The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 appear to be the same sports car with identical engine sizes, torque and horsepower outputs, and fuel economy ratings. They offer similar infotainment features, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 8-inch touch screens. There's also little price difference between the two. But which model suits your lifestyle and budget? Read below as our team at Apple Subaru in York, Pennsylvania, shares more information to help you decide.
Trims
The 2023 Subaru BRZ comes in two trims, ranging from the Premium with a starting MSRP of $28,595 to the Limited starting at $31,095. The 2023 Toyota GR86 offers three options: the base GR86, the Premium, and the 10th Anniversary Special Edition. The base model has a starting price of $28,400, the Premium of $31,000, and the 10th Anniversary Special Edition of $34,360.
Performance
Under the hood, the new Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 have the same engine: a 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder that generates 184 lb-ft of torque and 228 horsepower. This engine delivers power to the rear wheels of both vehicles via a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
The BRZ and GR86 offer agile handling and fast steering behind the wheel. When switching between the sports cars, you won't notice much difference in the power delivery or responsiveness because both deliver enough torque at low speeds and even have thrust to reach the redline.
With 27 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg in the city, the 2023 Subaru BRZ outperforms the Toyota GR86, which only manages 26 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city with the manual transmission. The EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of the 2023 GR86 slightly improves with the automatic gearbox.
Interior
The 2023 Subaru BRZ has a much nicer interior than the Toyota GR86. In fact, in the categories where U.S. News & World Report scores both sports cars, the interior is the only category where the two vehicles differ. The media company gave the Toyota GR86 an interior score of only 6.1 out of 10, while it gave the Subaru BRZ a 7.1. This difference in interior scores ultimately gave the Subaru BRZ an overall score of 8.7 out of 10 compared to the Toyota GR86's 8.3.
The interior of the two sports cars is similar in many ways. The cockpit of the Toyota GR86, like the Subaru BRZ's, is driver-focused and comes with a minimal design of durable materials. But the BRZ's interior skillfully blends soft materials and hard plastics, creating a more understated and harmonious look. Thanks to Subaru's superb, driver-focused approach, the instrument panel and infotainment screen are both within easy reach.
While hard plastics handle most of the work, there are also some soft-touch elements. The GR86's interior is a continuous dark shade with little visual relief, making the BRZ stand out with its flashes of colorful stitching.
When it comes to trunk space, the BRZ has the edge over the GR86. The BRZ offers 6.3 cubic feet of trunk space, while the GR86 only gets 6.2 cubic feet. While that's not much of a difference, it still matters when comparing actual figures.
Safety Features
If you're concerned about safety features, you'll find the 2023 Subaru BRZ's safety tech list incredibly satisfying. Both the BRZ and GR86 gain additional safety features, such as lane departure warning, forward automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. They also come with rearview cameras, which is a must for modern cars.
Safety features on the Toyota GR86 that aren't available on the Subaru BRZ are the special headlights that can rotate to better illuminate curves. But the high-end Limited Subaru BRZ has additional EyeSight system features, such as lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts, which the GR86 doesn't have.
Suspension and Steering
Another difference between the BRZ and the GR86 is the steering and suspension system. The Subaru BRZ has a slight suspension performance edge over the Toyota GR86, thanks to its softer rear springs and firmer rear trail-link bushings and front springs. But the Toyota GR86 has a firmer rear sway bar with a wider diameter and a thinner solid front sway than the BRZ's hollow counterpart. And while Subaru fastened its bar to the body of the BRZ, Toyota kept its rear bar mounted to the GR86's subframe.
Which Vehicle Is Better?
Given how similar the 2023 Subaru BRZ and the 2023 Toyota GR86 are, you can't go wrong with either sports car. But considering the additional safety details, interior features, and fuel economy specs, the 2023 Subaru BRZ emerges as the clear winner in our comparison.
Which One Is Faster?
With a 228-horsepower 2.4-liter engine, the Subaru BRZ takes only 6.1 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph from a standstill and reaches the quarter mile in 13.3 seconds. With this engine configuration, the BRZ can reach a top speed of 155 mph.
In comparison, the 2023 Toyota GR86 can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds with the 2.4-liter engine. It can reach the quarter mile in 14 seconds and achieve a top speed of 140 mph.
Is Buying a Subaru BRZ Worth It?
If you're looking for a stylish sports car for cruising the streets of York, Pennsylvania, the Subaru BRZ is worth it. It's affordable, easy to maintain, and fun to drive. The BRZ has the level of quality you'd expect from a Japanese automaker.
Are you ready for a thrilling ride? Get behind the wheel of the 2023 Subaru BRZ today at Apple Subaru. Check out our new inventory online and choose the trim you'd like to take for a spin. Or visit our dealership at 1202 Loucks Road in York, Pennsylvania, to see the Subaru trims in person. Are you looking for a used BRZ? Check our vast inventory of used models online. If you have any questions about a specific trim or you'd like to speak to one of our experts, give us a call at 223-261-7031 or use our contact form.
