Toyota Camry vs KIA Pegas

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
KIA Pegas in South Africa

KIA Pegas

1.4 EX Auto Petrol Automatic
ZAR 318,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 73 kW 🔧 132 Nm Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Camry
Fuel Economy Camry
🛡 Safety Camry
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Pegas
Pegas starts ZAR 659900 cheaper Camry from ZAR 659,900 · Pegas from ZAR 292,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Camry Pegas
Engine Power 160 73 kW
Torque 221 132 Nm
Engine Size 2487 1368
Claimed Mileage 19.2 16.9
Ground Clearance 140 148
Boot Space 493 502
Airbags 9 6
Kerb Weight 1575 1130
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 7

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Camry

69
/ 100
+13
pts
#2

Pegas

56
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Camry has a slight advantage, but Pegas remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Camry +7 pts
Efficiency Camry +12 pts
Safety Camry +2 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership Pegas +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

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

Pegas

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Camry

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

Pegas

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
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

Pegas

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Camry Pegas
Ground Clearance 140 148
Wheelbase 2825 2570
Length 4885 4400
Width 1840 1700
Height 1445 1470
Kerb Weight 1575 1130
Gross Vehicle Weight 2055 1450
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 493 502
Towing Capacity Not Rated N/A
Front Track Width 1575 1475
Rear Track Width 1580 1475
Turning Radius 5.8 10.4
Number of Doors 5 4
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 502
Load Bed Length Available N/A
Load Bed Width Available N/A
Front Legroom Available 1030
Rear Legroom Available 860
Front Headroom Available 990
Rear Headroom Available 950
Front Shoulder Room Available 1380
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1330
Max Payload Available N/A
Boot Volume Available 502
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 810
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 40
Rear Overhang Available 1020
Spec Camry Pegas
Engine 2.5L Hybrid Petrol-Electric 1.4 G4FA Inline-4 DOHC Petrol
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder DOHC Hybrid Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
Displacement 2487 1368
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 160 73 kW
Power @ RPM 5700 rpm 6,000 rpm
Torque 221 132 Nm
Torque @ RPM 3600 rpm 4,200 rpm
Fuel System Direct + Port Injection Multi-Point Fuel Injection
Turbocharger Not Applicable No
Top Speed 180 172
0-100 km/h 8.3 11.5
Compression Ratio 14.0:1 11.0:1
Engine Position Front Transverse Front Transverse
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Naturally Aspirated
Engine Code Standard G4FA
Cylinder Bore 82.0 77.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 73.4
Fuel Grade Required Petrol 93 Octane
Engine Oil Capacity Available 3.5
Power 150 98
Variable Valve Timing Available CVVT
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6,500 rpm
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve
0–100 km/h Available 11.5
Battery Capacity Available N/A
Charging Port Available N/A
AC Charging Time Available N/A
Engine Displacement Available 1368
EV Range Available N/A

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota Camry wins with 69 pts vs 56 pts for Pegas

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

Performance scores: Camry 13, Pegas 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 Pegas 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 12.

Ownership: Camry scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Camry the advantage in this comparison.