, there aren’t too many differences that make one definitively better than the other. The best option for you depends on your specific needs—especially in terms of price, space, and power.

The Corolla has long been known as the more affordable alternative to the Camry, though there are more differences than just the price tag. But which car is the better option?

Here to clarify the biggest—and smallest—differences between the 2021 Toyota Corolla and the 2021 Toyota Camry is

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, the trustworthy super app and

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expert. You’re in the right place for a complete side-by-side comparison between the two cars, and some expert tips for lowering your

Toyota car insurance costs

Pricing

The Camry and Corolla differ over a handful of factors, but the most obvious one is the price. The 2021 Corolla is at least $5,000 cheaper than the Camry, but this contrast grows wider with higher trims.

Here’s a look at the pricing differences between the 2021 Corolla and Camry sedans.

Model	MSRP	Model	MSRP
2021 Toyota Corolla L	$21,520	2021 Toyota Camry LE	$26,070
2021 Toyota Corolla LE	$21,500	2021 Toyota Camry SE	$27,585
2021 Toyota Corolla LE Hybrid	$24,625	2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid	$28,295
2021 Toyota Corolla SE	$21,740	2021 Toyota Camry XLE	$30,970
2021 Toyota Corolla XSE	$24,690	2021 Toyota Camry XSE	$31,520
2021 Toyota Corolla XLE	$25,450	2021 Toyota Camry TRD V6	$33,285

If saving money on a Toyota sedan is your priority, the Corolla is the way to go—but it’s important to keep in mind that a cheaper price upfront doesn’t always equate to “cheaper” in the long run. However, in the case of Corolla vs. Camry, even the true cost of ownership is more affordable for the 2021 Corolla. Let’s check out the details.

We’ll be comparing the five-year cost of ownership for each model’s most basic trim: the

2021 Toyota Corolla LE

and the

2021 Toyota Camry LE

—which already differ by almost $5,000 in starting price. Edmunds estimates the 2021Corolla LE’s cost of ownership to be around$27,696 throughout the first five years. This total includes $3,273 for maintenance and an average of $3,968 for car insurance costs.

As for the 2021 Toyota Camry LE, it’ll cost you around $30,965 for the first five years of ownership, according to Edmunds. While the Camry costs nearly $5,000 more to buy, it’ll only cost around $3,300 more over five years.

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Performance

While performance for both of these cars is sufficient for most drivers, the best option will depend on your priorities and preferences.

The 2021 Camry’s base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine spits out 203 horsepower, but upgrading to the 3.5-liter V6 engine will bump your available horsepower up to 301 hp. In comparison, the 2021 Corolla’s base 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine produces 139 horsepower—but the optional 2.0-liter four-cylinder achieves 169 horsepower.

While these numbers are an improvement from previous Corolla models, they can’t compete with the Camry’s power. That said, neither car’s four-cylinder engine is anything to write home about. The Camry’s V6 is a satisfying option, but both of the Corolla engine options pale in comparison.

The 2021 Camry is equipped with an eight-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, as opposed to the Corolla’s continuously variable transmissions (CVT). While CVTs are often more fuel-efficient than regular automatic transmissions, there’s little difference between the two in our case—as we’ll see in the next section. The Corolla is also available with a manual transmission on the limited Apex Edition trim.

As is standard with sedans, both are set with front-wheel drive, but the 2021 Camry can be upgraded to all-wheel drive—good if you often find yourself driving in the snow.

That being said, both cars are perfectly adequate for the streets or highways as long as you don’t plan on winning any drag races. Despite underwhelming acceleration, both sedans offer a pleasant ride quality and decent steering—and both make excellent daily drivers for your commute.

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Fuel efficiency

You’d think that as a compact sedan, the Corolla would smoke the larger Camry when it comes to fuel efficiency, but the cars are almost evenly matched in their fuel economy. While the 2021 Corolla wins the contest for city mileage with 30 mpg, the Camry takes the cake for highway mileage with 39 mpg.

Without the hybrid options playing, both cars deliver great results when it comes to fuel efficiency. Check out the table below for a comparison between the EPA ratings across models and powertrains for both cars.

Model	Engine	Fuel economy (city/hwy/combined)
2021 Toyota Corolla	1.8L four-cylinder (base)	30/38/33 mpg
2021 Toyota Corolla	2.0L four-cylinder	31/40/34 mpg
2021 Toyota Camry	2.5L four-cylinder (base)	28/39/32 mpg
2021 Toyota Camry	3.5L V6	22/33/26 mpg

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While the four-cylinder options are basically the same in terms of mileage, keep in mind that larger engines like the V6 or the Corolla’s manual transmission will decrease the predicted fuel economy.

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Technology

Since both sedans are Toyotas, their infotainment and technology offerings are pretty similar. The Camry is a slightly more upscale option, so it’s stacked with a bit more than the Corolla—but not by much.

The 2021 Corolla comes with a decently-sized touchscreen—along with helpful knobs and buttons—to control the car’s Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wifi hotspot, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. The 2021 Camry’s standard options are practically identical, as both cars are equipped with Toyota’s Entune infotainment system.

There’s also not a lot of difference between the two sedans’ safety features. Thanks to Toyota’s Safety Sense™ 2.0, the Corolla offers a solid suite of standard driver-assistance tech, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2021 Camry is set with the newer Safety Sense™ 2.5, so its technology is slightly more developed than the Corolla’s but the features themselves are essentially the same.

Reliability

Toyotas are known for reliability, so both of these sedans are likely to be dependable cars for years to come. Let’s take a look at the ratings.

The 2021 Corolla is a top performer among all reliability experts: it scored 85/100 in predicted reliability from J.D. Power, a 4.5/5.0 reliability rating from RepairPal ranking it #1 in the compact cars category, and it scored a perfect 5/5 from Consumer Reports for reliability. Those numbers are hard to beat.

The 2021 Camry did almost as well, with a score of 84/100 from JD Power, a 4.0/5.0 and a third place spot for midsize cars from RepairPal, and a perfect 5/5 from Consumer Reports—making it one of the most recommended Camry models.

Again, both cars earn excellent ratings and hold longstanding reputations for being reliable vehicles, so there’s no wrong answer here.

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Interior

Here’s where the biggest difference between the two cars lies. The Corolla is a compact sedan, making it inherently smaller than the midsized Camry.

The entry-level trims on both sedans are pretty basic, but upgrading to higher trims comes with higher-quality materials and a more comfortable experience overall. However, the difference in quality will be less noticeable in the Corolla.

The cargo space and size differences between the two models are outlined in the table below.

Measurement	2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan	2021 Toyota Corolla Hatchback	2021 Toyota Camry Sedan
Cargo volume	13.1 cubic feet	17.8 cubic feet	15.1 cubic feet
Headroom (front seats)	38.3 inches	38.4 inches	38.3 inches
Legroom (front seats)	42 inches	42 inches	42.1 inches
Headroom (rear seats) 37.1 inches	37.6 inches	38 inches
Legroom (rear seats)	34.8 inches	29.9 inches	38 inches

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Needless to say, the 2021 Camry offers a bit more space than the Corolla sedan model, but both measure at the top of their class when it comes to spaciousness.

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The final word

The 2021 Toyota Camry and the 2021 Toyota Corolla are almost identical in every category, so the best option for you will depend on your exact preferences as a driver. If more power and updated features are a priority, the Camry will be your best bet. However, if you’re looking for the best value for your money, the Corolla has the advantage.

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How to find cheap car insurance for a 2021 Toyota sedan

Thanks to their mass-market production, excellent safety ratings, and overall reliability scores,

car insurance

for a Toyota sedan costs about average. When you’re driving a car as spiffy as the 2021 Camry or Corolla, though, you’ll want a car insurance policy that’s better than just average.

To score the best coverage at the lowest price, just download the

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app. Jerry sources customized quotes from over 55 top providers—and delivers them straight to your phone in just 45 seconds. You browse through a handpicked selection of the best offers to pick your new policy. It’s no trick—the average user saves more than $800 a year on coverage!