Toyota Corolla 2025 Comparison: Nissan Sunny, Honda City, and Hyundai Elantra

A top-seller in its own right in Saudi Arabia, the Toyota Corolla is a brand cemented in trust and longevity. No wonder then that the Japanese automaker surpassed 50 million units of the Corolla worldwide in August 2021. The 2025 iteration of the compact sedan is priced from SAR 78,660 to SAR 109,940 in KSA.

In this price bracket, you will find several alternatives to the Toyota Corolla. Its most touted competitors include the Nissan Sunny, Honda City, and Hyundai Elantra. Underneath the twelfth-generation bodywork of the 2025 Corolla is the ubiquitous TNGA-C platform, found in other Toyota cars like the Corolla Cross and C-HR.

A quick look at the Toyota Corolla 2025

There are a few exterior aspects of the Corolla 2025 that have been handed down from the previous-generation Camry. The similarities in the appearance of the front bumper and grille of these two cars are uncanny, which works in the Corolla’s favor. The placement of the ORVMs and the general shape of the windowline are comparable, too.

From its ‘F1-style’ nose to the stylish projector LEDs, sporty-looking front bumper, and fashionable taillights – the Corolla’s design is nice. Top variants get chrome trimmings and 17-inch alloy wheels, boosting the sedan’s presence further. The 2025 Corolla wheelbase is 2,700 mm and its length is 4,630 mm. Meanwhile, it stands 1,780 mm wide and 1,435 mm tall.

The Corolla’s rudimentary interior design follows a well-intended path of user-friendliness and dependable longevity. This entails the use of scratchy materials but with proven overall build quality. The dual-tone interior keeps things light, while the seats are adequately comfortable at the front & rear occupants. The sensibilities include split-folding rear seats and up to 470 liters of boot space.

Its other positives include rear AC vents, automatic climate control, push-button ignition, an electric sunroof, and a wireless charger. The Corolla can get LED headlights, cruise control, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, a 9-inch touch-infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay. There are 4 airbags, hill-start assist, vehicle stability assist, 360-degree cameras, ABS with EBD, and front & rear parking sensors.

A 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine with 119 hp and 148 Nm is available with the Toyota Corolla. It can also be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 168 hp and 200 Nm. The Hybrid’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with one electric motor collectively produces 121 hp and claims 27.6 kmpl (3.6 L/100 km). Meanwhile, the Corolla’s top speed is 200 kmph.

1. Nissan Sunny (SAR 66,000–83,500)

Design and interior

The Nissan Sunny’s rounded face features a tall V-Motion grille finished in black and sweptback LED headlights. Along with the rising beltline and two-tone 17-inch wheels, the Sunny gets ‘floating’ rear pillars, a sharkfin antenna and faux rear diffuser. Its taller body means that the sloping roof does not hinder headroom, but it is shorter and narrower than the Corolla.

The Sunny’s longer wheelbase offers more rear legroom even for tall passengers, while the driver gets a flat-bottom steering wheel. The softer leatherette in the cabin feels nicer, but the acres of scratchy black plastic bring down the whole ambiance. While the center console looks older and the touchscreen is smaller, the latter gets user-friendly physical shortcut buttons.

Features and equipment

The common features here include push-button start, automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, cruise control, and a semi-digital gauge cluster. The Nissan Sunny also gets remote boot release, 15-inch alloys as standard, Android Auto, and a more comprehensive semi-digital driver’s display. Its other features are a 6-speaker audio system, LED foglights, and split-folding rear seats.

Making life safe in the 2024 Sunny are its traction control system, vehicle dynamic control, hill-start assist, and 360-degree cameras. It also gets rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, rear emergency braking, forward-collision warning with emergency braking, and dual front airbags. Having just two airbags as standard in 2024 is nothing to write home about.

Engine and performance

The Nissan Sunny 2024 in KSA uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 118 hp and 149 Nm of torque. It can hit 100 kmph in under 11 seconds and a top speed of 180 kmph on a straight piece of tarmac. Its X-Tronic CVT gearbox is far from exciting but promises 19.1 kmpl (5.2 L/100 km).

2. Honda City (SAR 75,785–91,885)

Design and interior

The crisp character line sweeping across the sides of the Honda City have been inspired by the Katana sword. It, along with the honeycomb front grille, multi-array LED headlights and Z-shaped LED taillights, accentuates the dynamism of this car. The Sport variant’s black exterior accents and a trunk spoiler sweeten the deal even further.

The roomy cabin features soft leather seats, rear AC vents, paddle shifters, a chunky leather-wrapped steering wheel, and high-quality knurled dials. The Honda City has cupholders and handy storage cubbies, plus a capacious 510-liter boot – bigger than the Corolla. Its seats are really comfy, while the practical interior is not lacking in appreciable design flair.

Features and equipment

The Honda City gets expected features like keyless entry, cruise control, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, automatic AC, and power-folding ORVMs. It offers buyers tilt & telescopic steering wheel adjustments, an 8-speaker audio system, ECON drive mode, wireless charging, and a 7-inch digital MID. The list also includes LED foglights, an 8-inch infotainment screen, and automatic headlights.

The City is equipped with a wide-view rear camera, automatic high-beam assist, vehicle stability assist, emergency call, and hill-start assist. There are 6 airbags, front-collision alert with emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. It also features Honda’s handy LaneWatch camera system for better situational awareness. However, the Honda City still comes with rear drum brakes.

Engine and performance

Powering the Honda City is a naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 119 hp with 145 Nm of torque. It is rated at a respectable 21.1 kmpl (4.7 L/100 km), while its peppy nature means a top speed of 190 kmph.

3. Hyundai Elantra (SAR 85,450–121,544)

Design and interior

The Hyundai Elantra sports the brand’s “Parametric Dynamics” design language, resulting in a dynamic and elegant exterior. Its wedge-shaped & low-slung front has slim LED headlights & grille, while the sculpted door panels & rear with its full-width LEDs afford the Elantra a modern but athletic stance. Its boot is smaller than the Corolla, but it is longer and wider.

The contemporary and enveloping interior of the Hyundai Elantra looks classier and more premium than that of the Corolla. Its interior design is also more interesting, while the build quality and overall comfort outpaces the Toyota’s. The chunky leather seats & steering wheel feel upmarket, while rear legroom and NVH levels are noticeably better as well.

Features and equipment

The Hyundai Elantra gets 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, eco-friendly leatherette upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and a powered driver’s seat with memory. Its nicer features include a 64-color ambient lighting system, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, and dual 10.25-inch digital displays. The latter includes personalized user profiles for the infotainment system, whilst dual-smartphone connectivity and wireless charging are available.

Apart from heated & ventilated seats, the Elantra gets a powered sunroof, surround-view cameras, rear-occupant alert, a blind-spot camera, and safe-exist warning. It features forward-collision warning & avoidance, blind-spot warning with emergency braking, and a GPS-based adaptive cruise control system. You also benefit from rear disc brakes, driver-attention alert, lane-keeping assist, and electronic stability control.

Engine and performance

KSA customers of the Hyundai Elantra get to choose from three petrol engines. The base 1.6-liter four-cylinder makes 121 hp and 154 Nm, while the top-end 1.6-liter makes 126 hp and 155 Nm. There is a 2.0-liter motor that produces 147 hp and 179 Nm, while returning around 13.5 kmpl (7.4 L/100 km).

The Hyundai Elantra can manage over 200 kmph, while reaching 100 kmph in a little over 9 seconds. The standard gearbox option with the Elantra is a 6-speed automatic that drives the front wheels. It is not as economical as the Corolla, but the Elantra is faster.

Conclusion

If you can afford it, buy a Hyundai Elantra. Its upscale design, premium cabin, and equipment list are standouts. If your budget is tight but you still desire good comfort and performance, go for the Honda City. In case your budget is tighter still, the Nissan Sunny will do the job with reasonable efficiency and equipment.