Honda Civic RS vs Honda Civic Type R

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 Civic RS

1.5T RS CVT Petrol Automatic

ZAR 725,000 ex-showroom

⚡ 178 kW 🔧 240 Nm ⛽ 16 km/l

Honda Civic Type R

2.0T Type R Manual Petrol Manual

ZAR 1,021,600 ex-showroom

⚡ 315 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 12 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Civic Type R

⛽ Fuel Economy Civic RS

🛡 Safety Tie

📦 Practicality Civic RS

🔑 Ownership Tie

Civic RS starts ZAR 1021600 cheaper Civic RS from ZAR 725,000 · Civic Type R from ZAR 1,021,600

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Engine Power	178	315
Torque	240	420
Engine Size	1498	1996
Claimed Mileage	16	12
Ground Clearance	134	130
Boot Space	495	410
Airbags	6	6
Kerb Weight	1350	1430
Seating Capacity	5	4
Warranty	3	3

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Civic RS and Civic Type R are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Civic Type R +24 pts

Efficiency Civic RS +15 pts

Safety Equal

Practicality Civic RS +4 pts

Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Civic RS

Strengths

Better fuel efficiency
More practical for daily use

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup

Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

🏆 Overall Winner

Civic Type R

Strengths

More powerful engine output

Weak Spots

Lower fuel efficiency
Less practical in daily usage

Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Civic RS

Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Large families needing more practicality and usability

Civic Type R

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Model Introduced Year	2022	2023
Generation	Based on 11th generation platform	2.0L VTEC Turbo: 235 kW / 420 Nm. 0–100 km/h in 5.4 seconds. Top speed 275 km/h. 6-speed manual only — no automatic option.
Facelift History	Introduced with latest Civic generation	FL5 generation launched globally in 2023 — sixth generation Type R. Major redesign from the aggressive FK8. Cleaner exterior with mature styling but improved performance.
Facelift Launched Since	Original current-generation version	2023
Facelift Version Ending	Current	Current
Body Style	Sedan	Sedan
Color Note	White, Black, Silver, Blue, Red, Grey	Sedan
Dealer Stock Note	Top grade in the South Africa lineup	Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year	2026	2026
Production Status	published	published
Segment	Sedan	Sedan
Vehicle Type	Sedan	Sedan

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Ground Clearance	134 mm	130 mm
Wheelbase	2735 mm	2735 mm
Length	4678 mm	4595 mm
Width	1802 mm	1890 mm
Height	1415 mm	1405 mm
Kerb Weight	1350 kg	1430 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight	1800 kg	1850 kg
Seating Capacity	5	4
Boot Space	495 l	410 l
Towing Capacity	1200 kg	0 kg
Front Track Width	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Rear Track Width	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Turning Radius	5.5 m	5.7 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	495 l	410 l
Number of Doors	4	4
Max Payload	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Boot Volume	495 l	410 l
Doors	4	4
Seats	5	4
Fuel Tank Capacity	47 l	47 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg	1800 kg	1850 kg
Ground Clearance Max	134 mm	130 mm
Ground Clearance Min	134 mm	130 mm
Ground Clearance Mm	134 mm	130 mm
Height Mm	1415 mm	1405 mm
Length Mm	4678 mm	4595 mm
Loadbox Length Mm	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Payload Kg	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Cargo Volume	495 l	410 l
Tare Mass Kg	1350 kg	1430 kg
Turning Circle	5.5 m	5.7 m
Turning Circle M	5.5 m	5.7 m
Width Mm	1802 mm	1890 mm

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Engine	1.5L Turbo Petrol	2.0L Turbo Petrol
Engine Type	Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged	Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged VTEC
Displacement	1498 cc	1996 cc
Cylinders	4	4
Valves per Cylinder	4	4
Power	178 kW	315 kW
Power @ RPM	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Torque	240 Nm	420 Nm
Torque @ RPM	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Fuel System	Direct Injection	Direct Injection
Turbocharger	Single Turbo	High-Performance Single Turbo
Top Speed	210 km/h	272 km/h
0-100 km/h	8.5 sec	5.4 sec
Compression Ratio	10.3:1	9.8:1
Cylinder Bore	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Piston Stroke	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Engine Code	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Power	239 bhp	422 bhp
Fuel Grade Required	Petrol	Petrol
Cylinder Layout	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Engine Aspiration	Single Turbo	High-Performance Single Turbo
Engine Type Config	1.5L Turbo Petrol	2.0L Turbo Petrol
0–100 km/h	8.5 sec	5.4 sec
Battery Capacity	Not Available	Not Available
Charging Port	Not Available	Not Available
AC Charging Time	Not Available	Not Available
Engine Displacement	1498 cc	1996 cc
Engine Displacement Litres	1.5 l	2 l
EV Range	Not Available	Not Available
Acceleration 0 100	8.5 sec	5.4 sec
Combined System Power	Not Available	Not Available
Combined System Torque	Not Available	Not Available
Engine Config	1.5L Turbo Petrol	2.0L Turbo Petrol
Engine Cylinders	4	4
Engine Displacement Cc	1498 cc	1996 cc
Engine Power kW	178 kW	315 kW
Engine Torque Nm	240 Nm	420 Nm
Engine Valves	4	4
Induction	Single Turbo	High-Performance Single Turbo
Max Power kW	178 kW	315 kW
Max Torque Nm	240 Nm	420 Nm
Maximum Power	178 kW	315 kW
Maximum Torque	240 Nm	420 Nm
Motor Position	Not Available	Not Available
Motor Power	Not Available	Not Available
Motor Torque	Not Available	Not Available
Motor Type	Not Available	Not Available
Power Assisted Steering	Electric Power Steering	Electric Power Steering
Power kW Rpm	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
System Output	Not Available	Not Available
Torque Nm Rpm	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Turbo Type	Single Turbo	High-Performance Single Turbo

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Transmission	Automatic	Manual
Drive Type	4x2	4x2
Drivetrain Layout	Front Wheel Drive	Front Wheel Drive
LSD Available	Not Applicable	Mechanical LSD
Transfer Case	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Differential Lock	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Final Drive Ratio	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Number of Gears	Not Applicable	6 km/h
Transmission Type	Automatic	Manual
Clutch Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Drivetrain	4x2	4x2
Transmission	Automatic	Manual
4WD Engagement	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
4WD Selector	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Differential Type Front	Not Available	Not Available
Differential Type Rear	Not Available	Not Available
Front Differential Lock	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Gearbox Type	Automatic	Manual
Low Range	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Axle Layout	4x2	4x2
Rear Differential Lock	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Transfer Case Guard	Not Available	Not Available
Transmission Speeds	Not Applicable	6 km/h

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Claimed Mileage	16 km/l	12 km/l
City Mileage	12 km/l	8 km/l
Highway Mileage	16 km/l	11 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity	47 l	47 l
Emission Standard	Euro 6	Euro 6
AdBlue Tank Capacity	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Auto Start Stop	Standard	Standard
Average Fuel Consumption	6.2 l/100km	8.3 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	6.2 l/100km	8.3 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	6.2 l/100km	8.3 l/100km
Real-world Mileage	16 km/l	12 km/l
AC Charging Power	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Charging Port Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Charging Time AC Full	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Charging Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Combined Consumption	6.2 l/100km	8.3 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	6.2 l/100km	8.3 l/100km
DC Charging Power	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Fuel Economy Combined	6.2 l/100km	8.3 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	47 l	47 l
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol
Low Range Ratio	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Combined Driving Range	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Electric Consumption	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Range Real World Highway	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Range Real World Mixed	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Range Wltp	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Airbags	6	6
ABS	Standard	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	Performance Tuned
Traction Control	Standard	Performance Tuned
Hill Descent Control	Not Available	Not Available
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Standard	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard	Standard
Brake Assist	Standard	Performance
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Alarm System	Standard	Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Not Available	Not Available
Front Parking Sensors	Front and Rear	Front and Rear
AEB	Standard	Standard
BA	Standard	Performance
Brake Override System	Not Available	Not Available
Curtain Airbags	Not Available	Not Available
Driver Airbag	6	6
EBD	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Hill Hold	Standard	Standard
Passenger Airbag	6	6
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	Standard
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Not Available	Not Available
Side Airbags	Not Available	Not Available
TCS	Standard	Performance Tuned
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard	Standard
Knee Airbag	Not Available	Not Available
ABS EBD	Standard	Standard
Anti Theft Alarm	Standard	Standard
Driver Front Passenger Airbags	6	6
Driver Passenger Airbags	6	6
ESC With Traction Control	Standard	Performance Tuned

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Cruise Control	Adaptive	Adaptive
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Standard	Standard
Lane Departure Warning	Standard	Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	Standard
Parking Sensors	Front and Rear	Front and Rear
Rear View Camera	Standard	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Not Available	Not Available
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert	Not Available	Not Available
Traffic Sign Recognition	Standard	Standard
Auto Highbeam	Not Available	Not Available
Auto Lights	LED Projector	LED Projector
Auto Wipers	Not Available	Not Available
Drive Modes	Eco Normal Sport	Comfort Sport Plus R Individual
EV Mode	Not Available	Not Available
Rear Parking Sensors	Front and Rear	Front and Rear
Reverse Camera	Standard	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard	Standard
Park Assist	Not Available	Not Available
Around View Monitor	Not Available	Not Available
Blind Spot Warning	Standard	Standard
Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Not Available	Not Available
Parking Distance Sensors	Front and Rear	Front and Rear
Parking Sensor	Front and Rear	Front and Rear
Pre-Collision System	Standard	Standard
Rear View Camera	Standard	Standard
Reverse Camera Type	Standard	Standard
Reversing Camera	Standard	Standard
Surround View Camera	Not Available	Not Available

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Seat Material	Leather	Alcantara and Fabric
Seat Adjustment	Driver Electric	Manual Sport
Heated Seats	Front	Front
Ventilated Seats	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Steering Type	Electric Power Steering	Electric Power Steering
Steering Adjustment	Tilt and Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Ambient Lighting	Multi-color	Red Performance Lighting
Folding Rear Seats	60:40	60:40
Rear AC Vents	Standard	Standard
Steering Wheel Material	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Interior Colour Options	6	1
60 40 Split Seat	60:40	60:40
Adjustable Driver Seat	Driver Electric	Manual Sport
Driver Seat Adjustment	Driver Electric	Manual Sport
Fabric Seats	Leather	Alcantara and Fabric
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Driver Electric	Manual Sport
Boot Space Seats Up	495	410
Cargo Space	495	410
Driver Seat	Driver Electric	Manual Sport
Interior Courtesy Lamps	Premium sporty interior	Petrol
Leather Accented Seat Trim	Leather	Alcantara and Fabric
Interior Colours	6	1
Seat Capacity	5	4
Seat Count	5	4
Seat Fold Type	60:40	60:40
Seat Trim	Leather	Alcantara and Fabric

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Climate Control	Dual Zone Climate Control	Dual Zone Climate Control
Power Windows	All Doors Auto	All Doors Auto
Keyless Entry	Smart Key	Smart Key
Push Button Start	Standard	Standard
Wireless Charging	Standard	Standard
Sunroof	Electric Sunroof	Not Available
Electric Tailgate	Not Available	Not Available
Automatic Headlamps	LED Projector	LED Projector
Rain Sensing Wipers	Not Available	Not Available
AC Type	Dual Zone Climate Control	Dual Zone Climate Control
Climate Zones	Dual Zone Climate Control	Dual Zone Climate Control
Drag Coefficient	0.27	0.30
Electric Folding Mirrors	All Doors Auto	All Doors Auto
Engine Start Button Illumination	Standard	Standard
TPMS	Standard	Standard
Engine Start Stop	Standard	Standard
Engine Start Stop Button	Standard	Standard
Engine Warranty	24 Months	24 Months
Exhaust Type	Dual Chrome Exhaust	-
Fuel Consumption Combined	6.2	8.3
Gear Shift Type	Paddle Shifters	Short Throw Shifter
Ground Clearance Unladen	134	130
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Intercooler	Standard	Air-to-Air
Launch Control	Not Available	Not Available
Panoramic Roof	Electric Sunroof	Not Available
Power Mirrors	All Doors Auto	All Doors Auto
Push Button Start	Standard	Standard
Rear Seat Split	60:40	60:40
Ride Mode Selection	Standard	-
Seat Type	Sport Seats	Racing Bucket Seats
Seatbelt Reminder	Not Available	Not Available
Service Plan	24 Months	24 Months
Skid Plates	Not Available	Not Available
Stability Control	Standard	Performance Tuned
Steering Mounted Controls	Audio and Cruise	Performance Controls
Tail Lamps	LED	LED
Telescopic Steering	Tilt and Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Tilt Steering	Tilt and Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Valves Per Cylinder	4	4
Voice Command	Standard	Built-in
Voice Command Support	Built-in	Built-in
Accelerator 0 100	8.5 sec	5.4 sec
Air Conditioning	Dual Zone Climate Control	Dual Zone Climate Control
Battery Preconditioning	Not Available	Not Available
Battery Voltage	Not Available	Not Available
Bed Extender	Not Available	Not Available
Canopy Fitment	Not Available	Not Available
Common Rail Injection	Direct Injection	Direct Injection
Diff Lock	Not Available	Not Available
Difflock	Not Available	Not Available
Front Diff Lock	Not Available	Not Available
Intelligent Battery System	Not Available	Not Available
Intelligent Keyless Entry	Smart Key	Smart Key
Lift Gate	Not Available	Not Available
Load Bed Cover	Not Available	Not Available
Load Bed Light	Not Available	Not Available
Load Bed Steps	Not Available	Not Available
Loadbox Depth Mm	Not Available	Not Available
Loadbox Rope Hooks	Not Available	Not Available
Loadbox Tiedown Brackets	Not Available	Not Available
Manual Aircon	Dual Zone Climate Control	Dual Zone Climate Control
Mirror	All Doors Auto	All Doors Auto
One Pedal Driving	Not Available	Not Available
Passive Entry Start	Smart Key	Smart Key
Powered Tailgate	Not Available	Not Available
Rear Air Conditioning	Standard	Standard
Rear Diff Lock	Not Available	Not Available
Rear Electric Motor	Not Available	Not Available
Rear LED Combination Taillights	LED	LED
Regenerative Braking	Not Available	Not Available
Regenerative Braking Levels	Not Available	Not Available
Remote Central Locking	Smart Key	Smart Key
Rim Size	18-inch Alloy	19-inch Lightweight Alloy
Sonar	Front and Rear	Front and Rear
Sound System	12 Bose	12 Bose Performance
Source Model Column	civic-rs	civic-type-r
Sports Bar	Not Available	Not Available
Steering Column Adjustment	Tilt and Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Sub Frame	Monocoque	Reinforced Monocoque
Surround View Monitor	Not Available	Not Available
Tailgate Damper	Not Available	Not Available
Tailgate Lock	Not Available	Not Available
Tow Bar Type	Not Available	Not Available
Trim Level	top	flagship
Unlocking	Smart Key	Smart Key
Variant Role	Core range derivative	Performance-focused derivative
Vdc	Standard	Performance Tuned
Vehicle To Grid	Not Available	Not Available
Vehicle To Load	Not Available	Not Available
Walk Away Auto Door Lock	Smart Key	Smart Key
Walk Away Lock	Smart Key	Smart Key
Wireless Charger	Standard	Standard
Adaptive Dampers	-	Standard
Aero Kit	-	Type R Aero Package
Performance Data Logger	-	Standard
Rear Wing	-	Large Performance Wing
Rev Matching	-	Automatic Rev Matching
Steering Response	-	Performance Tuned

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Infotainment Screen	10.2-inch Touchscreen	9-inch Touchscreen
Apple CarPlay	Wireless	Wireless
Android Auto	Wireless	Wireless
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	12 Bose	12 Bose Performance
Navigation System	Built-in	Built-in
Digital Instrument Cluster	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
USB Ports	Not Available	Not Available
Wireless Apple CarPlay	Wireless	Wireless
Steering Wheel Audio Controls	Audio and Cruise	Performance Controls
Voice Recognition	Standard	Built-in
Infotainment Screen Size	10.2-inch Touchscreen	9-inch Touchscreen
Audio Controls On Steering	Audio and Cruise	Performance Controls
Infotainment Display	10.2-inch Touchscreen	9-inch Touchscreen
Audio Speakers	12 Bose	12 Bose Performance
Audio System	12 Bose	12 Bose Performance
Display Audio	10.2-inch Touchscreen	9-inch Touchscreen
Infotainment Screen	10.2-inch Touchscreen	9-inch Touchscreen
Connected Services	Standard	Standard
Voice Control	Standard	Built-in
Smartphone Connectivity	Wireless	Wireless
Touchscreen	10.2-inch Touchscreen	9-inch Touchscreen
Wireless Android Auto	Wireless	Wireless

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
LED Headlamps	LED Projector	LED Projector
Daytime Running Lamps	LED	LED
Fog Lamps	LED	LED
Roof Rails	Not Available	Not Available
Alloy Wheel Design	18-inch Alloy	19-inch Lightweight Alloy
Exterior Colour Options	6	1
Roof Type	Electric Sunroof	Not Available
Body Type	Sedan	Sedan
DRL	LED	LED
Fog Lights	LED	LED
Front Fog Lights	LED	LED
Led Headlights	LED Projector	LED Projector
Led Taillights	LED	LED
Auto Headlights	LED Projector	LED Projector
Automatic Headlamps	LED Projector	LED Projector
Daytime Running Lights	LED	LED
Electric Blind Sunroof	Electric Sunroof	Not Available
Exterior Colour Options	6	1
Exterior Mirror Electric	All Doors Auto	All Doors Auto
Front Fog Lamps	LED	LED
Headlamp Levelling	LED Projector	LED Projector
Headlamps	LED Projector	LED Projector
Headlight Type	LED Projector	LED Projector
Headlights	LED Projector	LED Projector
Load Bed Liner	Not Available	Not Available
Panoramic Sunroof	Electric Sunroof	Not Available
Rear Spoiler	-	Large Performance Wing
Rear Spoiler	-	Large Performance Wing

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Approach Angle	Not Published	Not Published
Departure Angle	Not Published	Not Published
Wading Depth	Not Published	Not Published
Terrain Modes	Not Available	Not Available
Locking Differential	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Underbody Protection	Not Available	Not Available
4WD System Type	4x2	4x2
Approach Angle Deg	Not Published	Not Published
Breakover Angle	Not Available	Not Available
Departure Angle Deg	Not Published	Not Published
Energy Recovery Display	Not Available	Not Available
Front Skid Plate Guard	Not Available	Not Available
Off Road Descent Control	Not Available	Not Available
Off Road Traction Assist	Not Available	Not Available
Crawl Control	Not Available	Not Available
Rear Skid Plate Guard	Not Available	Not Available
Skid Plates Fuel Tank	Not Available	Not Available
Skid Plates Transfer Case	Not Available	Not Available
Terrain Mode Mud	Not Available	Not Available
Terrain Mode Normal	Not Available	Not Available
Terrain Mode Rock	Not Available	Not Available
Terrain Mode Sand	Not Available	Not Available
Terrain Mode Snow	Not Available	Not Available
Terrain Response System	Not Available	Not Available
Underbody Camera	Not Available	Not Available
Wading Depth Mm	Not Published	Not Published

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Tyre Size	235/40 R18	265/30 R19
Wheel Type	18-inch Alloy	19-inch Lightweight Alloy
Front Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Brembo Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Disc	Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Not Available	Not Available
Wheel Rim Size	18-inch Alloy	19-inch Lightweight Alloy
Brake Type Front	Ventilated Disc	Brembo Ventilated Disc
Brake Type Rear	Disc	Disc
Tyre Type	235/40 R18	Performance Tyres
Wheel Diameter	18-inch Alloy	19-inch Lightweight Alloy
Autonomous Emergency Brake	Standard	Standard
Braked Towing Capacity	1200 kg	0 kg
Brakes	Ventilated Disc	Brembo Ventilated Disc
Cornering Brake Control	Standard	Performance
Fifth Wheel Prep	Not Available	Not Available
Handbrake Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Hydraulic Brake Assist	Standard	Performance
Steering Wheel Audio Controls	Audio and Cruise	Performance Controls
Steering Wheel Cruise Controls	Adaptive	Adaptive
Steering Wheel Phone Controls	Audio and Cruise	Performance Controls
Towing Braked Kg	1200 kg	0 kg
Tyre Pressure Display	Standard	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitoring	Standard	Standard
Wheel Material	18-inch Alloy	19-inch Lightweight Alloy
Wheelbase Mm	2735 mm	2735 mm
Wheels	18-inch Alloy	19-inch Lightweight Alloy

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Front Suspension	MacPherson Strut	Adaptive Dual Axis Strut
Rear Suspension	Multi-Link	Multi-Link
Chassis Type	Monocoque	Reinforced Monocoque
Power Steering	Electric Power Steering	Electric Power Steering
Steering Column	Tilt and Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Front Spring Type	MacPherson Strut	Adaptive Dual Axis Strut
Rear Spring Type	Multi-Link	Multi-Link
Chassis Material	Monocoque	Reinforced Monocoque
Front Suspension Type	MacPherson Strut	Adaptive Dual Axis Strut
Rear Axle Type	Multi-Link	Multi-Link
Rear Suspension Type	Multi-Link	Multi-Link
Suspension	MacPherson Strut	Adaptive Dual Axis Strut

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Service Interval	10000 km / 12 months	10000 km / 12 months
Approx Service Cost	Moderate	High
Battery Warranty	24 Months	24 Months
Maintenance Plan	24 Months	24 Months
Engine Oil Change Interval	10000 km / 12 months	10000 km / 12 months
Service Plan Duration	24 Months	24 Months
Service Plan Distance	24 Months	24 Months
Battery Type	Lead Acid	AGM
Gear Shift Indicator	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Service Intervals	10000 km / 12 months	10000 km / 12 months

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Warranty Years	3	3
Warranty Kilometers	3	3
Roadside Assistance	3 Years	3 Years
Basic Warranty	3	3
Roadside Assistance	3 Years	3 Years
Warranty	3	3
Warranty Roadside Assistance	3 Years	3 Years

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
CO2 Emissions	135 g/km	190 g/km
Start Stop System	Standard	Standard
Hybrid System Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Fuel Octane Requirement	Petrol	Petrol
Particulate Filter	Not Available	Not Available
Euro Emission Standard	Euro 6	Euro 6
Idle CO2 Output	135	190
CO2 Emissions G Km	135	190

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Real-world City Mileage Min	10 l/100km	7 l/100km
Real-world City Mileage Max	12 l/100km	9 l/100km
Real-world Highway Mileage Min	14 l/100km	10 l/100km
Real-world Highway Mileage Max	17 l/100km	12 l/100km
Owner Review Count	19	8

Spec	Civic RS	Civic Type R
Ownership Role	Top	Flagship
Price Source	South Africa variant price CSV; verify against latest OEM price list	South Africa variant price CSV; verify against latest OEM price list
Price Zar	725000 ZAR	1021600 ZAR
Pricing Role	Current listed price	Current listed price
Starting Price	725000	1021600
Starting Price Zar	725000	1021600

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100

Verdict readout

Civic Type R leads by 2 points

Both Civic RS and Civic Type R are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 69 /100

Lead 2 points

Data 91% confidence

#1 Winner

Civic Type R

91% data confidence 2 strong categories

Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 47

Performance 87

Efficiency 47

Safety 92

Practicality 56

Ownership 51

Leads by 2 points

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

Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance Civic Type R +24 Efficiency Civic RS +15 Safety Level Practicality Civic RS +4 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown

Overall Winner

Civic Type R

Performance 87/100

Efficiency 47/100

Safety 92/100

Practicality 56/100

Ownership 51/100

Civic RS

Performance 63/100

Efficiency 62/100

Safety 92/100

Practicality 60/100

Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda Civic Type R wins with 69 pts vs 67 pts for Civic RS

In structured scoring, Civic Type R emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Civic RS 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 Type R 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: Civic RS 62 vs Civic Type R 47. 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: Civic RS 92, Civic Type R 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: Civic RS 51, Civic Type R 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: Civic RS 60, Civic Type R 56. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Civic RS 63, Civic Type R 87. 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 Type R edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Civic RS scores 63 vs 87.

Efficiency: Civic RS scores 62 vs 47.

Safety: Civic RS scores 92 vs 92.

Practicality: Civic RS scores 60 vs 56.

Ownership: Civic RS scores 51 vs 51.

Final structured scoring gives Civic Type R the advantage in this comparison.

Honda Civic RS vs Honda Civic Type R

Honda Civic RS

Honda Civic Type R

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Key Specs Side by Side

The Bottom Line

Where They Actually Differ

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Civic RS

Civic Type R

Which One's Right for You?

Civic RS

Civic Type R

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

Civic Type R leads by 2 points

Civic Type R

Civic RS

Civic Type R

Civic RS

So, Which One Should You Buy?

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In Depth — Breaking It All Down