2023 Toyota Corolla vs. 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid: Head to Head

The Corolla is the best-selling car in the world, achieved after many decades on the market. Given the nameplate’s long-lasting popularity, it’s unsurprising that Toyota introduced a hybrid version of the Corolla in the 2020 model year.

Both the Corolla and Corolla Hybrid walk in lockstep in certain aspects. Both are affordable and aimed at buyers seeking budget-friendly transportation. And they both offer lots of standard features, providing great value.

However, these compact cars differ in notable ways. For instance, one is fueled solely by gas, and the other has a powertrain that uses gas and electricity. And one has a price advantage over the other.

Which is a better match for you? In the following slides, we’ll scrutinize data and scores in our new car reviews to compare the Corolla Hybrid and Corolla in areas that matter most to shoppers searching for a compact car. Then, you can use our findings to determine which model suits your needs.

We constantly update scores on our site as new expert reviews and data become available. Therefore, the scores mentioned in this slideshow may differ from those in our reviews.

If you want to buy a new car and don’t want to spend much more than $20,000, you’re in luck: The Corolla and Corolla Hybrid fit your budget, provided you go with a base-trim model.

While either of these cars can be yours for relatively little cash, one is more affordable than the other. That honor goes to the nonhybrid Corolla.

The Corolla Hybrid starts at $23,050. That’s a great price, especially for a hybrid.

However, if you want to choose the less expensive Toyota, go with the nonhybrid Corolla sedan. That model starts at $21,700.

Keep in mind that the standard Corolla comes in sedan and hatchback body styles, and the sedan is the more affordable configuration. Corolla hatchbacks start at $23,155.

The Corolla Hybrid is available solely as a sedan.

Toyota is a brand that has a reputation for building reliable vehicles. That reputation has undoubtedly played a part in the Corolla’s enduring popularity.

And, of course, reliability is an excellent factor to consider when buying a car. A dependable vehicle can help you avoid inconvenient breakdowns and costly repairs.

The nonhybrid Corolla is impressive regarding predicted reliability, earning a J.D. Power score of 85 out of 100.

If you’re wondering what that number means, a J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, and a score of 81-90 is Great. A score of 70-80 is Average, and a score of 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.

The Corolla Hybrid doesn’t yet have a score for predicted reliability. As a result, we can’t pick a winner in this category.

The nonhybrid Corolla comes in sedan and hatchback versions. Both body styles seat five, but the sedan has roomier rear seats. The rear legroom in the sedan is 34.8 inches; hatchbacks have just 29.9 inches of room for those in the back seat to stretch their legs.

Toyota’s Corolla Hybrid is sold only as a sedan and is identical to the sedan version of the nonhybrid model. Both cars have the same interior dimensions in both rows.

Also, the hybrid and nonhybrid Corolla share the same standard interior features. For instance, the base models in both cars have a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, a six-way-adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way-adjustable front passenger seat.

The Corolla and Corolla Hybrid are evenly matched for seat comfort, so this part of the showdown ends in a tie.

Among cars, hatchbacks are the gold standard for cargo space. These vehicles are purpose-built to provide ample room for your belongings, whether hauling groceries home from the supermarket or toting luggage to the airport for a weekend getaway.

The nonhybrid Corolla has a hatchback version that provides 17.8 cubic feet of cargo room with all seats in place. Unfortunately, the sedan version has a lot less cargo space: 13.1 cubic feet.

Toyota’s Corolla Hybrid is only available as a sedan. Like the sedan version of its nonhybrid counterpart, it has 13.1 cubic feet of cargo room.

The standard Corolla wins this round thanks to the cargo capacity of its hatchback model.

The Toyota Corolla has a nice cabin that gets the job done. The overall design is clean and attractive. Toyota uses soft-touch plastics and padded surfaces throughout the interior, but there are also hard plastics here and there. Overall, the cabin looks and feels solidly constructed. And it does a respectable job keeping road and wind noise from disturbing passengers.

Corolla Hybrid cars are identical to the nonhybrid model regarding the ins and outs of the cabin. Because of their similarities, both Toyota cars tie for interior quality.

Though both cars have pleasant cabins, they’re less upscale than rivals like the Honda Civic and Mazda3. That’s something to keep in mind if interior quality is a priority.

The Corolla offers great value thanks to its compelling suite of interior features. Base models have an infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen that’s easy to see and reach. The screen has a tablet-like layout and crisp resolution, and it responds quickly to input. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, a Wi-Fi hot spot, remote keyless entry and automatic climate control are also standard.

Toyota’s Corolla Hybrid mirrors the standard amenities provided by its nonhybrid counterpart.

There isn’t much to separate both cars in this area, so they tie for interior features.

Both models have options like proximity keyless entry and wireless device charging.

The Corolla beats the Corolla Hybrid in this round with a more robust base powertrain and offering an energetic engine upgrade.

Toyota’s Corolla comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder generating 169 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. This engine does OK in city and highway driving, but passing maneuvers are sluggish.

Nonhybrid Corolla cars also offer a turbocharged 1.6-liter three-cylinder for those who want more pep. This upgrade delivers 300 horsepower and up to 295 pound-feet of torque and motivates the GR Corolla hatchback. The three-cylinder gets this Toyota moving with haste.

The Corolla Hybrid has just one powertrain, and it’s less potent, motivated by a 1.8-liter engine and two electric motors for a total output of 138 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque.

If your budget can handle the upgrade, the GR Corolla is tops for acceleration thanks to its lively engine.

Many small cars are fuel-efficient. That’s one of the critical reasons for their popularity with certain buyers.

The nonhybrid Corolla scores high marks in this area. It returns up to 32 mpg in city driving and 41 mpg on the highway. That’s a strong performance if you’re concerned about fuel economy.

However, the Corolla Hybrid does even better. That model returns up to 53 mpg when cruising around the city and 46 mpg on the highway. It’s one of the most fuel-efficient cars you can buy.

Its exceptional gas mileage gives the Corolla Hybrid an easy victory in this round.

The Corolla and Corolla Hybrid both offer pleasant handling and a smooth ride. They feel stable in daily driving and do a good job of keeping rough road surfaces from jolting passengers in the cabin.

However, the hybrid’s regenerative brakes sometimes feel grabby. The standard Corolla has no issue with its braking setup.

Also, the nonhybrid Corolla offers the GR variant, which has sporty handling and all-wheel drive. The hybrid has standard all-wheel drive but doesn’t offer a performance variant.

When you put it all together, the standard Corolla comes out ahead in this category.

The Corolla Hybrid and Corolla are excellent choices if safety is a consideration. Both earn the top score for overall crash protection in evaluations conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And the Corolla was named a 2023 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

However, neither car has received a safety score from U.S. News. As a result, we can’t select a winner in this round.

Both cars come standard with appealing driver aids. The list includes adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist and forward automatic emergency braking.

The 2023 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid are outstanding choices if you’re looking for a compact car.

Toyota’s Corolla Hybrid has better gas mileage. This car is a superb pick for drivers who value fuel economy.

However, the standard Corolla comes out on top in more categories than its hybrid counterpart. It costs less than the Corolla Hybrid and has more cargo room if you choose the hatchback body style. And it has better handling than the hybrid and superior acceleration.

Those wins put the Corolla on top in this showdown.

Spend some time in both cars to see how they compare firsthand.

Finally, check out the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the best deal at a dealership near you. We partner with local dealers to get you guaranteed, pre-negotiated savings. Whether you’re buying or leasing, shoppers who use the program save an average of more than $3,000 off their new vehicle.