Honda Amaze vs Toyota Camry

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Honda Amaze in South Africa

Honda Amaze

1.2 Comfort CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 289,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 66 kW 🔧 110 Nm ⛽ 18.2 km/l
VS
Toyota Camry in South Africa

Toyota Camry

2.5 Hybrid XSE CVT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 749,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 160 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Camry
Fuel Economy Camry
🛡 Safety Camry
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Tie
Amaze starts ZAR 659900 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · Camry from ZAR 659,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Amaze Camry
Engine Power 66 160
Torque 110 221
Engine Size 1199 2487
Claimed Mileage 18.2 19.2
Ground Clearance 170 140
Boot Space 420 493
Airbags 2 9
Kerb Weight 980 1575
Seating Capacity Available Available
Warranty 3 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Camry

69
/ 100
+23
pts
#2

Amaze

46
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Camry holds a noticeable edge over Amaze, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Camry +8 pts
Efficiency Camry +1 pts
Safety Camry +14 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 12/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 12/20

Amaze

Performance 5/20
Efficiency 11/20
Safety 6/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amaze

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Camry

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze Camry
Ground Clearance 170 140
Wheelbase 2470 2825
Length 3995 4885
Width 1695 1840
Height 1498 1445
Kerb Weight 980 1575
Gross Vehicle Weight 1420 2055
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 420 493
Towing Capacity 900 Not Rated
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
Front Track Width 1550 1575
Rear Track Width 1540 1580
Turning Radius Available 5.8
Load Bed Length Available Available
Load Bed Width Available Available
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available Available
Seats Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Amaze Camry
Engine 1.2L i-VTEC Petrol 2.5L Hybrid Petrol-Electric
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Inline 4 Cylinder DOHC Hybrid
Displacement 1199 2487
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Power 66 160
Torque 110 221
Fuel System Multi-Point Fuel Injection Direct + Port Injection
Top Speed 170 180
0-100 km/h 14.5 8.3
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard Standard
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 14.0:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 92.0
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Power @ RPM 150 5700 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 3600 rpm
Turbocharger Available Not Applicable
Engine Position Available Front Transverse
Engine Oil Capacity Available Available
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Available
Maximum Engine RPM Available Available
Engine Type Config Available Available
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota Camry wins with 69 pts vs 46 pts for Amaze

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

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Camry edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Amaze 11 vs Camry 12. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Amaze 6, Camry 20. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Amaze 12, Camry 12. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Amaze 12, Camry 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amaze 5, Camry 13. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Camry edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Camry scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

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

Performance: Amaze scores 5 vs 13.

Efficiency: Amaze scores 11 vs 12.

Safety: Amaze scores 6 vs 20.

Practicality: Amaze scores 12 vs 12.

Ownership: Amaze scores 12 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Camry the advantage in this comparison.