Toyota Camry vs Suzuki Dzire

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.

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
VS
Suzuki Dzire in South Africa

Suzuki Dzire

1.2 GL+ CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 272,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 60 kW 🔧 112 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Camry
Fuel Economy Camry
🛡 Safety Camry
📦 Practicality Camry
🔑 Ownership Dzire
Dzire starts ZAR 659900 cheaper Camry from ZAR 659,900 · Dzire from ZAR 229,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Camry Dzire
Engine Power 160 60
Torque 221 112
Engine Size 2487 1197
Claimed Mileage 19.2 13.5
Ground Clearance 140 145
Boot Space 493 400
Airbags 9 6
Kerb Weight 1575 940
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Camry

69
/ 100
+15
pts
#2

Dzire

54
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Camry +8 pts
Efficiency Camry +12 pts
Safety Camry +2 pts
Practicality Camry +1 pts
Ownership Dzire +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

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

Dzire

Performance 5/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 11/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Dzire

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Camry

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Dzire

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Camry Dzire
Ground Clearance 140 145
Wheelbase 2825 2450
Length 4885 3995
Width 1840 1735
Height 1445 1525
Kerb Weight 1575 940
Gross Vehicle Weight 2055 1600
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 493 400
Towing Capacity Not Rated 1500
Front Track Width 1575 1550
Rear Track Width 1580 1540
Turning Radius 5.8 Available
Number of Doors 5 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1500
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 378
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Camry Dzire
Engine 2.5L Hybrid Petrol-Electric 1.2L Z12E DualJet 3-Cylinder Petrol
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder DOHC Hybrid Inline 3 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
Displacement 2487 1197
Cylinders 4 3
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Power 160 60
Power @ RPM 5700 rpm 5,700 rpm
Torque 221 112
Torque @ RPM 3600 rpm 4,300 rpm
Fuel System Direct + Port Injection Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Turbocharger Not Applicable Not Applicable
Top Speed 180 160
0-100 km/h 8.3 13.2
Compression Ratio 14.0:1 12.0:1
Engine Position Front Transverse Transverse Front-Mounted
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 3 (I3)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Naturally Aspirated
Engine Code Standard Z12E
Cylinder Bore 82.0 73.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 95.5
Fuel Grade Required Petrol 93 RON Unleaded Petrol
Engine Oil Capacity Available 2.9
Power 150 82
Variable Valve Timing Available Dual VVT on Intake and Exhaust
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6700
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 54 pts for Dzire

In structured scoring, Camry emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Dzire 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: Camry 12 vs Dzire 0. 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: Camry 20, Dzire 18. 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: Camry 12, Dzire 20. 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: Camry 12, Dzire 11. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Camry 13, Dzire 5. 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 Camry and Dzire in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Camry scores 13 vs 5.

Efficiency: Camry scores 12 vs 0.

Safety: Camry scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: Camry scores 12 vs 11.

Ownership: Camry scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Camry the advantage in this comparison.