Would recommend a Corolla hands down.
Pros: Reliable, robust, very comfortable, (for some people) over assisted steering, low cost of maintenance.
Cons: No immobilizer so easy to snatch, Underpowered and dull to drive.
For long routes (personal experience, have driven 28hrs straight through Punjab, unknown random villages, towns, fog, rain, etc, did not get tired or fatigued.)
Fuel avg: Mine gave me 12-13kmpl easy (manual)
Easy service, you can find different quality of spare parts, from local Lahore made to OEM. Even OEM are not as expensive as Honda parts. These cars are as easy to service as a Mehran.
I find it to be very comfortable, a very old Americanized boaty ride. It eats up potholes pretty easy.
Also, contrary to popular belief, it handles and brakes just fine.
All of this is from personal experience, I am on my 2nd GLi, I also have a Civic to compare with.