DecodedCarsHonda Civic vs Toyota Camry
2026 Honda Civic vs 2026 Toyota Camry — two midsize cars compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.
The short version
The Toyota Camry is more fuel-efficient: 51 vs 49 MPG combined in its best version.
That works out to about $50 a year less in fuel for the Toyota Camry (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).
The Toyota Camry is the bigger car, about 15 inches longer.
Across all model years since 2005, the Honda Civic has had fewer recall campaigns (43 vs 44).
The two cars
The 2026 Honda Civic is a midsize car offered with 3 engines (2.0L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo and 2.0L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive. It measures about 184 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 108-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,067 lb (1.5l 4dr Sedan).
The 2026 Toyota Camry is a midsize car offered with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 194 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 111-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,627 lb (4dr Sedan AWD).
Buying used? The 2024 Civic and the 2024 Camry have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2016 Civic and the 2018 Camry.
| 2026 Honda Civic | 2026 Toyota Camry | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Midsize Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Engines | 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| NHTSA overall | Not rated | Not rated |
| Best combined MPG | 49 MPG | 51 MPG |
| City / highway MPG (best) | 50 city | 52 city |
| Fuel cost per year (EPA) | $1,350 | $1,300 |
| Horsepower (most powerful) | 150 hp | 184 hp |
| Seats (most) | – | 5 |
| Driver-assist features standard | 14 | 11 |
| Length | 179.1 in | 193.7 in |
| Width | 70.9 in | 72.4 in |
| Height | 55.5 in | 57.1 in |
| Curb weight (lightest) | 2,895 lb | 3,494 lb |
| Recalls (2026) | 1 | 3 |
| Recalls, all years since 2005 | 43 | 44 |
| Owner complaints (latest year) | 32 | 144 |
| Wikipedia views, 30 days | 49,165 | 34,633 |
| Best used year | 2024 | 2024 |
| Year to avoid | 2016 | 2018 |
Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Honda Civic if…
- You want something easier to park (15 in shorter)
- You want more standard driver-assist tech
Choose the Toyota Camry if…
- You want lower fuel bills (51 vs 49 MPG)
- You want more power (up to 184 vs 150 hp)
- You want more room (15 in longer)
- You need AWD or 4WD
Pros & cons of each
2026 Honda Civic
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 49 MPG combined — 57% better than the average 2026 midsize car (31.2 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
2026 Toyota Camry
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 51 MPG combined — 63% better than the average 2026 midsize car (31.2 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Full 2026 Honda Civic specs →Full 2026 Toyota Camry specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →