2022 Honda Civic Si vs. 2022 Toyota GR86

The 2022 Honda Civic Si is a performance trim within the Civic lineup. It boasts the most powerful engine with a standard manual transmission. It also has bold styling that makes it stand out and attract notice. There’s also a good range of standard safety features and a fully featured infotainment system.

The 2022 Toyota GR86 is the also a performance car. This sporty coupe comes in two trims and replaces the Toyota 86, which was last made for the 2020 model year. There are lots of improvements, from a more powerful engine to upgraded interior materials that make this better than its predecessor. Let’s take a closer look at these two performance-minded cars to see which is the best.

The Honda Civic Si is its own trim within the Civic lineup. Pricing starts at $28,315 with a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. There is also a one-touch moonroof, embossed Si logos on the front headrests, and heated side mirrors.

The Toyota GR86 is available in two trims. The base trim is $27,700 with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Premium trim is priced at $30,300 with an 8-speaker audio system, Ultrasuede and leather trims, and heated front seats. Although only available in one trim, we give this one to Honda for a better range of standard features.

Winner: Honda Civic Si

The Civic Si gets its power from a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. This responsive engine is paired to a six-speed manual transmission, with no option for an automatic.

The Toyota GR86 has a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. This is paired to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The GR86 comes out ahead for offering a choice of either a manual or automatic transmission so more people can enjoy the fun.

Winner: Toyota GR86

EPA-estimated fuel economy for the Toyota GR86 is 21 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined when equipped with the automatic transmission. Those numbers dip to 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined if you choose the manual transmission.

The Honda Civic Si gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined and is manual transmission only. That is significantly better than the Toyota GR86 no matter which transmission option you choose. If fuel economy is a priority, then there’s a clear choice.

Winner: Honda Civic Si

The Civic Si offers normal, sport, and individual drive modes to tailor steering and suspension. While normal is relaxed, sport tightens up the drive for a more engaging experience. Individual lets you customize each setting on its own. Regardless of the mode, handling is responsive and controlled whether driving on highways or along twisting side roads.

The GR86 gets different drive modes depending on the transmission. The manual has a track mode while the automatic also gets normal, sport, and snow modes. Like the Civic Si, these alter the drive for more relaxed or more performance-focused handling. Both do well in sportier modes, but the Civic Si does a better job of toning it down for more leisurely drives.

Winner: Honda Civic Si

Sporty cars excel at providing a thrill but aren’t so great as long-distance cruisers. What makes them handle well also makes them stiff and less comfortable. Although not as harsh as some, the Toyota GR86 leans toward the rough side. It’s good on highways where pavement is smooth, but the imperfections of side streets are quite noticeable. It also has seating for only four.

The Honda Civic Si also has a stiff, sporty suspension system with seating for five. There’s a big difference between this and the rest of the Civic lineup, which is more relaxed. Still, it offers a more well-mannered ride than the GR86, making it a better choice for those who put a priority on passenger comfort.

Winner: Honda Civic Si

The Civic Si interior features leather surfaces and wood trims that give it a premium feel. Aluminum sport pedals and red contrast stitching throughout the interior give it added personality. The heavily bolstered front seats feature the Si logo embroidered onto the headrests, making for an attractive and comfortable cabin space.

The GR86 has Ultrasuede seats with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and silver contrast stitching throughout the interior. Seats are very heavily bolstered to support the driver during more spirited driving. The Premium adds sport pedals and additional contrast stitching. While both deliver a sporty experience, the Civic Si is more refined with a greater abundance of high-end materials.

Winner: Honda Civic Si

The Civic Si infotainment system includes a 9.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports, and a premium 12-speaker Bose audio system. It’s an intuitive system that is quick to learn and easy enough to figure out that even passengers will find it simple to use.

Infotainment in the GR86 features an 8.0-inch touchscreen, 6-speaker audio, USB port, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Premium trim adds an 8-speaker audio system. Though it is an easy system to use, it lacks the features of the Civic Si, even in its top trim. There’s no premium audio, and smartphone connectivity isn’t wireless in the GR86, so we give this to the Civic Si.

Winner: Honda Civic Si

The Honda Civic Si has a long list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. There’s also blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, auto high beams, and a rear seat reminder.

The Toyota GR86 offers pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision throttle management, lane departure warning, sway warning, lead vehicle start alert, and high beam assist, but on models with the automatic transmission only. These aren’t available at all on models with the manual. The Civic Si delivers better standard safety.

Winner: Honda Civic Si

Neither of these is a large vehicle, but there is still room for cargo. The Honda Civic Si has a total of 14.4 cubic feet of cargo. That will easily handle a few pieces of luggage or the week’s groceries, although it certainly isn’t as roomy as an SUV.

That number drops quite a bit with the Toyota GR86. It has a trunk with just 6.26 cubic feet of cargo room. That’s not going to hold a lot, which makes this sports car tough to use if the trip calls for extra luggage. If cargo is a priority for your sports car, then the Honda Civic Si is a better choice.

Winner: Honda Civic Si

The GR86 is a solid sports car. There’s a choice of two trims, a manual or automatic transmission, and it has good fuel economy. It’s fun to drive with plenty of power and responsive handling.

The Honda Civic Si, however, offers a little bit more. There are more standard safety and infotainment features, along with twice as much room for cargo. The ride is more composed, and it has a more well-appointed interior. The Honda Civic Si is simply a more well-rounded sports car offering.

Winner: Honda Civic Si