Toyota Camry vs Suzuki Ertiga

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 Ertiga in South Africa

Suzuki Ertiga

1.5 GL AT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 363,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 138 Nm ⛽ 15.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Camry
Fuel Economy Camry
🛡 Safety Camry
📦 Practicality Camry
🔑 Ownership Ertiga
Ertiga starts ZAR 659900 cheaper Camry from ZAR 659,900 · Ertiga from ZAR 304,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Camry Ertiga
Engine Power 160 77
Torque 221 138
Engine Size 2487 1462
Claimed Mileage 19.2 15.4
Ground Clearance 140 180
Boot Space 493 153
Airbags 9 6
Kerb Weight 1575 1165
Seating Capacity Available Available
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Camry

69
/ 100
+16
pts
#2

Ertiga

53
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Camry +7 pts
Efficiency Camry +12 pts
Safety Camry +2 pts
Practicality Camry +3 pts
Ownership Ertiga +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

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

Ertiga

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
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

Ertiga

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

Ertiga

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Camry Ertiga
Ground Clearance 140 180
Wheelbase 2825 2740
Length 4885 4395
Width 1840 1735
Height 1445 1690
Kerb Weight 1575 1165
Gross Vehicle Weight 2055 1680
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 493 153
Towing Capacity Not Rated 1200
Front Track Width 1575 1515
Rear Track Width 1580 1520
Turning Radius 5.8 5.2
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 803
Load Bed Length Available 0
Load Bed Width Available 0
Front Legroom Available 1040
Rear Legroom Available 935
Front Headroom Available 995
Rear Headroom Available 990
Front Shoulder Room Available 1395
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1400
Max Payload Available 550
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available Available
Seats Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Camry Ertiga
Engine 2.5L Hybrid Petrol-Electric 1.5L K15B 4-Cylinder Petrol
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder DOHC Hybrid Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
Displacement 2487 1462
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 4
Power 160 77
Power @ RPM 5700 rpm 6,000 rpm
Torque 221 138
Torque @ RPM 3600 rpm 4,400 rpm
Fuel System Direct + Port Injection Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Turbocharger Not Applicable Not Applicable
Top Speed 180 175
0-100 km/h 8.3 14.5
Compression Ratio 14.0:1 10.5:1
Engine Position Front Transverse Transverse Front-Mounted
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Naturally Aspirated
Engine Code Standard K15B
Cylinder Bore 82.0 74.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 85.1
Fuel Grade Required Petrol 93 RON Unleaded Petrol
Engine Oil Capacity Available 3.7
Power 150 103
Variable Valve Timing Available VVT on Intake Camshaft
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6800
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 53 pts for Ertiga

In structured scoring, Camry emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Ertiga 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 Ertiga 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, Ertiga 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, Ertiga 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, Ertiga 9. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Camry 13, Ertiga 6. 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 Ertiga in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Camry scores 13 vs 6.

Efficiency: Camry scores 12 vs 0.

Safety: Camry scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: Camry scores 12 vs 9.

Ownership: Camry scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Camry the advantage in this comparison.