Compact cars are great for so many reasons. Whether you desire fuel economy, a ride that turns on a dime and gives you change back, or fun style, this is the vehicle class that provides it. And we have three great candidates for the top 2017 compact car in the 2017 Toyota Corolla, 2017 Honda Civic and 2017 Nissan Sentra.
The 2017 Honda Civic gets somewhat better fuel economy for its base trim level at 28 mpg city, 40 mpg highway to the 2017 Corolla's 28 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, but the Civic also checks in with a higher starting MSRP. The 2017 Corolla also tops the 2017 Nissan Sentra's base MPG, as the all-new Sentra gets 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway.
Another advantage the 2017 Corolla has over the 2017 Civic and 2017 Sentra is the space it features on the inside, with 97.5 cubic feet of room for passengers, which eclipses the 2017 Civic's 95.0 cubic feet in all but its base trim and the 2017 Sentra's 95.9 cubic feet. That means while you enjoy the Corolla's fun style and fuel economy, you and your passengers will also have more room to stretch out.
2017 Toyota Corolla | Vs. | 2017 Honda Civic | 2017 Nissan Sentra |
28, 36 (30, 40 for LE Eco) | Base MPG (city, highway) | 28, 40 | 27, 35 |
Yes | 2016 5-Year Cost to Own Award - KBB.com? | No | No |
Yes | NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating in 2016? | Yes | No |
97.5 | Passenger Room (cubic feet) | 95.0 in most trim levels | 95.9 |
35.6 | Turning Circle (feet) | 35.7 | 34.8 |
The Toyota Corolla has been a best-seller for years thanks to its fun style, with an audacious exterior (starting with its bold front fascia) that belies its size. The best comparison would be a guard in basketball who handles the ball well and also can go up for a dunk. For 2017, the Corolla celebrates its 50th anniversary with improvements in safety with the Toyota Safety Sense-P Technology package. Step inside a 2017 Corolla and you'll have features like Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
Besides these safety features, the experts have weighed in on the value and safety of all three vehicles. The 2016 model year of the Corolla was named a 5-Year Cost to Own winner for the compact class by the well-respected KBB.com, which means the Corolla has phenomenal value and a low cost of ownership for years. And if you desire a car that is safe for you and your loved ones, then check out the 2016 Corolla's NHTSA 5-star safety rating. The 2016 Civic also hit this top safety level, but the 2016 Sentra did not.
The 2017 Toyota Corolla is surprisingly stylish, and with its nice fuel savings, low cost to own and spacious interior, this is the compact that rules them all. We proudly carry the Toyota Corolla at Novato Toyota, 115 Vintage Way in Novato, CA, which is about 30 miles from San Francisco, and we serve the area that includes San Rafael and Petaluma, as well as the greater San Francisco and Oakland areas. Please contact us at (415) 897-3191 or visit us to set up a test drive today.