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Subaru BRZ vs. Toyota GR86: Is There Really a $5,000 Difference?

The $5,000 BRZ-versus-GR86 price gap is not supported by the cited MSRP figures. Here’s how 2023 prices, trims, driving feel, and mpg compare.
Entry910 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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There is no substantiated $5,000 MSRP gap between the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 in the U.S. figures available here. Toyota’s 2023 comparison page lists starting MSRPs of $27,900 for the GR86 and $28,595 for the BRZ—a $695 difference—but its feature table shows a conflicting pair of prices. The amount you see in a real quote depends on the model year, trim, transmission, options, dealer adjustments, and fees. The second-generation Toyota is called the GR86, not simply the 86, in the cited U.S. sources.

Where does the $5,000 figure come from?

The available manufacturer figures do not establish a $5,000 MSRP difference. Toyota’s historical comparison page, published February 1, 2023, gives starting MSRPs of $27,900 for the 2023 GR86 and $28,595 for the BRZ, a $695 gap. Yet the same page’s feature table displays $28,400 for the GR86 and $30,095 for the BRZ—a $1,695 gap. Toyota notes that its comparison data are powered by JATO and may not be comprehensive or use the same terminology as other Toyota.com material, so the two pairs should not be treated as one consistent apples-to-apples quote. Toyota’s 2023 comparison page.

Subaru’s 2023 trim comparison lists starting prices of $28,595 for the BRZ Premium and $31,095 for the BRZ Limited. Those are different trims, not a same-trim comparison with the GR86. Subaru’s 2023 BRZ specification sheet.

Neither source proves that a dealer added $5,000 to either car or that buyers paid a $5,000 transaction-price premium. A number that large could refer to different trims, added options, a dealer adjustment, taxes and fees, or an out-the-door quote, but the cited evidence does not identify its source. To assess a claimed difference, compare written offers for the same model year, transmission, equipment, and pricing basis.

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What is shared between the BRZ and GR86?

The 2022 second-generation cars share the basic sports-coupe formula: lightweight construction, a front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, and a 2.4-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder. Toyota and Subaru list the engine at 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Toyota’s 2023 comparison page states: “The Toyota GR86’s 2.4L Boxer Horizontal4 engine gives you 184 pounds of torque and 228 hp.” Toyota’s comparison and Subaru’s 2023 specifications.

That shared hardware makes the cars close relatives, not identical driving experiences. Suspension tuning and how each car responds near its limits can matter more to a driver than the matching headline power figures.

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How do they drive differently?

In MotorTrend’s 2022 comparison test, the GR86 was more willing to rotate, while the BRZ felt more neutral and could feel snappier at the limit. Those are impressions from that test, not guarantees for every driver, tire, road, or setup. Its measured results also favored each car in different areas:

MotorTrend test result Toyota GR86 Subaru BRZ
Skidpad grip 0.98 g 0.93 g
0–60 mph 5.8 seconds Not stated in the cited test figures here
60–0 mph braking distance Not stated in the cited test figures here 107 feet

These are results for MotorTrend’s test cars under its test conditions, not universal outcomes or a promise that one car will be quicker in every setting. Read the full MotorTrend comparison test for its methods and context.

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Which equipment and fuel-economy figures should you compare?

Match transmission and trim before comparing either feature lists or fuel economy. Toyota’s comparison identifies some driver-assistance features as transmission-dependent, so an automatic-equipped car may not have the same listed availability as a manual. Check the exact configuration rather than assuming the equipment carries over between transmissions. Toyota’s comparison page.

For 2023, the manufacturers’ listed fuel-economy figures differ slightly for the automatic versions:

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2023 transmission Subaru BRZ Toyota GR86
Manual 20 city / 27 highway mpg 20 city / 27 highway mpg
Automatic 21 city / 30 highway mpg 21 city / 31 highway mpg

Figures are the manufacturers’ listed 2023 mpg values; verify the specific year and configuration you are shopping. Sources: Subaru’s 2023 specifications and Toyota’s 2023 comparison.

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How should you compare actual prices?

Ask for a written quote that makes the price basis visible, then compare like with like. A useful comparison should identify:

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  • Model year, trim, and transmission for each car.
  • Factory options and dealer-installed accessories included in the offer.
  • Vehicle MSRP, any dealer adjustment, and discounts or incentives listed separately.
  • Taxes, title, registration, documentation charges, and the final out-the-door total.

Do not compare one car’s starting MSRP with another car’s higher trim or a total that includes taxes and fees. A $5,000 gap may appear in a particular pair of quotes, but the sources cited here do not establish it as a general BRZ-versus-GR86 price difference.

What do current model-year prices tell you?

Subaru’s 2026 trim-comparison sheet lists a BRZ Limited starting price of $35,860 and a BRZ tS starting price of $38,360. Those are Subaru’s 2026 list figures for two different trims; they are not a direct comparison with Toyota’s historical 2023 GR86 figures. The available figures here do not establish a matching 2026 Toyota price, local inventory, or current transaction prices. Subaru’s 2026 BRZ specifications.

Which one should you choose?

If the decision is about price, compare current local written quotes for equivalent configurations rather than relying on an unexplained $5,000 headline. If you are choosing by feel, drive both: MotorTrend’s test found the GR86 more eager to rotate and the BRZ more neutral, but your preference will depend on how you use the car and what handling response you enjoy. For commuting or track use, also weigh the exact transmission, equipment, and tire setup you would buy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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