Which Is Better for Commuters to Buy Used, the Corolla or Camry?

Commuting to work can feel like a drag sometimes, but with the right car at your service, your commute can be comfortable, reliable, and affordable. As your premier used Toyota dealer, we here at Future Toyota of Yuba City want to get you behind the wheel of the perfect commuter.

Buying used can seem risky for those who rack up their odometer every day, but with an automaker like Toyota, you can rest easy knowing that even a used model will have plenty of life left in it. Toyota’s vehicles are built to stay in working order for the long run, so you won’t have to call your boss and explain that you can’t come to work because your car broke down on the way.

Looking at Toyota’s lineup, some vehicles clearly stand out as good choices for commuters. The 4Runner and Tundra are ideal for carrying cargo and tackling rough terrain, but they are not especially suited to routine travel. So let’s narrow in on two popular options that are both easy to find pre-owned and great for commutes of all kinds: the compact Corolla and midsize Camry.

Fuel Economy

When you must drive to and from work each day, fuel economy is top of mind. You go to work to make money, not to lose it at the gas pump, so having a vehicle that gets plenty of miles per gallon is a huge asset.

Both the Camry and the Corolla offer great fuel economy, thanks to their aerodynamic bodies and efficient powertrains, and this has been true for quite some time now. According to the EPA, the average 2023 vehicle gets 28 MPG combined. You can go all the way back to the 2013 versions of these two sedans and still meet this figure, with the Camry getting 28 MPG while the Corolla gets 29 MPG; these models still fare better at ten years old than the average brand-new vehicle made today!

Since the Corolla is the more compact option of the two, it’s generally the more fuel-efficient option. This can vary since some trim levels offer more power at the expense of optimal fuel economy, and one thing that throws a curveball into the equation is the hybrid option. The Camry has been offered as a hybrid since the 2007 model year, which debuted with a fuel economy rating of 34 MPG combined. Since the hybrid has been around for so long, it’s not uncommon to find it on a used lot. By contrast, the Corolla Hybrid didn’t hit the scene until the 2020 model year, with a rating of 52 MPG combined that perfectly matches the fuel economy rating of the 2020 Camry Hybrid.

Clearly, this metric is more complicated to compare than it might seem at first glance. We can simplify this by simply calling it a tie since comparable versions of the two tend to have similar—if not identical—fuel economy ratings. In general, both are exceptionally more efficient as hybrids but are still plenty pleasing with traditional powertrains, far outpacing the industry average.

Tech Features

Nothing takes the sting out of being stuck in rush hour traffic quite like a good infotainment setup. When you can listen to your favorite playlists or podcasts or catch up with friends and family over the phone, you can see the time you spend stuck on the freeway as time nevertheless well spent. Toyota has long had well-equipped vehicles, so it’s easy to get a tech setup that works for modern drivers, even on a model that’s several years old.

The 2017 Corolla features an infotainment system with a responsive touchscreen display, Bluetooth capability, a USB port for charging your phone or connecting for audio streaming, and voice recognition for hands-free commands. All this is also available on the 2017 Camry alongside a wireless charging port that comes standard on the XLE and XSE trims. Both models gained standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trim levels starting in the 2020 model year, allowing you to use your smartphone’s apps through your vehicle’s interface.

Safety Suite

Rush hour can get the better of us sometimes, and it’s easy to lose focus when you’re tired after a long day at work or frustrated by the slow crawl of traffic. Driver assistance features can keep you safe and recapture your attention when danger is imminent. Both the Camry and Corolla have been including Toyota Safety Sense as standard for years; the Corolla got it for the 2017 model year, and the Camry followed right behind in the 2018 model year.

Toyota Safety Sense features that have been around since the 2017 model year include a frontal collision warning with pedestrian detection and lane-departure alert. Other features can take direct action to avoid an accident, like automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist. Automatic high beams turn your brights on and off based on ambient light and surrounding traffic. Adaptive cruise control can slow down or come to a stop to avoid getting too close to the vehicle in front of you, then return to your set speed when the coast is clear.

Beyond the Commute

It’s all fine and well to talk about what vehicles are best for a commute, but almost no one who drives to work would claim that the word “commuter” best describes their identity. We know that you have a life outside of going to and from work and that it, too, requires a car. So, let's take a look at what each of these models can do for you during your personal time...

The Corolla’s small size makes it great for navigating busy parking lots and finding street parking in the city. It also has a spacious back seat for its size, so you can bring friends or family along without getting complaints about cramped quarters. The Corolla has also been available as a hatchback since the 2019 model year; this open cargo area is helpful for buying groceries in bulk, picking up furniture, or bringing a big dog along for a weekend hike.

Midsize sedans are widely considered to be good family cars because of their spacious interiors and secure design. The Camry is no exception and has comfortable seating in both the front and back rows that gives everyone the breathing room they need to get along on long car rides. That extra space also comes in handy if you like to take road trips and want room for all your luggage and any souvenirs you pick up along the way.

So, Which Commuter Car Is Best?

Looking at the pros and cons of the Corolla and Camry, it’s hard to name a clear winner here. Both are fuel-efficient, comfortable, and well-suited to commuting, running errands around town, and spending vacation days seeing the sights. It all comes down to your personal preferences. If you carpool with your coworkers and want to ensure you have a spacious interior, the Camry is probably the best call. If you don’t have a dedicated parking space at work or home, then the compact Corolla may be more appealing.

Since both vehicles are well-built, comfortable, and efficient, there is no wrong answer, which should take the pressure off. If you have any questions about either model, don’t hesitate to give us a call or come by to look at our inventory in person. We can get you behind the wheel of a car that will improve not just your commute but your whole driving experience.