Toyota Camry vs Honda Civic RS

In-depth comparison in South Africa covering price, performance, fuel efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership costs.

Toyota Camry

2.5 Hybrid XSE CVT Hybrid Automatic

Change Car A

ZAR 749,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 160 kW (215 hp)

🔧 221 Nm

⛽ 19.2 km/l

Honda Civic RS

1.5T RS CVT Petrol Automatic

Change Car B

ZAR 725,000 ex-showroom

⚡ 178 kW (239 hp)

🔧 240 Nm

⛽ 16 km/l

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Quick Winners

⚡ Performance Civic RS

⛽ Mileage Tie

🔑 Ownership Tie

Overall Comparison Score

🏆 Winner

Camry

/ 100

pts

Civic RS

/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Executive Summary

Both Camry and Civic RS are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Key Differences At A Glance

Performance Civic RS +1 pts

Efficiency Equal

Safety Camry +2 pts

Practicality Camry +1 pts

Ownership Equal

Category Score Breakdown

🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

Performance 13/20

Efficiency 12/20

Safety 20/20

Practicality 12/20

Ownership 12/20

Civic RS

Performance 14/20

Efficiency 12/20

Safety 18/20

Practicality 11/20

Ownership 12/20

Pros & Cons

🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

Pros

Stronger safety package
More practical for daily use

Cons

Less powerful engine setup

Best For: Family Usage

Civic RS

Pros

More powerful engine output

Cons

Less comprehensive safety features
Less practical in daily usage

Best For: Highway Driving

Who Should Buy Which?

Camry

Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
Large families needing more practicality and usability

Civic RS

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Full Specification Comparison

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Ground Clearance	140	134
Wheelbase	2825	2735
Length	4885	4678
Width	1840	1802
Height	1445	1415
Kerb Weight	1575	1350
Gross Vehicle Weight	2055	1800
Seating Capacity	5	5
Boot Space	493	495
Towing Capacity	Not Rated	1200
Front Track Width	1575	-
Rear Track Width	1580	-
Turning Radius	5.8	5.5

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Engine	2.5L Hybrid Petrol-Electric	1.5L Turbo Petrol
Engine Type	Inline 4 Cylinder DOHC Hybrid	Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged
Displacement	2487	1498
Cylinders	4	4
Valves per Cylinder	4	-
Power	160	178
Power @ RPM	5700 rpm	-
Torque	221	240
Torque @ RPM	3600 rpm	-
Fuel System	Direct + Port Injection	Direct Injection
Turbocharger	Not Applicable	Single Turbo
Top Speed	180	210
0-100 km/h	8.3	8.5
Compression Ratio	14.0:1	10.3:1
Engine Position	Front Transverse	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Transmission	CVT Automatic (e-CVT)	CVT Automatic
Drive Type	FWD	4x2
Drivetrain Layout	Front Wheel Drive	Front Wheel Drive
LSD Available	Not Available	Not Available
Paddle Shifters	Not Available	-
Transfer Case	Not Applicable	-
Differential Lock	Not Applicable	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Claimed Mileage	19.2	16
City Mileage	16	12
Highway Mileage	21	16
Fuel Tank Capacity	60	47
Emission Standard	Euro 6	Euro 6
AdBlue Tank Capacity	Not Applicable	-
Auto Start Stop	Standard	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Airbags	9	6
ABS	Standard	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Traction Control	Standard	Standard
Hill Descent Control	Not Available	-
Hill Start Assist	Standard	-
Child Safety Lock	Standard	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard	Standard
Brake Assist	Standard	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Alarm System	Standard	-
Central Locking	Standard	-
Side Impact Beams	Standard	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Cruise Control	Standard	Adaptive
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Standard	Standard
Lane Departure Warning	Standard	Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	Standard
Parking Sensors	Front and Rear	Front and Rear
Rear View Camera	Standard	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Standard	Not Available
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert	Standard	-
Traffic Sign Recognition	Standard	Standard

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Seat Material	Leather Sport	Leather
Seat Adjustment	Electric 8-Way	Driver Electric
Heated Seats	Front	Front
Ventilated Seats	Front	Not Available
Steering Type	Electric Power Assisted	Electric Power Steering
Steering Adjustment	Tilt and Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Ambient Lighting	Multi-colour	Multi-color
Folding Rear Seats	60/40 Split	-
Front Armrest	Standard	-
Rear Armrest	Standard	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Climate Control	Dual Zone Automatic	Dual Zone Climate Control
Power Windows	All Doors	All Doors Auto
Keyless Entry	Smart Entry	Smart Key
Push Button Start	Standard	Standard
Wireless Charging	Standard	Standard
Sunroof	Panoramic Sunroof	Electric Sunroof
Electric Tailgate	Not Available	Not Available
Automatic Headlamps	Standard	-
Rain Sensing Wipers	Standard	-
Auto Dimming Mirror	Standard	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Infotainment Screen	12.3-inch Touchscreen	10.2-inch Touchscreen
Apple CarPlay	Wireless	Wireless
Android Auto	Wireless	Wireless
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	10	12 Bose
Navigation System	Standard	Built-in
Digital Instrument Cluster	12.3-inch Full Digital	-
USB Ports	3	-
Wireless Apple CarPlay	Standard	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
LED Headlamps	Full LED	LED Projector
Daytime Running Lamps	LED	LED
Fog Lamps	LED	LED
Roof Rails	Not Available	-
Alloy Wheel Design	18-inch Sport Alloy	18-inch Alloy
Chrome Exterior Finish	Not Available	-
Body Cladding	Not Available	-
Rear Spoiler	Sport Rear Spoiler	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Tyre Size	235/45 R18	235/40 R18
Wheel Type	Alloy	Alloy
Front Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Solid Disc	Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Space Saver	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Front Suspension	MacPherson Strut	MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension	Multi-Link	Multi-Link
Chassis Type	Monocoque	Monocoque
Power Steering	Electric	-
Steering Column	Tilt and Telescopic	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Service Interval	15,000 km or 1 Year	10000 km / 12 months
Approx Service Cost	Approx R7,500	Moderate
Battery Warranty	8 Years / 160,000 km	24 Months
Maintenance Plan	Optional	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
Warranty Years	3	3
Warranty Kilometers	100000	100000
Roadside Assistance	3 Years	3 Years
Anti-Corrosion Warranty	6 Years	-

Specification	Camry	Civic RS
CO2 Emissions	93	135
Start Stop System	Standard	Standard
Hybrid System Type	Full Parallel Hybrid	Not Applicable
Noise Level	64	-

Final Verdict

🏆 Toyota Camry wins with 69 pts vs 67 pts for Civic RS

In structured scoring, Camry emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Civic RS may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Based on structured category scoring, Camry performs better overall in South Africa. However, final choice depends on driving priorities.

Camry scores 12 while Civic RS scores 12 in efficiency. Real-world mileage may vary based on driving conditions.

In safety scoring, Camry scores 20 and Civic RS scores 18. Both offer competitive safety packages in this segment.

Camry scores 12 versus Civic RS scoring 12. Warranty coverage and ownership value influence this result.

Practicality scoring gives Camry 12 and Civic RS 11, reflecting cabin space and usability.

Performance category shows Camry scoring 13 compared to Civic RS scoring 14, indicating stronger overtaking capability.

While resale depends on market demand, ownership and brand positioning suggest Camry may hold stronger long-term value.

Off-road suitability depends on drivetrain and ground clearance. Refer to the full specification comparison for detailed technical differences.

Efficiency and ownership categories influence running costs. Camry performs slightly stronger overall in structured scoring.

Value depends on feature set, performance and ownership coverage. Structured comparison gives Camry the overall advantage.

Detailed Comparison Analysis

The comparison between Camry and Civic RS in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Camry scores 13 vs 14.

Efficiency: Camry scores 12 vs 12.

Safety: Camry scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: Camry scores 12 vs 11.

Ownership: Camry scores 12 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Camry the advantage in this comparison.

Toyota Camry vs Honda Civic RS

Toyota Camry

Honda Civic RS

Quick Winners

Overall Comparison Score

Camry

Civic RS

Executive Summary

Key Differences At A Glance

Category Score Breakdown

Camry

Civic RS

Pros & Cons

Camry

Civic RS

Who Should Buy Which?

Camry

Civic RS

Full Specification Comparison

Final Verdict

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Frequently Asked Questions

Detailed Comparison Analysis