2015 - Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla?

Greetings. I'm in the market for an inexpensive compact sedan, and I've narrowed down my choices to the 2015 Civic and the 2015 Corolla. Specifically, the Civic SE, the Corolla LE (possibly the Plus), and the Corolla S (CVT) are my top picks. I've test driven the Civic EX (I believe) and the Corolla LE. First impression was that the Civic's interior is nicer and has a more modern aesthetic, though the Corolla seemed to get going quicker from a stop. I'll have to test drive both again, and for much longer than I did the first time, but I'd like to know what everyone thinks about these cars, both overall and with regard to specifics.
My impression is that the Corolla is better bang for the buck (including insurance premiums and cost-to-own) when it comes to features, though trade-offs include inferior cabin materials quality, a horsepower disadvantage, more cabin noise, and slightly lower safety scores. I'd be willing to live with all of those. What got me to register for this forum, though, is what I was seeing people say about the Corolla's paint: does the 2015 model year still have issues with the paint coming off in circular shapes, or is it still too early to know? What about slightly older model years?
Which of the models I'm considering would you buy and for what reasons? What are your experiences with recent Civics and Corollas generally? I'd like to note that all of them I mentioned have an online dealer price of less than $21k at the nearest dealer to me, and pre-tax, that's a number I'd like to stay under. I'd especially like to know about the Corolla LE in comparison to the Civic SE, just in case I'm unable to get a better Corolla, but any information is good information.
Thank you in advance.
My impression is that the Corolla is better bang for the buck (including insurance premiums and cost-to-own) when it comes to features, though trade-offs include inferior cabin materials quality, a horsepower disadvantage, more cabin noise, and slightly lower safety scores. I'd be willing to live with all of those. What got me to register for this forum, though, is what I was seeing people say about the Corolla's paint: does the 2015 model year still have issues with the paint coming off in circular shapes, or is it still too early to know? What about slightly older model years?
Which of the models I'm considering would you buy and for what reasons? What are your experiences with recent Civics and Corollas generally? I'd like to note that all of them I mentioned have an online dealer price of less than $21k at the nearest dealer to me, and pre-tax, that's a number I'd like to stay under. I'd especially like to know about the Corolla LE in comparison to the Civic SE, just in case I'm unable to get a better Corolla, but any information is good information.
Thank you in advance.
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Answers
Personally I'd go with the Civic. Hondas tend to feel a bit more sporty, and I like that. Toyota usually wins if you want a smoother ride though. I also like the looks of the Civic better. I haven't spend much time in either of them though, so I can't really comment on the interior.