Twins faceoff: Toyota GR86 vs. Subaru BRZ

Shared DNA is what the Toyota GR86 and the Subaru BRZ have.

Having been jointly developed by Subaru and Toyota, they are almost identical, sharing as much as 90 percent of the components that make up each one.

But when it comes to marketing, Toyota seems to have an upper hand because of its close connection to the iconic 80s-era Toyota AE86, as popularized by the Initial D anime.

On the other hand, Subaru might not have any anime-related references, but both cars utilize the Subaru-derived “boxer” engine design that has been powering its entire line-up.

For 2023, both sports cars have been revamped. Let's delve deeper to figure out what sets them apart.

Exterior

The familiar two-door coupe silhouette on both cars remains unchanged, but the notable changes lie up front.

The Toyota GR86 sports a redesigned front bumper with a large opening that seems to coincide with the signature styling trait found on other models. This also comes with new LED headlamps and taillights.

The Subaru BRZ, on the other hand, also has a different bumper design with openings that feature more corners and bigger ducts on either side of the opening.

Looking at the rear, both coupes share the same treatment like the integrated ducktail spoiler on the trunk, along with the taillamps and dual-exhaust system.

They also share the same design on the side like the fender opening that has a swooping crease with a more pronounced side skirt.

Interior

The interior styling for both cars remains pretty much the same, as both feature the familiar 2+2 seating layout.

While the interior color is predominantly black, there are bits of plastic and leather here and there, with matte-aluminum accent details found on the inner door handles.

For the seats, the BRZ has red stitching and a red accent line on the seats, while the GR86 has white stitching.

Aside from their respective badges found on the steering wheel, the toggle switches and the trio of round gauge displays at the bottom of the center console add a sporty feel to both vehicles.

Technology

Both the BRZ and the GR86 come with an 8-inch infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

What’s more, there’s a digital display for its gauge cluster with selectable themes that change according to the drive mode (Normal, Sport, and Track).

Other shared notable tech features include remote keyless entry with push-button start, cruise control, hill-start assist, automatic climate control, and more.

Safety

Both coupes come equipped with safety features like airbags, anti-lock brakes, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill-start assist and more.

However, the BRZ has Subaru’s EyeSight technology that integrates active-safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-swap and lane-departure warnings, pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, and a lead vehicle start alert.

Chassis and powertrain

Jointly developed by Subaru and Toyota, both coupes utilize a heavily modified Subaru Global Platform (SAP) that also underpins the BRZ.

The previous-generation models used an architecture derived from the Subaru Impreza. The current GR86 benefits from adopting the SAP, featuring a claimed 50 percent added torsional rigidity versus its predecessor.

Power-wise, both Japanese automakers decided to upgrade the engine from the old 2.0-liter for a new 2.4-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve, flat-4 gasoline engine.

This delivers 231 PS (23 PS more than the previous generation) at 7,000 RPM and 249 Nm (previously 212 Nm) of torque at 3,700 RPM.

The transmission is either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters. Meanwhile, the MacPherson-strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension layouts are identical in both the coupes, as well.

Prices

Both the Subaru and the Toyota occupy a special niche in the premium, rear-wheel-drive sports-coupe market.

As such, they are priced lower than the likes of the BMW 2 Series. Here's how much they cost:

Toyota GR86

• GR86 2.4 M/T (Sapphire Blue Pearl) – ₱2,328,000
• GR86 2.4 M/T (Crystal White Pearl) – ₱2,343,000
• GR86 2.4 M/T (Ignition Red) – ₱2,348,000
• GR86 2.4 A/T (Sapphire Blue Pearl) – ₱2,499,000
• GR86 2.4 A/T (Ignition Red) – ₱2,519,000
• GR86 2.4 A/T (Crystal White Pearl) – ₱2,514,000

Subaru BRZ

• BRZ 2.4 M/T – ₱2,519,000
• BRZ 2.4 A/T EyeSight – ₱2,619,000

Summary

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 have just a few differences, but my guess is that it will probably weigh heavily on brand preference when it comes to choosing between the two.

Subaru’s are known for their rich rally heritage, all-wheel drive and flat-4 “Boxer’ engine.

Toyota also has a long and successful racing history, not to mention the close reference of the GR86 to the Initial D anime.

Some may favor the simple and purposeful GR86 while others may go for the BRZ’s bolder look, but that’s a personal choice. If you ask me, you can’t go wrong with either of them.