Honda Civic RS vs Toyota GR86

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

Honda Civic RS

1.5T RS CVT Petrol Automatic

Change Car A

ZAR 725,000 ex-showroom

⚡ 178 kW (239 hp)

🔧 240 Nm

⛽ 16 km/l

Toyota GR86

2.4 Automatic Petrol Automatic

Change Car B

ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 173 kW (232 hp)

🔧 250 Nm

⛽ 10.9 km/l

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Quick Winners

⚡ Performance Tie

⛽ Mileage Civic RS

🔑 Ownership Tie

Overall Comparison Score

🏆 Winner

Civic RS

/ 100

pts

GR86

/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Executive Summary

Both Civic RS and GR86 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Key Differences At A Glance

Performance Equal

Efficiency Civic RS +6 pts

Safety GR86 +2 pts

Practicality Civic RS +3 pts

Ownership Equal

Category Score Breakdown

🏆 Overall Winner

Civic RS

Performance 14/20

Efficiency 12/20

Safety 18/20

Practicality 11/20

Ownership 12/20

GR86

Performance 14/20

Efficiency 6/20

Safety 20/20

Practicality 8/20

Ownership 12/20

Pros & Cons

🏆 Overall Winner

Civic RS

Pros

Better fuel efficiency
More practical for daily use

Cons

Less comprehensive safety features

Best For: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

GR86

Pros

Stronger safety package

Cons

Lower fuel efficiency
Less practical in daily usage

Best For: General Use

Who Should Buy Which?

Civic RS

Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Large families needing more practicality and usability

GR86

Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specification Comparison

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Ground Clearance	134	130
Wheelbase	2735	2575
Length	4678	4265
Width	1802	1775
Height	1415	1310
Kerb Weight	1350	1270
Gross Vehicle Weight	1800	1660
Seating Capacity	5	4
Boot Space	495	237
Towing Capacity	1200	Not Rated
Turning Radius	5.5	5.4
Front Track Width	-	1520
Rear Track Width	-	1540

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Engine	1.5L Turbo Petrol	2.4L Naturally Aspirated Boxer
Engine Type	Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged	Horizontally Opposed 4-Cylinder (Boxer)
Displacement	1498	2387
Cylinders	4	4
Compression Ratio	10.3:1	12.5:1
Power	178	173
Torque	240	250
Fuel System	Direct Injection	Direct + Port Injection
Turbocharger	Single Turbo	Not Available
Top Speed	210	226
0-100 km/h	8.5	6.9
Valves per Cylinder	-	4
Power @ RPM	-	7000 rpm
Torque @ RPM	-	3700 rpm
Engine Position	-	Front Longitudinal

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Transmission	CVT Automatic	6-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters
Drive Type	4x2	RWD
Drivetrain Layout	Front Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive
LSD Available	Not Available	Torsen LSD
Paddle Shifters	-	Standard
Transfer Case	-	Not Applicable
Differential Lock	-	Not Applicable

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Claimed Mileage	16	10.9
City Mileage	12	8
Highway Mileage	16	12
Fuel Tank Capacity	47	50
Emission Standard	Euro 6	Euro 5
AdBlue Tank Capacity	-	Not Applicable
Auto Start Stop	-	Not Available

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
CO2 Emissions	135	177
Start Stop System	Standard	Not Available
Hybrid System Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Noise Level	-	70

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Airbags	6	7
ABS	Standard	Standard with Sport Mode
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	Standard with Track Mode
Traction Control	Standard	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Standard	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard	Standard
Brake Assist	Standard	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Hill Descent Control	-	Not Available
Hill Start Assist	-	Standard
Alarm System	-	Standard
Central Locking	-	Standard
Side Impact Beams	-	Standard

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Cruise Control	Adaptive	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard	Not Available
Lane Keep Assist	Standard	Not Available
Lane Departure Warning	Standard	Not Available
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard	Not Available
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	Not Available
Parking Sensors	Front and Rear	Rear
Rear View Camera	Standard	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Not Available	Not Available
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Not Available
Traffic Sign Recognition	Standard	Not Available
Driver Fatigue Alert	-	Not Available

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Seat Material	Leather	Sport Fabric/Suede
Seat Adjustment	Driver Electric	Manual
Heated Seats	Front	Not Available
Ventilated Seats	Not Available	Not Available
Steering Type	Electric Power Steering	Electric Power Assisted
Steering Adjustment	Tilt and Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Ambient Lighting	Multi-color	Not Available
Folding Rear Seats	-	50/50 Split
Front Armrest	-	Standard
Rear Armrest	-	Not Available

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Climate Control	Dual Zone Climate Control	Manual AC
Power Windows	All Doors Auto	All Doors
Keyless Entry	Smart Key	Standard
Push Button Start	Standard	Standard
Wireless Charging	Standard	Not Available
Sunroof	Electric Sunroof	Not Available
Electric Tailgate	Not Available	Not Available
Automatic Headlamps	-	Standard
Rain Sensing Wipers	-	Standard
Auto Dimming Mirror	-	Standard

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Infotainment Screen	10.2-inch Touchscreen	8-inch Touchscreen
Apple CarPlay	Wireless	Standard
Android Auto	Wireless	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	12 Bose	6
Navigation System	Built-in	Standard
Digital Instrument Cluster	-	7-inch Digital
USB Ports	-	2
Wireless Apple CarPlay	-	Not Available

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
LED Headlamps	LED Projector	Full LED
Daytime Running Lamps	LED	LED
Fog Lamps	LED	LED
Alloy Wheel Design	18-inch Alloy	18-inch BBS Alloy
Roof Rails	-	Not Available
Chrome Exterior Finish	-	Not Available
Body Cladding	-	Not Available
Rear Spoiler	-	Rear Spoiler

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Tyre Size	235/40 R18	215/40 R18
Wheel Type	Alloy	Alloy
Front Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Ventilated Disc Brembo
Rear Brake Type	Disc	Solid Disc
Spare Wheel Type	-	Space Saver

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Front Suspension	MacPherson Strut	MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension	Multi-Link	Double Wishbone
Chassis Type	Monocoque	Monocoque
Power Steering	-	Electric
Steering Column	-	Tilt and Telescopic

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Service Interval	10000 km / 12 months	10,000 km or 6 Months
Approx Service Cost	Moderate	Approx R5,500
Battery Warranty	24 Months	Not Applicable
Maintenance Plan	-	Optional

Specification	Civic RS	GR86
Warranty Years	3	3
Warranty Kilometers	100000	100000
Roadside Assistance	3 Years	3 Years
Anti-Corrosion Warranty	-	6 Years

Final Verdict

🏆 Honda Civic RS wins with 67 pts vs 60 pts for GR86

In structured scoring, Civic RS emerges as the stronger overall package. However, GR86 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, Civic RS performs better overall in South Africa. However, final choice depends on driving priorities.

Civic RS scores 12 while GR86 scores 6 in efficiency. Real-world mileage may vary based on driving conditions.

In safety scoring, Civic RS scores 18 and GR86 scores 20. Both offer competitive safety packages in this segment.

Civic RS scores 12 versus GR86 scoring 12. Warranty coverage and ownership value influence this result.

Practicality scoring gives Civic RS 11 and GR86 8, reflecting cabin space and usability.

Performance category shows Civic RS scoring 14 compared to GR86 scoring 14, indicating stronger overtaking capability.

While resale depends on market demand, ownership and brand positioning suggest Civic RS 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. Civic RS performs slightly stronger overall in structured scoring.

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

Detailed Comparison Analysis

The comparison between Civic RS and GR86 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Civic RS scores 14 vs 14.

Efficiency: Civic RS scores 12 vs 6.

Safety: Civic RS scores 18 vs 20.

Practicality: Civic RS scores 11 vs 8.

Ownership: Civic RS scores 12 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Civic RS the advantage in this comparison.

Honda Civic RS vs Toyota GR86

Honda Civic RS

Toyota GR86

Quick Winners

Overall Comparison Score

Civic RS

GR86

Executive Summary

Key Differences At A Glance

Category Score Breakdown

Civic RS

GR86

Pros & Cons

Civic RS

GR86

Who Should Buy Which?

Civic RS

GR86

Full Specification Comparison

Final Verdict

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Frequently Asked Questions

Detailed Comparison Analysis