The 2026 Honda Civic and the 2026 Toyota Camry are the two sedans most buyers cross-shop first. The Civic is the cheaper and more fun compact. The Camry is the bigger and more efficient midsize hybrid. Both are excellent. Here is how they compare on price, power, fuel economy, space, and safety.
Price is the first split. The Civic starts at $24,695 for the LX Sedan, excluding the $1,195 destination charge. The Camry starts at $29,000 for the LE front-wheel drive, excluding the same $1,195 destination charge. The Civic undercuts the Camry by $4,305 at the entry point. The gap narrows higher up. The Civic Sport Hybrid sedan costs $29,395, the same money as a base Camry. At the top, the Civic Type R costs $46,895 while the Camry XSE tops out at $35,200.
Power is close in the mainstream trims. The Civic hybrid makes 200 hp and 232 lb-ft from its two-motor system. The Camry hybrid makes 225 hp with front-wheel drive and 232 hp with all-wheel drive. The base Civic 2.0L makes 150 hp and 133 lb-ft. The Camry has no gas-only version. Every Camry is a hybrid. The Civic is the only one of the pair that offers real performance trims. The Si makes 200 hp from a 1.5L turbo with a 6-speed manual. The Type R makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft.
Fuel economy goes to the Camry. The Camry LE is rated 52 mpg city, 49 highway, and 51 combined. Other Camry grades range from 43 to 50 mpg combined. The Civic Hybrid sedan is rated 50 city, 47 highway, and 49 combined. The base Civic LX sedan is rated 32 city, 41 highway, and 36 combined. The Civic Si is rated 31 mpg combined and the Type R 24 mpg combined. The Camry wins on economy in every like-for-like trim.
The Camry is the bigger car. It seats five with a 15.1 cubic foot trunk. The Civic sedan seats five with a 14.8 cubic foot trunk. The Civic hatchback offers 24.5 cubic feet of cargo space. The Camry offers all-wheel drive on every grade for $1,525 extra. The Civic is front-wheel drive only across all trims. If you need all-wheel drive, the Camry is the only choice here.
Safety favors the Camry. The 2026 Camry earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, the highest award, with Good ratings in all three crash tests. The Civic Hatchback earned a Top Safety Pick award. The Civic Sedan did not earn an IIHS award for 2026. The NHTSA had not published a 2026 Civic rating as of October 2026. Secondary sources report a 5-star NHTSA overall rating for the Camry, but that figure could not be confirmed on the NHTSA site itself. Both cars carry full standard safety suites: Honda Sensing on the Civic and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 on the Camry.
So which sedan should you buy. Choose the Civic if you want the lower price, the hatchback body style, or the fun of the Si and Type R. The Sport Hybrid at $29,395 is the sweet spot of the Civic range. Choose the Camry if you want the best fuel economy, the bigger cabin, all-wheel drive, and the Top Safety Pick+ rating. For most buyers, the Camry is the smarter buy. For buyers who want the most fun per dollar, the Civic is the one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which is cheaper, the 2026 Civic or the 2026 Camry? A: The Civic is cheaper at the entry point. It starts at $24,695 for the LX Sedan, while the Camry starts at $29,000 for the LE front-wheel drive. Both prices exclude the $1,195 destination charge.
Q: Which sedan gets better gas mileage? A: The Camry. The Camry LE is rated 51 mpg combined, ahead of the Civic Hybrid sedan at 49 mpg combined. The base Civic LX sedan is rated 36 mpg combined.
Q: Does the 2026 Camry come with all-wheel drive? A: Yes. All-wheel drive is available on all five Camry grades for $1,525 extra. The Civic is front-wheel drive only across all trims.
Q: Which is safer, the Civic or the Camry? A: The Camry. It earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. The Civic Hatchback earned a Top Safety Pick award, but the Civic Sedan earned no IIHS award for 2026.
Content Writer at AutosAdvise. Thomas Mills covers new car reviews, prices, specifications, and buying guides. He aims to make every article clear, practical, and easy to understand — so readers can compare models with confidence and choose the right car for their needs.