The Camry has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Civic doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.
The Camry has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Civic doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
The Camry offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Civic doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
The Camry XLE/XSE offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Civic only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.
Both the Camry and Civic offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Camry XLE/XSE has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Civic’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.
The Camry has standard Safety Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Civic doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.
Both the Camry and the Civic have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Camry is safer than the Honda Civic:
|
Camry |
Civic |
OVERALL STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
140 |
325 |
Neck Injury Risk |
20% |
30% |
Neck Compression |
13 lbs. |
23 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
335 |
444 |
Neck Injury Risk |
21% |
25% |
Neck Stress |
136 lbs. |
189 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
45 lbs. |
61 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Camry is safer than the Honda Civic:
|
Camry |
Civic |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
134 |
195 |
Chest Movement |
.7 inches |
.7 inches |
Abdominal Force |
136 lbs. |
286 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Spine Acceleration |
48 G’s |
79 G’s |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
164 |
260 |
Spine Acceleration |
35 G’s |
51 G’s |
Hip Force |
622 lbs. |
805 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Camry is safer than the Civic Sedan:
|
Camry |
Civic |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Structure |
ACCEPTABLE |
ACCEPTABLE |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Torso |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Shoulder Deflection |
1.1 in |
1.26 in |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.18 in |
1.85 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
9 MPH |
10 MPH |
Pelvis |
ACCEPTABLE |
MARGINAL |
Pelvis Force |
937 lbs. |
1138 lbs. |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Neck Tension |
45 lbs. |
89 lbs. |
Torso |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Shoulder Deflection |
.79 in |
1.89 in |
Shoulder Force |
201 lbs. |
379 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.06 in |
1.61 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
5 MPH |
5 MPH |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Camry its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Civic is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.