2023 Subaru BRZ vs. 2023 Toyota GR86

If you are someone who simply enjoys driving for the sake of driving, you are probably a sports car enthusiast. When you have the right engine, handling, and power, driving goes to the next level. However, when you talk about sports cars, you can be talking about a serious expense. There are some budget-friendly sports cars out there and the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 are two of your options. 

These two vehicles are both rear wheel drive sports cars that can be found under $30,000, which makes them an affordable sports car option. Overall, these vehicles have a lot of similarities, and they are both great vehicle options. Below, we are going to take a look at each vehicle and the specific features and performance they offer you. If you have any questions, you can reach out to us at Granite Subaru. 

Performance and Engine Options

First, let's look at how these vehicles perform for you. In the Subaru BRZ, you can find a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 228-horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, but there is an available six-speed automatic transmission. This vehicle has the speed and handling to make driving exciting. You can accelerate from zero to 60 in just six seconds. This vehicle has a great balance of ride quality and handling. For fuel economy, this vehicle gives you around 20 city and 27 highway miles per gallon. 

In the Toyota GR86, you have a 228-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that gives you 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine comes with a six-speed manual transmission, but a six-speed automatic is available. You can go from zero to 60 in about six seconds. 

As you can see, these vehicles have the same engine and produce the exact same horsepower. They also both have rear-wheel drive with TORSEN limited-slip differential, an active valve control system, vehicle stability control with traction control, and multiple modes including Track mode. 

There are a few differences in the handling of these vehicles. The Subaru's handling is a little bit smoother while the Toyota GR86 is more slippery around the corners. However, the GR86 has a more natural pedal feel. 

Exterior 

Both of these cars measure 14 feet in length. The Subaru BRZ has a curb weight that ranges from 2,815 to 2,881, while the Toyota GR86 has a curb weight that ranges from 2,811 to 2,868. 

These vehicles both also have a similar exterior design, but there are some differences between the two. These vehicles have slightly different front LED light shapes, and the grille designs are different. The grille on the Toyota is larger and has more of a box like shape. 

You also have slightly different exterior color options for these two vehicles. The 2023 Subaru BRZ can be found with colors like Ice Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Ignition Red Magnetite, Grey Metallic, Crystal White Pearl, and Blue Pearl. For the 2023 Toyota GR86, you can find colors like Track bRED, Halo White, Steel Silver, Pavement Grey, Raven Black, Neptune, and Trueno Blue. 

Interior and Technology

Both of these vehicles are two-door coupes with four seats. They offer standard cloth upholstery and manually adjustable front seats with heated seats available for upgrade. The BRZ has synthetic leather upholstery available and the GR86 has leather upholstery available. 

For cargo space, the Subaru BRZ offers you 6.3 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Toyota GR86 offers you 6.2 cubic feet of cargo space. Both vehicles have rear seats that can fold flat to fit longer cargo items. 

In terms of technology, these vehicles are also very similar. They both feature a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that can connect to your smartphone using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This adds convenience and entertainment to your driving experience giving you easy access to phone apps, contacts, music, and more. These vehicles also both feature a 7-inch digital instrument display, which shows information like the speedometer and different modes in easy view. You also have two USB ports, HD radio, and satellite radio standard in both vehicles. Both cars offer you Bluetooth standard to make it easy to talk on the phone hands-free. 

They also both offer you remote keyless entry, a push-button start, and dual zone automatic climate control for ease, comfort and convenience. One difference is the stereo; the Subaru BRZ has a standard eight-speaker stereo with a 10-speaker stereo available. The Toyota GR86 has a standard six-speaker stereo with an eight-speaker stereo available. 

Safety

When it comes to safety, both of these vehicles offer you a standard rearview camera. They also both have available safety technology features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive pivoting headlights, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. 

As you can see, these vehicles have a lot of similarities. The main difference is in the handling, and if you have a particular brand preference. There are also some differences in the model options and slight differences in pricing. 

The 2023 Subaru BRZ comes in two trim levels: the Premium or the Limited. They are similar, but the premium will be the more basic option starting under $30,000, while the Limited will be just over $30,000, adding features like synthetic leather upholstery, heated seats, the 10-speaker stereo, and some safety features. 

The 2023 Toyota GR86 is actually available in three different trim levels. The base GR86 will be your most affordable option, while the GR86 Premium will add leather upholstery, a duckbill rear spoiler, performance tires, and 18-inch wheels. However, the 2023 GR86 has one other option. This option is the 10th Anniversary Special Edition. This special edition is a limited run trim that has an exclusive Solar Shift Orange color, as well as a cat-back exhaust. 

Questions about the Subaru BRZ or the Toyota GR86? You can reach out to us at Granite Subaru. Our experts would be happy to help!