Subaru BRZ vs Toyota GR86: what separates the twins
Updated Report an error By Sarah Whitmore
Subaru · 2021–present
BRZ ZD8
- Power
- 173 kW235 PS
- Top speed
- 225 km/h
- Kerb mass
- 1,350 kg
Toyota · 2021–present
86 ZN8
- Power
- 173 kW235 PS
- Top speed
- —
- Kerb mass
- —
At a glance
Who suits what, worked out from the catalog figures of the versions above.
- Off-road BRZ ZD8 Drive and body: Rear-wheel drive · Coupe vs Rear-wheel drive · Coupe
Verdict Opinion
Mechanically there is no winner: the same engine, platform and factory produce both coupés, and the performance figures are the same within a few kilowatts. The choice comes down to styling, availability and the local dealer. In the United States, the market with full figures here, the Toyota sells about three times as often, so used examples are easier to find.
Enthusiasts who want the sharpest factory version should look at the BRZ tS. Buyers who want the widest choice of used examples will usually end up with a GT86 or GR86.
— Sarah Whitmore
Few rival pairs share as much as these two. The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ were developed together, with Toyota leading the project under chief engineer Tetsuya Tada and Subaru supplying the flat-four engine and much of the chassis. Both are assembled by Subaru at Ōta in Gunma, Japan, where the first cars were built on 2 February 2012.
The names changed with markets and years. Europe knew the first Toyota as the GT86, North America first as the Scion FR-S, and since the second generation Toyota calls its version the GR86. Subaru kept the BRZ name, an abbreviation of Boxer, Rear-wheel drive and Zenith. The question most buyers ask is therefore not which car is better engineered, but what is different at all.
Subaru BRZ vs Toyota 86: what is actually different
Boxer engines: 2.0 FA20 and 2.4 FA24
Both generations use the same engine in each car. The first (2012–2021 for Toyota, 2012–2020 for Subaru) has the 1,998 cc FA20 with 147 kW (200 PS) and 205 Nm in European form; the facelifted manual cars gained a few kilowatts. The second generation uses the 2,387 cc FA24 with 170–173 kW (231–235 PS) depending on market. Its 250 Nm arrive at 3,700 rpm instead of 6,400 rpm, which addresses the first generation's main weakness, a lack of mid-range torque.
Styling and tuning
On the second generation only the front bumper, grille and badges are unique to the Toyota. Wikipedia notes that the first-generation twins also differed in suspension setup. For the second generation it lists the BRZ tS, a Subaru-only trim from the 2024 model year with upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes and a manual gearbox only.
Subaru first, Toyota second
Subaru revealed the second BRZ on 18 November 2020, almost five months before Toyota introduced the GR86 on 5 April 2021. BRZ production started in July 2021, GR86 production in October 2021.
US sales: the Toyota leads
Toyota sells far more of them. In the United States the GR86 found 11,996 buyers in 2022, 11,078 in 2023, 11,426 in 2024 and 9,940 in 2025; the BRZ recorded 3,345, 4,188, 3,345 and 2,882. Over those four years the Toyota outsold its twin by about 3.2 to 1, by our calculation. In Europe German Wikipedia says the GR86 was marketed for only two years from its launch in spring 2022.
Safety awards and EyeSight
The 2022 BRZ in its top trim received an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award. Automatic versions of both twins carry Subaru's EyeSight camera system, and Subaru extended it to manual BRZs from the 2024 model year.
Full specifications
| Subaru BRZ | Toyota 86 | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Version | BRZ ZD8 · 2.4 · petrol · 173 kW (235 PS) | 86 ZN8 · GR86 2.4 · petrol · 173 kW (235 PS) |
| Production years | 2021–present | 2021–present |
| Body | Coupe | Coupe |
| Class | Sports car | No data |
| Country | Japan | Japan |
| Performance | ||
| Power Why it matters: More power means stronger acceleration and easier overtaking, especially with a full load. | 173 kW (235 PS) 232 hp | 173 kW (235 PS) 232 hp |
| Power, all versions | 147–173 kW (200–235 PS) 197–232 hp | 147–173 kW (200–235 PS) 197–232 hp |
| Torque Why it matters: Torque is the pulling force you feel when accelerating from low revs, towing or climbing hills. | 250 Nm 184 lb-ft | 250 Nm 184 lb-ft |
| Top speed Why it matters: Top speed hints at how relaxed the car is at motorway speeds, even if you never reach it. | 225 km/h 140 mph | No data |
| Power per tonne | 128 kW/t 156 hp/ton calculated | No data |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 2,387 cc 2.4 l | 2,387 cc 2.4 l |
| Engine code | FA24 | FA24 |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Dimensions and weight | ||
| Kerb weight Why it matters: A lighter car is usually more agile and uses less energy. | 1,350 kg 2,976 lb | No data |
| Economy and running costs | ||
| Fuel consumption Why it matters: Lower consumption cuts running costs and CO₂ emissions on every trip. | 8.8 l/100 km 26.7 mpg US | No data |
| CO₂ | 200 g/km | No data |
| Fuel cost per year | €2,310/year estimated | No data |
These cars do not differ in the data we have.
Equal rows hidden (10): Production years, Body, Country, Power, Power, all versions, Torque, Fuel, Engine, Engine code, Drive.
Estimated at 15,000 km a year with fuel at €1.75/l petrol.
In plain words
On the catalog figures, the Subaru BRZ is the pick for off-road. Our catalog has no kerb mass for the Toyota 86 yet, so some checks above leave it out.
Which one to choose
Choose the Subaru BRZ if you like its styling, want the STI-tuned tS with Brembo brakes, or have a good Subaru dealer nearby.
Choose the Toyota GT86 or GR86 if you want the more common car with more used examples to choose from, or if Toyota is better represented where you live.
In both cases, pick the second generation if mid-range torque matters; a facelifted first-generation manual is the cheaper way into the same layout. Toyota's other sports models are listed in the Toyota catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 the same car?
Practically yes. They were developed together, use the same boxer engine and platform and are built in the same Subaru plant in Gunma. They differ in styling details, trims and, in the first generation, suspension setup.
Which engine do they have?
The first generation uses a 2.0-litre FA20 flat-four with 147 kW (200 PS) in Europe. The second generation has a 2.4-litre FA24 with 170–173 kW and 250 Nm.
Which sells better?
The Toyota. In the United States about 44,400 GR86s and 13,800 BRZs were sold from 2022 to 2025.
Is the GR86 still sold in Europe?
According to German Wikipedia, Toyota marketed the second-generation car in Europe for only two years after its launch in spring 2022.
Why is it called the 86?
The name refers to the Corolla AE86, known in Japan as the Hachi-Roku, a rear-wheel-drive coupé of the 1980s.