Toyota and Subaru's Sports Cars Are Back With a Vengeance

The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are frighteningly similar, cheap sports cars. But there’s a reason for their likeness. The good news for consumers is that you can’t go wrong with either ride.
Written by Tom Hindle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Subaru
and Toyota have been teaming up for years now on a couple of low-cost sports cars: the highly affordable
Subaru BRZ
and Toyota GR 86.
The two cars are notable not just for their affordability but also for their uncanny similarities in terms of design and spec. But what's the story behind these twin cars produced by otherwise rival manufacturers? Read on to learn more about the 2022 models of these intriguing sports cars.

Why did the manufacturers team up on the 2022 Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86?

The Toyota GR86 is a fun and cheap sports car—one that’s perfect for amateur speed enthusiasts.
The similarities between the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86 are surprising to most consumers.  After all, it's not often that rival car manufacturers produce vehicles that are so nearly identical. 
So what's the deal with these twin cars? Unsurprisingly, the answer comes down to money.
As
Road & Track
explains, Toyota originally wanted to market an entry-level sports car of the type more typically produced by Subaru. Because Toyota didn't have the setup necessary to get up and running with economically manufacturing such a product, it enlisted the help of Subaru.
The latter, apparently, couldn’t really say no, largely due to Toyota's part ownership in its parent company. In a gesture of good faith, though, Subaru was permitted to market the car under its own name, softening some of the blow it might otherwise have felt. 
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Here are the specs on the 2022 Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86

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Our friends at
Car and Driver
have noted some of the most important specs you'll find on these two entry-level sports cars. And it’s clear that they take inspiration from some of the performance traits found on the speedy Subaru WRX
For example, they both come with a 228 hp engine, and a 6-speed transmission available in either automatic or manual. And they also share the same acceleration numbers, zooming from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds.
They’re almost identical in more practical terms, too, both averaging between 22 to 25 miles per gallon. 
If you're deciding between the two cars and price is a factor, the Toyota will likely help you save a bit—albeit marginally. The MSRP for the Subaru starts around $28,955, while the Toyota starts at around $28,725. 

Car and Driver's surprising gripe with the interiors of these two cars

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Although both cars are pleasant and exciting to drive, they aren’t without their faults. One strange criticism made by Car and Driver highlights an issue that few think about: both cars have inconvenient cup holders. 
Specifically, they’re located in a position so that they cannot be used at the same time as the armrest—something of an annoyance for drivers who like their coffee on their daily commute. Still, it might be a minor inconvenience—especially for the price and quality of car buyers get. 

Let Jerry help you insure your new Subaru BRZ or Toyota 86

If you're able to look past the cup holder issue and are thinking of buying a new Subaru BRZ or Toyota GR 86, you'll, of course, need to make sure that it's covered by an insurance policy. That can be easier said than done, however, if you don't have the time it normally takes to shop around for the best deal. 
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