored a 5). That said, a 4 or better is still a respectable result in any NHTSA test. 

IIHS Awards:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) takes a somewhat different approach to safety testing. In particular, it focuses on its small frontal overlap crash test, which the organization feels represents a more real-world scenario (a single car running into a fixed object). IIHS also looks at side impact crashes, roof strength, headlight effectiveness, and advanced driver safety technologies (like automatic emergency braking). 

While tested vehicles receive a Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor grade, the true measure comes if a car gets a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designation. If “Good” is a “B” grade, Top Safety Pick notches things up to an “A-,” and the Top Safety Pick+ signifies an “A+”

The 2023 Corolla (sedan and hatchback) is rated a Top Safety Pick by IIHS, while the 2023 Camry gets kudos for its Top Safety Pick+ designation.

Airbags & Head Restraints:

Most car buyers don’t think about airbags, but they should. These safety devices save thousands of lives every year. 

Toyota shoppers can take confidence in knowing that the 2023 Corolla and Camry have a full complement of airbags. Units in the steering wheel and dashboard protect the front row, along with seat-mounted airbags for all outboard seats. Meanwhile, a side-curtain system for both rows protects in the event of a rollover or side-impact collision. Both cars also get a driver’s knee airbag that correctly positions the body during an accident. There are ten airbags in all for each vehicle. 

Neither the Corolla nor Camry come with overhead airbags. This newer technology replaces traditional front-row units (steering wheel and dashboard) with overhead devices. 

Active head restraints are usually found in specialty and high-end vehicles to minimize whiplash injuries. Mainstream cars like the Corolla and Camry don’t usually come equipped with this feature.

Semi-Autonomous Driving:

At this stage, hands-free driving is found in premium vehicles from Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, General Motors, and others. This isn’t technology you’ll find in a Corolla or Camry.  However, both cars come with systems that offer some degree of semi-autonomous assistance. 

Adaptive cruise control (Toyota calls this Dynamic Radar Cruise Control) is standard on all 2023 Corolla and Camry trims. This feature helps during stop-and-go highway traffic. When active, adaptive cruise control will automatically slow or stop a car in traffic and return to normal speed once the road is clear. The driver must still hold the steering wheel. 

Both cars use assistive steering and corrective steering to maintain the vehicle’s proper lane position through gentle automated steering actions. Higher trims of the Camry are available with front and rear parking sensors and low-speed automatic braking (to prevent accidents during tight maneuvering). 

Driver Warning Systems & Telematics:

Toyota equips the Corolla and Camry with many standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to minimize or prevent accidents. 

This starts with a forward collision warning (FCW), which alerts the driver if an obstruction is detected in the road ahead. Meanwhile, lane departure warning (LDW) warns if the car drifts outside its lane. This technology includes automatic emergency braking (AEB), another standard ADAS feature. AEB takes FCW further by automatically applying the brakes if a collision is imminent. 

Blind-spot monitoring (BSM) and rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA) are other useful ADAS systems. They’re available on lower Corolla and Camry trims and standard equipment on the more expensive versions. 

While both cars come with traffic sign recognition (a display with sign information), only the Camry gets a rear-seat reminder (an alert that someone remains in the second row). 

If ADAS technology appears like alphabet soup, check out an effort from AAA, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and other groups working to standardize the terminology for these systems. 

Road Visibility Features:

LED headlights are becoming more common in today’s cars, offering better illumination and lower power consumption. Curiously, LED headlights are standard with the lower-priced Corolla, but only select Camry trims get this upgrade. All Corollas and Camrys have automatic headlights and backup cameras (a safety feature required by law). 

From here, more advanced visibility features are the exclusive domain of upscale Camrys. A head-up display (shows speed information and other important details on the windshield) is optional on the gas or hybrid Camry XLE and XSE and included with the V6 XLE or XSE. Adaptive headlights (directs forward illumination in sync with the steering wheel) are optional exclusively with the Camry XLE Hybrid. 

Interior Features:

Smartphone-dependant car shoppers can relax. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2023 Corolla and Camry. 

However, if heated front seats are a must-have, you’ll need to be more selective about which Corolla or Camry to buy. 

Heated front seats are standard on only a handful of Corolla trims (XSE, Hybrid XLE, and XSE Hatchback); the other versions have no factory option. This feature is optional or included with most Camry trims. However, heated front seats are unavailable with the SE Nightshade (gas or hybrid) and the TRD. 

And speaking of heated seats, some automakers offer this feature through a subscription service. This hasn’t yet happened in the U.S., but in certain countries, BMW is offering heated seats for a monthly fee. The advantage is you can shut off the service during warm months, but you’ll need to keep paying (or pay a one-time upfront fee) to activate the heated seats.

One industry study shows mixed results for consumer acceptance of features on demand (FoD), with about one-fifth not even being aware of the concept. 

Interior Dimensions:

As already covered, the 2023 Corolla is smaller inside than its Camry counterpart. But how does this translate to interior dimensions? The answers may surprise you.

Despite less cabin space, the Corolla and Camry have identical front legroom at 42 inches each. It’s in the second row that the differences become apparent. The Corolla sedan has 35 inches of rear legroom (30 inches for the Corolla hatchback) compared to a more generous 38 inches for the Camry.

These two Toyota also match with an identical 38 inches of front headroom. In the back, the Corolla sedan offers 37 inches of headroom (38 inches for the hatchback) against 38 inches for the Camry. 

At the same time, the Camry can claim bragging rights for more trunk space than the Corolla sedan (15.0 cubic feet versus 13.1 cubic feet). The Corolla hatchback has a 17.8 cubic foot cargo area. 

The Camry’s extra space shows up in the shoulder and hip room, especially in the front seats. For instance, the front shoulder room for the Corolla falls short at 54 inches, compared to 58 inches for the Camry.

Exterior Features:

Wheels may also be an afterthought for many car buyers. But wheel size can impact ride quality. Larger rims can translate into better traction and cornering but may result in a bumpier ride. Bigger wheels also offer better aesthetics by filling out the wheel wells more completely. This is why the higher the trim, the larger the wheel. Different materials (steel or alloy) and finishes also help separate the wheels among the various trim levels. 

Car buyers drawn to bright exterior colors will be disappointed by the Corolla’s and Camry’s options. A medium red is about as exciting as it gets, supplemented by a blue or two. However, if you’re okay with white, black, gray, or silver, then Toyota has you covered. 

Exterior Dimensions:

No one will be surprised that the Camry is larger on the outside than the Corolla. The extra cabin space has to come from somewhere. For those who regularly have to park in tight spaces, the Corolla’s smaller exterior dimensions can make a difference. Not only is the Camry 1 to 2 inches wider, but it’s as much as 11 inches longer than the Corolla sedan (and up to 21 inches longer than the Corolla hatchback). 

Nonetheless, the Camry is the clear wheelbase champion over the Corolla. Its 111 inches from axle to axle will make for much smoother rides than the 106 inches of the Corolla sedan (104 inches for the hatchback). The longer the wheelbase, the more comfortable the car, especially while driving over highway expansion strips. 

Given that the Corolla and Camry are from the same manufacturer, one model doesn’t have better warranty coverage than another. Both vehicles come with a three-year or 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and five years or 60,000 miles of powertrain protection (for the engine, transmission, and drive axles).

Reddit is ripe with feedback about the Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry. Here’s a summary of recent comments about these cars from Reddit: r/whatcarshouldIbuy.

When it comes to the Toyota Corolla, fuel efficiency and affordability are repeatedly emphasized as significant advantages by Redditors. One person states, “The Corolla is great on gas and super affordable. Personally, I preferred the Camry for its powerful engine and luxurious feel.” Another commenter chimes in, saying, “I love my Corolla. It’s affordable and reliable.” The Corolla enjoys a reputation as a practical, economical choice. “The Corolla is a great city car, easy to park and maneuver,” summarizes one commenter’s feelings.

On the other hand, the Toyota Camry wins praise for its superior power, spaciousness, and upscale touches. One Redditor remarks, “The Camry has better acceleration and overall feels more powerful. But the Corolla is no slouch, especially if fuel economy is your priority.” 

Another reviewer agrees: “The Camry’s interior feels more high-end. But the Corolla is also well-designed and definitely more economical.” The Camry appears to be preferred by some commenters for its comfort on long trips and commutes, with one person explaining, “The Camry is better for longer trips, it’s more comfortable.”

However, the Corolla remains popular as an affordable, less-fancy option. As one commenter declares, “The Corolla has been perfect for me—it’s great on gas and fits my budget.” Another sums it up: “I’ll vote for the Corolla. It’s more than adequate for my needs, and the fuel efficiency is a big plus.” 

For drivers who prioritize economy and reliability over amenities, the Corolla satisfies many as a solid, budget-friendly choice. “The Camry is nice, but I don’t need the extra power or space,” comments a Redditor. 

Ultimately, the buyer’s needs and preferences determine whether the sensible Corolla or more premium Camry is the right fit.