Honda Amaze vs Toyota Corolla

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 Corolla in South Africa

Toyota Corolla

1.8 HEV XR CVT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 590,200 ex-showroom
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Corolla
Fuel Economy Amaze
🛡 Safety Amaze
📦 Practicality Amaze
🔑 Ownership Amaze
Amaze starts ZAR 590200 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · Corolla from ZAR 590,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Amaze Corolla
Engine Power 66 -
Torque 110 -
Engine Size 1199 -
Claimed Mileage 18.2 -
Ground Clearance 170 -
Boot Space 420 -
Airbags 2 -
Kerb Weight 980 -
Seating Capacity 5 -
Warranty 3 -

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Amaze has a slight advantage, but Corolla remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Corolla +24 pts
Efficiency Amaze +19 pts
Safety Amaze +45 pts
Practicality Amaze +8 pts
Ownership Amaze +1 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Amaze

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Corolla

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Corolla

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Full Specs, Side by Side

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

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Amaze leads by 9 points

Amaze has a slight advantage, but Corolla remains highly competitive.

Winner 48 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 95% confidence
48
#1 Winner

Amaze

95% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 69 Check Performance 26
Performance 26
Efficiency 69
Safety 45
Practicality 58
Ownership 51
Leads by 9 points
39
#2

Corolla

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Corolla +24 Efficiency Amaze +19 Safety Amaze +45 Practicality Amaze +8 Ownership Amaze +1

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Amaze

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

Corolla

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda Amaze wins with 48 pts vs 39 pts for Corolla

In structured scoring, Amaze emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Corolla 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 Amaze 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 Corolla 50. 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, Corolla 0. 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, Corolla 50. 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, Corolla 50. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amaze 26, Corolla 50. 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 Amaze edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Amaze scores 26 vs 50.

Efficiency: Amaze scores 69 vs 50.

Safety: Amaze scores 45 vs 0.

Practicality: Amaze scores 58 vs 50.

Ownership: Amaze scores 51 vs 50.

Final structured scoring gives Amaze the advantage in this comparison.