Honda Civic Type R vs Toyota GR86

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 Type R

2.0T Type R Manual Petrol Manual

ZAR 1,021,600 ex-showroom

⚡ 315 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 12 km/l

Toyota GR86

2.4 Automatic Petrol Automatic

ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 173 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 10.9 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Civic Type R

⛽ Fuel Economy Civic Type R

🛡 Safety GR86

📦 Practicality Civic Type R

🔑 Ownership Tie

GR86 starts ZAR 1021600 cheaper Civic Type R from ZAR 1,021,600 · GR86 from ZAR 749,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Engine Power	315	173
Torque	420	250
Engine Size	1996	2387
Claimed Mileage	12	10.9
Ground Clearance	130	130
Boot Space	410	237
Airbags	6	7
Kerb Weight	1430	1270
Seating Capacity	Available	Available
Warranty	3	3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner

Civic Type R

/ 100

pts

GR86

/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Civic Type R has a slight advantage, but GR86 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Civic Type R +6 pts

Efficiency Civic Type R +3 pts

Safety GR86 +2 pts

Practicality Civic Type R +2 pts

Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Civic Type R

Performance 20/20

Efficiency 9/20

Safety 18/20

Practicality 10/20

Ownership 12/20

GR86

Performance 14/20

Efficiency 6/20

Safety 20/20

Practicality 8/20

Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Civic Type R

Strengths

More powerful engine output
Better fuel efficiency
More practical for daily use

Weak Spots

Less comprehensive safety features

Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

GR86

Strengths

Stronger safety package

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Lower fuel efficiency
Less practical in daily usage

Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Civic Type R

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Large families needing more practicality and usability

GR86

Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Ground Clearance	130	130
Wheelbase	2735	2575
Length	4595	4265
Width	1890	1775
Height	1405	1310
Kerb Weight	1430	1270
Gross Vehicle Weight	1850	1660
Seating Capacity	4	4
Boot Space	410	237
Towing Capacity	0	Not Rated
Turning Radius	5.7	5.4
Number of Doors	5	5
Boot Space Seats Folded	1500	1500
Front Track Width	1550	1520
Rear Track Width	1540	1540
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	Available
Doors	Available	Available
Seats	Available	Available
Front Overhang	Available	Available
Fuel Tank Capacity	Available	Available
Rear Overhang	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Engine	2.0L Turbo Petrol	2.4L Naturally Aspirated Boxer
Engine Type	Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged VTEC	Horizontally Opposed 4-Cylinder (Boxer)
Displacement	1996	2387
Cylinders	4	4
Compression Ratio	9.8:1	12.5:1
Power	315	173
Torque	420	250
Fuel System	Direct Injection	Direct + Port Injection
Turbocharger	High-Performance Single Turbo	Not Available
Top Speed	272	226
0-100 km/h	5.4	6.9
Cylinder Layout	Inline 4 (I4)	Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration	Turbocharged	Turbocharged
Engine Code	Standard	Standard
Cylinder Bore	82.0	82.0
Piston Stroke	92.0	92.0
Fuel Grade Required	Petrol	Petrol
Valves per Cylinder	Available	4
Power @ RPM	150	7000 rpm
Torque @ RPM	400	3700 rpm
Engine Position	Available	Front Longitudinal
Engine Oil Capacity	Available	Available
Power	150	150
Variable Valve Timing	Available	Available
Maximum Engine RPM	Available	Available
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

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Transmission	6-Speed Manual	6-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters
Drive Type	4x2	RWD
Drivetrain Layout	Front Wheel Drive	Rear Wheel Drive
LSD Available	Mechanical LSD	Torsen LSD
Number of Gears	6	6
Transmission	Automatic CVT	Automatic CVT
Differential Lock	Electronic Lock	Not Applicable
Clutch Type	Single Plate Diaphragm	Available
Final Drive Ratio	3.909:1	Available
Transmission Type	Manual	Automatic
Transfer Case	Available	Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters	Available	Standard
Steering Turns Lock to Lock	Available	Available
Drivetrain	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Claimed Mileage	12	10.9
City Mileage	8	8
Highway Mileage	11	12
Fuel Tank Capacity	47	50
Emission Standard	Euro 6	Euro 5
AdBlue Tank Capacity	Available	Not Applicable
Auto Start Stop	Available	Not Available
Average Fuel Consumption	Available	Available
Claimed Fuel Consumption	Available	Available
Distance To Empty	Available	Available
Low Fuel Warning	Available	Available
Fuel Efficiency	Available	Available
Real-world Mileage	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
CO2 Emissions	190	177
Start Stop System	Standard	Not Available
Hybrid System Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Idle CO2 Output	2.0	2.0
Fuel Octane Requirement	Unleaded 95 RON	Unleaded 95 RON
Noise Level	Available	70
Particulate Filter	Available	Available
Euro Emission Standard	Available	Available
Green NCAP Rating	Available	Available
Fuel Evaporation Control	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Airbags	6	7
ABS	Standard	Standard with Sport Mode
Electronic Stability Control	Performance Tuned	Standard with Track Mode
Traction Control	Performance Tuned	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Standard	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard	Standard
Brake Assist	Performance	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Central Locking	Power with Remote	Standard
Hill Start Assist	Yes	Standard
Front Parking Sensors	Yes	Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Yes	Yes
Hill Descent Control	Yes	Not Available
Alarm System	Available	Standard
Side Impact Beams	Available	Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Available	Available
Speed Alert System	Available	Available
Pedestrian Detection AEB	Available	Available
Safety Rating	Available	Available
Whiplash Protection	Available	Available
Lane Change Warning	Available	Available
AEB	Available	Available
BA	Available	Available
Brake Override System	Available	Available
Curtain Airbags	Available	Available
Driver Airbag	Available	Available
EBD	Available	Available
Engine Immobiliser	Available	Available
Fatigue Detection	Available	Available
Hill Hold	Available	Available
Passenger Airbag	Available	Available
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Available	Available
Side Airbags	Available	Available
TCS	Available	Available
Blind Spot Monitoring	Available	Available
Knee Airbag	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Cruise Control	Adaptive	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard	Not Available
Lane Keep Assist	Standard	Not Available
Lane Departure Warning	Standard	Not Available
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard	Not Available
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	Not Available
Parking Sensors	Front and Rear	Rear
Rear View Camera	Standard	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Not Available	Not Available
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Not Available
Traffic Sign Recognition	Standard	Not Available
Drive Modes	Comfort Sport Plus R Individual	Available
Rear Parking Sensors	Yes	Yes
Driver Fatigue Alert	Yes	Not Available
Auto Highbeam	Available	Available
Auto Lights	Available	Available
Auto Wipers	Available	Available
Eco Mode	Available	Available
EV Mode	Available	Available
Reverse Camera	Available	Available
Sport Mode	Available	Available
Adaptive Cruise Control	Available	Available
Park Assist	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Seat Material	Alcantara and Fabric	Sport Fabric/Suede
Seat Adjustment	Manual Sport	Manual
Heated Seats	Front	Not Available
Ventilated Seats	Not Available	Not Available
Steering Type	Electric Power Steering	Electric Power Assisted
Steering Adjustment	Tilt and Telescopic	Tilt and Telescopic
Ambient Lighting	Red Performance Lighting	Not Available
Rear AC Vents	Standard	Available
Front Armrest	Yes	Standard
Cup Holders	4	4
Folding Rear Seats	Yes, 60:40 Split	50/50 Split
Leather Seats	Yes	Yes
Interior Colour Options	Black	Black
Rear Armrest	Available	Not Available
Rear USB Ports	Available	Available
Steering Wheel Material	Available	Available
Instrument Cluster Type	Available	Available
Driver Lumbar Support	Available	Available
Door Map Pockets	Available	Available
60 40 Split Seat	Available	Available
Adjustable Driver Seat	Available	Available
Adjustable Front Seat	Available	Available
Cooled Seats	Available	Available
Driver Seat Adjustment	Available	Available
Fabric Seats	Available	Available
Front Headrest	Available	Available
Memory Seats	Available	Available
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Available	Available
Rear Headrest	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Climate Control	Dual Zone Climate Control	Manual AC
Power Windows	All Doors Auto	All Doors
Keyless Entry	Smart Key	Standard
Push Button Start	Standard	Standard
Wireless Charging	Standard	Not Available
Sunroof	Not Available	Not Available
Electric Tailgate	Not Available	Not Available
Valves Per Cylinder	4	Available
Intercooler	Air-to-Air	Available
Engine Start Stop	Standard	Available
Gear Shift Type	Short Throw Shifter	Available
Rev Matching	Automatic Rev Matching	Available
Launch Control	Not Available	Available
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Available
Seat Type	Racing Bucket Seats	Available
Rear Seat Split	60:40	Available
Performance Data Logger	Standard	Available
Tail Lamps	LED	Available
Aero Kit	Type R Aero Package	Available
Rear Wing	Large Performance Wing	Available
Adaptive Dampers	Standard	Available
Steering Response	Performance Tuned	Available
Drag Coefficient	0.30	Available
Automatic Headlamps	Yes	Standard
Power Mirrors	Power Adjustment	Power Adjustment
Payload Capacity	500	500
Rain Sensing Wipers	Available	Standard
Auto Dimming Mirror	Available	Standard
Rear Window Defroster	Available	Available
Electric Mirror Folding	Available	Available
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	Available	Available
Follow Me Home Headlamps	Available	Available
12V Accessory Socket	Available	Available
Speed Limiter	Available	Available
AC Type	Available	Available
Auto Dimming Irvm	Available	Available
Boot Opener	Available	Available
Chrome Exterior Highlights	Available	Available
Chrome Grille	Available	Available
Climate Zones	Available	Available
Door Ajar Warning	Available	Available
Driver Display	Available	Available
Electric Folding Mirrors	Available	Available
Engine Check Warning	Available	Available
Engine Start Button Illumination	Available	Available
Engine Start Stop Button	Available	Available
Engine Warranty	Available	Available
Exhaust Finish	Available	Available
Exhaust Type	Available	Available
Front Armrest	Available	Available
Front Power Outlet	150	150
Fuel Consumption Combined	Available	Available
Fuel Lid Opener	Available	Available
Glovebox Cooling	Available	Available
Ground Clearance Unladen	Available	Available
Headlamp Height Adjust	Available	Available
Headlamp Washer	Available	Available
Headrest Adjustable	Available	Available
Heads Up Display	Available	Available
Impact Sensing Door Unlock	Available	Available
Multi Function Steering	Available	Available
Panoramic Roof	Available	Available
Push Button Start	Available	Available
Rear Defogger	Available	Available
Rear Reading Lamps	Available	Available
Remote Engine Start	Available	Available
Ride Mode Selection	Available	Available
Roof Antenna	Available	Available
Seatbelt Pre Tensioner	Available	Available
Seatbelt Reminder	Available	Available
Service Plan	Available	Available
Service Reminder	Available	Available
Side Steps	Available	Available
Skid Plates	Available	Available
Spare Wheel	Available	Available
Speed Alert System	Available	Available
Stability Control	Available	Available
Stabilizer Bar	Available	Available
Steering Mounted Controls	Available	Available
Tachometer	Available	Available
Telescopic Steering	Available	Available
Tilt Steering	Available	Available
Trip Computer	Available	Available
Tyre Repair Kit	Available	Available
Vanity Mirror	Available	Available
Voice Command	Available	Available
Voice Command Support	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Infotainment Screen	9-inch Touchscreen	8-inch Touchscreen
Apple CarPlay	Wireless	Standard
Android Auto	Wireless	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	12 Bose Performance	6
Navigation System	Built-in	Standard
Steering Wheel Audio Controls	Performance Controls	Available
FM Radio	Yes	Yes
AUX Input	Yes	Yes
Digital Instrument Cluster	Yes	7-inch Digital
USB Ports	Available	2
Wireless Apple CarPlay	Available	Not Available
Voice Recognition	Available	Available
Infotainment Screen Size	Available	Available
Wi-Fi Hotspot	Available	Available
Audio Controls On Steering	Available	Available
Infotainment Display	Available	Available
Rear Usb	Available	Available
Premium Audio	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
LED Headlamps	LED Projector	Full LED
Daytime Running Lamps	LED	LED
Fog Lamps	LED	LED
Alloy Wheel Design	19-inch Lightweight Alloy	18-inch BBS Alloy
Door Handle Finish	Chrome Finish	Chrome Finish
Exterior Colour Options	Pearl White	Pearl White
Roof Rails	Available	Not Available
Chrome Exterior Finish	Available	Not Available
Body Cladding	Available	Not Available
Rear Spoiler	Available	Rear Spoiler
Roof Type	Available	Available
Wing Mirror Type	Available	Available
Rear Wiper	Available	Available
Body Type	Available	Available
DRL	Available	Available
Fog Lights	Available	Available
Front Fog Lights	Available	Available
Led Headlights	Available	Available
Led Taillights	Available	Available
Rear Fog Lights	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Tyre Size	265/30 R19	215/40 R18
Wheel Type	Lightweight Alloy	Alloy
Front Brake Type	Brembo Ventilated Disc	Ventilated Disc Brembo
Rear Brake Type	Disc	Solid Disc
Tyre Type	Performance Tyres	Available
Front Brake Disc Diameter	300	300
Spare Wheel Type	Available	Space Saver
Rear Brake Drum Diameter	Available	Available
Parking Brake Type	Available	Available
Tyre Load Index	Available	Available
Tyre Speed Rating	Available	Available
Wheel Rim Size	Available	Available
Brake Type Front	Available	Available
Brake Type Rear	Available	Available
Spare Tyre	Available	Available
Front Tyre Width	Available	Available
Rear Tyre Width	Available	Available
Wheel Diameter	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Front Suspension	Adaptive Dual Axis Strut	MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension	Multi-Link	Double Wishbone
Chassis Type	Reinforced Monocoque	Monocoque
Front Spring Type	Coil Spring	Coil Spring
Front Anti-Roll Bar	Yes	Yes
Power Steering	Electric	Electric
Steering Column	Available	Tilt and Telescopic
Rear Spring Type	Available	Available
Rear Anti-Roll Bar	Available	Available
Shock Absorber Type	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Service Interval	10000 km / 12 months	10,000 km or 6 Months
Approx Service Cost	High	Approx R5,500
Battery Warranty	24 Months	Not Applicable
Battery Type	AGM	Available
First Service At	5000	5000
Maintenance Plan	Available	Optional
Engine Oil Change Interval	Available	Available
Service Plan Duration	Available	Available
Service Plan Distance	Available	Available
Anti-Rust Treatment	Available	Available
Alternator	Available	Available
Gear Shift Indicator	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Warranty Years	3	3
Warranty Kilometers	100000	100000
Roadside Assistance	3 Years	3 Years
Anti-Corrosion Warranty	5 Years / Unlimited km	6 Years
Basic Warranty	Available	Available

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
Real-world City Mileage Min	7	8
Real-world City Mileage Max	9	10
Real-world Highway Mileage Min	10	11
Real-world Highway Mileage Max	12	13
Owner Review Count	8	9

Spec	Civic Type R	GR86
4WD System Type	Part-time 4WD	Part-time 4WD
Approach Angle	25	25
Departure Angle	23	23
Wading Depth	600	600
Terrain Modes	Available	Available
Locking Differential	Available	Available
Underbody Protection	Available	Available
Ramp Breakover Angle	Available	Available
Recovery Hooks	Available	Available
Hill Descent Control	Available	Available
Ramp-over Angle	Available	Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda Civic Type R wins with 69 pts vs 60 pts for GR86

In structured scoring, Civic Type R emerges as the stronger overall package. However, GR86 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 Type R 9 vs GR86 6. 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 Type R 18, GR86 20. 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 Type R 12, GR86 12. 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 Type R 10, GR86 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Civic Type R 20, GR86 14. 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 Type R and GR86 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Civic Type R scores 20 vs 14.

Efficiency: Civic Type R scores 9 vs 6.

Safety: Civic Type R scores 18 vs 20.

Practicality: Civic Type R scores 10 vs 8.

Ownership: Civic Type R scores 12 vs 12.

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

Honda Civic Type R vs Toyota GR86

Honda Civic Type R

Toyota GR86

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Key Specs Side by Side

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

Civic Type R

GR86

The Bottom Line

Where They Actually Differ

Score Breakdown by Category

Civic Type R

GR86

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Civic Type R

GR86

Which One's Right for You?

Civic Type R

GR86

Full Specs, Side by Side

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

Buyers Also Looked At These

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

In Depth — Breaking It All Down