2025 Toyota Corolla vs. 2025 Toyota Camry: How They Compare

Bigger isn’t necessarily better. But for shoppers eyeing a compact car, it’s often tempting to move up to a roomier mid-size model for a little more coin. There are times when this makes perfect sense, especially for those who regularly carry more than one passenger and prioritize rear-seat space. Here, we’ll look at how the math works out for the compact Toyota Corolla and its larger Camry sibling in terms of what’s under the hood, how much fuel they use, what they’re like inside, and the total bill.PowertrainsIf it’s choice you’re after, the Corolla abides with three available powertrains and optional all-wheel drive. Gas versions of both the Corolla sedan and hatchback are powered by a 169-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while the hybrid setup available in the Corolla four-door has net output of 138 horses and can be had with AWD; both use a continuously variable automatic transmission. Toyota also sells the rally-inspired GR Corolla hatch, which is motivated by a 300-hp turbocharged three-cylinder and sends power to all four wheels, but since that sporty model doesn’t have an equal in the Camry lineup, we’re leaving it out of this comparison.The Camry, on the other hand, now comes only as a hybrid. Front-drive versions have a pair of electric motors in their hybridized continuously variable automatic, while all-wheel-drive versions add a third e-motor to power the rear wheels when needed. Power output is 225 horses with front-wheel drive or 232 with all-wheel drive.VIEW PHOTOSMichael Simari|Car and Driver2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE AWD.Fuel EconomyThe all-hybrid Camry is the more efficient option of these two according to EPA ratings, even compared to gas-electric versions of the smaller Corolla sedan. The Camry’s extra power means its engine doesn’t have to work as hard, even with a bit more weight to contend with. The best fuel-economy numbers come from the front-drive Camry LE, which hits 53 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway. At the other end of the spectrum is the all-wheel-drive XSE model, which comes in at 44 mpg city and 43 mpg highway.The Corolla’s EPA numbers range from highs of 50 mpg in the city and 43 on the highway for the front-drive hybrid to a still-respectable 30 mpg city and 38 highway for the least-efficient hatchback configuration.Interior and CargoAs the larger car, the Camry is unsurprisingly roomier inside than the Corolla, but the differences aren’t huge. Front-seat room is pretty similar in terms of head- and legroom, but the narrower Corolla has less hip and shoulder room than the Camry. It’s in the rear seats where the midsizer’s extra space is most noticeable. The Camry has 38.0 inches of legroom in back, while the Corolla makes do with 34.8 inches in the sedan and just 29.9 in the hatchback model.Relative trunk bigness is what you’d expect between the two, with the Corolla sedan offering 13.1 cubic feet and the Camry providing a slightly more commodious 15.1 cubes under its trunklid. Hatchback versions of the Corolla beat both four-doors, however, with 17.8 cubic feet with the rear seats in place or a max of 23.0 with them folded. So the model with the least rear-seat passenger space boasts the most room for cargo.PriceThe least expensive Corolla, an LE sedan with the gas engine, starts at $23,460. Hybrid Corolla sedans ask at least $24,960 with front-wheel drive or $26,360 when optioned with all-wheel drive. Hatchback pricing starts at $24,915 for the SE trim.For the Camry, the base LE trim has a starting price of $29,835 with front-wheel drive, or an extra $1525 to add all-wheel drive. It’s a pretty narrow gulf (a difference of less than $2500) when comparing Camry hybrid to Corolla hybrid—that extra money gets you more power, better fuel economy, and extra rear-seat space in the Camry. In this case, for some buyers bigger might be just a bit better.Ever since David was a wee Car and Driver intern, he has kept a spreadsheet listing all the vehicles he’s driven and tested. David really likes spreadsheets. He can parallel-park a school bus and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. After taking a break from journalism to work on autonomous vehicles, he’s back writing for this and other automotive publications. When David’s not searching for the perfect used car, you can find him sampling the latest in gimmicky, limited-edition foodstuffs.
Source: caranddriver.com