There are cars, and then there are sports cars. Toyota makes some excellent daily drivers with affordable prices, while Maserati caters to an entirely different crowd with its high-priced sports and supercars. With that said, let’s compare the least and most expensive press cars that I have driven this year: the 2022 Maserati MC20 and the 2023 Toyota Corolla XSE.

How much do the Toyota Corolla and Maserati MC20 cost?

Even though we are already comparing apples to oranges, the Maserati MC20 is from 2022, and the Toyota Corolla is a 2023 model. You might be thinking, “Why would you compare those two cars?” To which I would answer, “Why not?” Back to the 2022 Maserati, which starts at around $216,000. This ultra-fast sports car only came in one trim level, but there were countless ways to customize it from the factory. The one we tested was more like $275,000 after $12,000 carbon-ceramic brakes, $4,500 Blu Infinito paint, and a $4,000 black roof.

However, the 2023 Toyota Corolla is also quite customizable! The base LE trim starts at $21,700, but Toyota offers seven trims to choose from. It even has three hybrid trims, with the fully loaded Hybrid XLE starting at $26,850. Our test vehicle had an upgrade to the $675 JBL Premium Audio package. In total, this Corolla came out to $28,970. So, is the Maserati worth an extra $246,000 or so?

How do the Maserati MC20 and the Toyota Corolla drive?

The good news is that the Maserati MC20 and the Toyota Corolla drive pretty well. While on our test drive, which is a very formal route on city streets and the highway with the ultimate destination of Target, the Corolla was quiet and comfortable. It returned good fuel economy, and the air conditioning worked as promised. The Toyota sedan wasn’t the quickest getting up to speed on the highway, but Sport mode helped it join the speeding crowds of cars on Interstate 75.

It was a slightly different experience with the MC20. First, I was far too scared to take this thing on the highway for fear of rock chips, speeding speeders, and other highway scaries. So we took it to the streets. That 3.0L twin-turbo V6 with 671 horsepower is no joke, and the crazy Blu Infinito paint only makes it more obvious that this is a supercar, not a typical vehicle. For the most part, the Maserati was the fastest car on the road at any given time.

Toyota’s reasonable sedan has a cloth interior and five comfortable seats. Apple CarPlay worked well, and Taylor Swift serenaded us on the short trips around town. Au contraire, the Maserati has two quite firm race seats, sits extraordinarily low to the ground, and has wireless Apple CarPlay, allowing for more serenading. CarPlay actually worked better in the Maserati and automatically connected when the vehicle turned on. That wasn’t the case in the Toyota.

Is it worth it to buy a Toyota Corolla or a Maserati MC20?

You probably won’t regret buying the Toyota Corolla in the same way you might regret buying a Maserati MC20, but you also might not regret either decision. The Corolla is a reasonable and sensible choice. It is comfortable and fuel-efficient and will get you to and from work/school without issue. If you spend $250,000 on this Maserati supercar, you might have a lot of money or need a financial adviser. The fact that it isn’t reasonable or comfortable won’t matter when you are going from zero to 60 mph in three seconds. It still has two seats, four wheels, and will cut your commute time in half (at least).

On a serious note, the Toyota Corolla is an excellent sedan with a long history of reliability. It remains a best-seller for a reason and offers a long list of driver-assistance systems to keep everyone safe. The Maserati MC20 is a masterpiece in both design and performance. It also has some safety features and is made with a significant amount of ultra-strong carbon fiber. The brain says Corolla, but the heart says $216,000 supercar.