Honda Amaze vs Honda Civic RS

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
Honda Civic RS in South Africa

Honda Civic RS

1.5T RS CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 725,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 178 kW 🔧 240 Nm ⛽ 16 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Civic RS
Fuel Economy Amaze
🛡 Safety Civic RS
📦 Practicality Civic RS
🔑 Ownership Tie
Amaze starts ZAR 725000 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · Civic RS from ZAR 725,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Amaze Civic RS
Engine Power 66 178
Torque 110 240
Engine Size 1199 1498
Claimed Mileage 18.2 16
Ground Clearance 170 134
Boot Space 420 495
Airbags 2 6
Kerb Weight 980 1350
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 3

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Civic RS +37 pts
Efficiency Amaze +7 pts
Safety Civic RS +47 pts
Practicality Civic RS +2 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amaze

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Civic RS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Civic RS

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze Civic RS
Model Introduced Year 2018 2022
Generation Based on Honda’s compact car platform optimized for affordability, efficiency, and ease of use Based on 11th generation platform
Facelift History Introduced in South Africa as a practical entry sedan with minor updates over time in features and safety Introduced with latest Civic generation
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Sedan
Color Note White, Silver, Grey, Red, Blue White, Black, Silver, Blue, Red, Grey
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Sedan Sedan
Vehicle Type Sedan Sedan
Spec Amaze Civic RS
Ground Clearance 170 mm 134 mm
Wheelbase 2470 mm 2735 mm
Length 3995 mm 4678 mm
Width 1695 mm 1802 mm
Height 1498 mm 1415 mm
Kerb Weight 980 kg 1350 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1420 kg 1800 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 420 l 495 l
Towing Capacity 900 kg 1200 kg
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not Applicable 5.5 m
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded 420 l 495 l
Number of Doors 4 4
Max Payload Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Volume 420 l 495 l
Doors 4 4
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 47 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1420 kg 1800 kg
Ground Clearance Max 170 mm 134 mm
Ground Clearance Min 170 mm 134 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 170 mm 134 mm
Height Mm 1498 mm 1415 mm
Length Mm 3995 mm 4678 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Cargo Volume 420 l 495 l
Tare Mass Kg 980 kg 1350 kg
Turning Circle Not Applicable 5.5 m
Turning Circle M Not Applicable 5.5 m
Width Mm 1695 mm 1802 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Civic RS leads by 19 points

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

Winner 67 /100
Lead 19 points
Data 95% confidence
67
#1 Winner

Civic RS

95% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 63
Efficiency 62
Safety 92
Practicality 60
Ownership 51
Leads by 19 points
48
#2

Amaze

95% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 69 Check Performance 26
Performance 26
Efficiency 69
Safety 45
Practicality 58
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Civic RS +37 Efficiency Amaze +7 Safety Civic RS +47 Practicality Civic RS +2 Ownership Level

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Civic RS

Performance 63/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 51/100

Amaze

Performance 26/100
Efficiency 69/100
Safety 45/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda Civic RS wins with 67 pts vs 48 pts for Amaze

In structured scoring, Civic RS 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 Civic RS 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 69 vs Civic RS 62. 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 45, Civic RS 92. 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 51, Civic RS 51. 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 58, Civic RS 60. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amaze 26, Civic RS 63. 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 Civic RS edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Amaze scores 26 vs 63.

Efficiency: Amaze scores 69 vs 62.

Safety: Amaze scores 45 vs 92.

Practicality: Amaze scores 58 vs 60.

Ownership: Amaze scores 51 vs 51.

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