The Corolla Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Civic doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.
With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Honda Civic, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
|
Corolla Hybrid |
Civic |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
|
Crossing Child - DAY |
|
12 MPH |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
25 MPH |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
|
Crossing Adult - NIGHT |
|
12 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
12 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-10 MPH |
25 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
-22 MPH |
25 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-21 MPH |
|
Parallel Adult - NIGHT |
|
25 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
25 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
37 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
Warning Issued-Brights |
2.5 sec |
2 sec |
37 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-18 MPH |
Warning Issued-Low beams |
2.4 sec |
1.1 sec |
The Corolla Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Civic doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
The Corolla Hybrid offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Civic doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Corolla Hybrid has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning is not offered on the Civic LX.
The Corolla Hybrid has standard Safety Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Civic doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.
Both the Corolla Hybrid and the Civic have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is safer than the Honda Civic:
|
Corolla Hybrid |
Civic |
OVERALL STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
187 |
325 |
Neck Injury Risk |
27% |
30% |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
356 |
444 |
Neck Stress |
165 lbs. |
189 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is safer than the Honda Civic:
|
Corolla Hybrid |
Civic |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
92 |
195 |
Abdominal Force |
164 lbs. |
286 lbs. |
Hip Force |
278 lbs. |
286 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
153 |
268 |
Spine Acceleration |
46 G’s |
79 G’s |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
254 |
260 |
Spine Acceleration |
33 G’s |
51 G’s |
Hip Force |
535 lbs. |
805 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.