When it comes to the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic, we're talking about two of the most popular and efficient compact cars in history. The former has been the best-selling car on the planet since 1966 and the latter has dominated the Canadian market for 23 years.

However, if we analyze the forces at work, we must admit that the Honda Civic, and this has been the case for several years, has the upper hand on its great rival in many respects.

The comparison between the two hatchbacks is a good example of this and provides us with the necessary information to understand where the best buy is.

And to be honest, it's not because the 2022 Corolla Hatchback isn't a good car. It's just that the 2022 Civic Hatchback is superior.

The powertrains

The first place where it's striking is under the hood. Honda offers two engines, Toyota only one. If we look at the most powerful of the two, the advantage goes to Honda, as its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine suggests 11 more horsepower (180 vs. 169) and 26 more lb-ft of torque (177 vs. 151). When accelerating and passing, that makes all the difference.

And as for the transmissions, Honda is sportier, especially with the manual transmission.

The ride

This sportiness is also felt behind the wheel. In concrete terms, it's a perfect marriage between sportiness and rigidity. The Corolla hatchback offers dynamic performance, but its chassis doesn't react with the firmness of the Civic 5-pot's structure. Again, it makes all the difference.

Styling

When it comes to styling, we're looking at two great compact cars. However, we have to admit that after being criticized, Honda's design department rolled up its sleeves and came up with a superb model. This 11th generation of the Civic is called through the ages with panache. And it's even more noticeable with the Hatchback variant, as the styling of the rear end is simply breathtaking.

All in all, there's not a single aspect of the Civic that's lacking. It offers a nicer, better-finished and more spacious interior, as well as other features that are important when you want to buy a hatchback.

If you haven't yet taken a moment to experience the new Civic, it's time you did.