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2018 Toyota 86 vs. 2018 Subaru BRZ: Which Is Best?
2018 Toyota 86 vs Subaru BRZ ・ Photo by Subaru / Toyota
A few years ago, Toyota and Subaru embarked on a partnership to build a new lightweight rear-wheel drive sports car for both brands to sell. The new model would be a fastback coupe with a Subaru-designed engine, featuring near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution between the front and rear wheels. The car would be optimized for quick handling and available with either a manual or an automatic transmission.
The Toyota version of the new car was initially marketed under the Scion brand as the FR-S, but when Toyota retired that brand at the end of the 2016 model year, the sporty coupe received a new lease on life as the Toyota 86. Subaru has marketed its version as the BRZ since 2012. The 2018 Toyota 86 and the 2018 Subaru BRZ are both produced at the same factory in Gunma, Japan, and they are very similar. To help you choose between the two models, we’ll have to dive deep into the details to find the factors that make a difference.
Retail Price
If the 86 and BRZ are close to identical, the first place to look for a difference is in the price. You can buy the most basic 2018 Toyota 86 for $27,375, including all fees. The GT trim increases to $29,505. Finally, the 86 GT Black offers a special matte black rear wing and side mirrors as a no-cost upgrade to the GT trim level, also costing $29,505.
The most basic BRZ trim is called Premium, and that car retails for $26,455 including all fees. The next trim up is called Limited, and that sells for $29,305. Additionally, Subaru offers a top tS trim for $34,355, and Toyota has no comparable setup for the 86.
Photo by Subaru
Trim Levels
As mentioned, the Toyota has three models: 86, 86 GT, and 86 GT Black. There’s no mechanical difference between any of these models; it’s all interior and exterior trim. Buying the GT or GT Black gains a rear wing, LED fog lamps, an aerodynamic underbody panel, zoned climate control, push-button start, a theft alarm, a driver information display, heated leather/Granlux seats, and suede-like interior panel covers. Some performance upgrades like sway bars and performance exhaust are offered through Toyota’s TRD subsidiary, but they have to be separately installed.
Subaru offers mechanical differences between its trim levels. When you buy the Limited, you get the same interior upgrades as the 86, but you also get access to the optional upgraded Brembo brake package with larger discs and four-piston front calipers, two-piston rear calipers, and the optional performance power steering. At the top tS trim, the performance gear comes standard. This trim level comes with the Brembo brakes and also Sachs performance dampers, STI-tuned springs, additional chassis bracing, wider sport wheels, and a carbon fiber rear wing for a racing look.
Photo by Subaru
Driving Performance
Here’s where it gets tricky. The engine, transmission, and rear axle options are all the same between the 86 and the BRZ. You’ll get 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque out of the 2.0-liter engine with the six-speed manual transmission, or 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet if you choose the automatic.
Performance differences between the two cars come down to the options. If you buy the BRZ tS or option up a Limited BRZ with the Brembo brakes and Sachs shock absorbers, you will get more braking and handling performance off the showroom floor than you can get with an 86.
Photo by Subaru
Fuel Economy
You would think that because they share the same engine and driveline combinations and the same external bodywork, fuel economy would be identical between the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota 86. However, that’s not precisely the case.
All trim levels of the Toyota 86 are EPA-rated to return 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. If you opt for the six-speed automatic, those numbers rise to 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. Meanwhile, the BRZ with a six-speed manual transmission returns EPA ratings of 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway in the base Premium trim, or 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway in the sport tS trim. Upgrade to the six-speed automatic transmission in the Limited trim and fuel economy rises to 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway.
Subaru BRZ
Photo by Subaru
Transmission Options
The transmission options in the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are identical, so there won’t be a winner here, but there is something interesting to note. Sports car enthusiasts generally prefer manual transmissions for performance driving because the manual gearbox offers the driver complete control over shifting.
However, according to Subaru’s engineers, the paddle-shifted automatic offered with the 86 and BRZ is so good that the automatic versions are actually just a little bit faster around a race track. That’s because the automatic shifts gears faster than a human driver can manage.
Tie
Photo by Subaru
Suspension Tuning
The suspension is one mechanical area where the 86 and BRZ have some differences. Leaving the track-oriented tS out of the discussion for a little bit, the basic 86 and BRZ are tuned a little differently. The 86 has slightly softer front springs for comfort, while the BRZ has softer rear springs for a sportier steering feel and increased rear grip.
Which one of these is better is going to be a matter of personal taste, but we’ll give the nod to the Toyota 86 in this category because most owners will opt for comfort over maximum handling in a street-driven sports car.
Toyota 86
Photo by Toyota
Infotainment Systems
Another area of difference between the two cars is in the infotainment system. The Toyota 86 offers a 7-inch touchscreen system with an AM/FM/HD radio, Aha access to over 100,000 stations, eight speakers, aux and USB ports, voice recognition, and Bluetooth hands-free streaming and phone capability. GPS navigation is optional at all trim levels.
The Subaru BRZ starts with a 6.2-inch touchscreen system in the base Premium trim. The BRZ uses Subaru’s Starlink phone integration system, offering smartphone integration and standard apps like Pandora, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, and Aha. The radio includes AM/FM/HD and Sirius/XM satellite reception, and unlike the 86, the Subaru includes a single-disc CD player. USB/Aux ports and Bluetooth are also included. In the Limited and tS trims, BRZ provides a 7-inch system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Tom TomTomigation, and dual USB ports.
Subaru BRZ
Photo by Subaru
Reliability
There’s good news for both the Toyota and the Subaru when it comes to reliability. Independent evaluators such as Consumer Reports, US News and World Report, and JD Power all agree that the 86 and BRZ offer good reliability.
JD Power awarded 3.5 out of 5 possible points for predicted reliability to the 2018 Toyota 86 and 3 out of 5 points to the 2018 Subaru BRZ.
Toyota 86
Photo by Toyota
Special Editions
The top Toyota 86 GT Black edition offers a color package in Raven Black on top of the GT performance and appearance trim. However, apart from mirrors and rear wing, there’s no material difference between the GT and the special Black edition.
However, the Subaru BRZ tS offers substantive performance upgrades over the Limited edition, including a carbon fiber rear wing as well as front, rear, and side underspoilers; Brembo performance brakes; Sachs shock absorbers; and 18-inch black-finished wheels with high-performance tires.
Subaru BRZ
Photo by Subaru
Verdict
If you’re looking for a performance-oriented sports car, the 2018 Subaru BRZ is the clear winner between this pair of siblings. On price, performance, options, and tech, the Subaru has the edge.
But the real bottom line on a sports car becomes obvious when you drive it. We recommend driving both the BRZ and the 2018 Toyota 86 in your preferred trim levels to get a real sense of the vehicles before you buy.
Subaru BRZ
Photo by Subaru