Compare the2022 Lexus RCVS 2022 Toyota GR 86

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RC have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Toyota GR 86 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The RC’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The GR 86 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Lexus RC has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GR 86 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RC offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The GR 86 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RC’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The GR 86 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the RC and the GR 86 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

The Lexus RC weighs 869 to 1080 pounds more than the Toyota GR 86. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RC the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 216 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GR 86 has not been tested, yet.

The RC comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GR 86’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RC 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the GR 86. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GR 86 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The RC’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the GR 86’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RC first among compact premium cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The GR 86 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 13th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fourth.

The RC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (241 vs. 228) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 184) than the GR 86’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The RC 300 AWD’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 32 more horsepower (260 vs. 228) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (236 vs. 184) than the GR 86’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The RC 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 83 more horsepower (311 vs. 228) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 184) than the GR 86’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the RC gets better mileage than the GR 86:

The RC has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the GR 86 (17.5 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Lexus RC comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the GR 86.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus RC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GR 86.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the RC F Sport has a standard up-shift light to indicate when to shift, based on a value pre-entered by the driver. The GR 86 doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

All wheel drive, available in the RC, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Toyota GR 86 is not available with all wheel drive.

For better stopping power the RC’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GR 86:

For better traction, the RC has larger standard tires than the GR 86 (235/40R19 vs. 215/45R17). The RC’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GR 86 (F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 215/45R17).

The RC’s optional 265/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GR 86 Premium’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RC has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the GR 86. The RC’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the GR 86 Premium.

The RC has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the GR 86; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The RC has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The GR 86’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The RC offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The GR 86’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the RC’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the GR 86 (107.5 inches vs. 101.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the RC is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GR 86.

For better maneuverability, the RC’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the GR 86’s (34.2 feet vs. 35.4 feet). The RC AWD’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the GR 86’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the RC a Subcompact car, while the GR 86 is rated a Minicompact.

The RC has 6.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GR 86 (83.8 vs. 77.2).

The RC has 2 inches more front headroom, 3.9 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear headroom than the GR 86.

The RC has a much larger trunk than the GR 86 (10.4 vs. 6.3 cubic feet).

The RC’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The GR 86’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RC. The GR 86 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The RC uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GR 86 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 49% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

When three different drivers share the RC, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The GR 86 doesn’t offer a memory system.

The RC’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The GR 86 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Smart Access standard on the RC allows you to unlock the driver’s door, trunk and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Toyota GR 86’s Push Button Start doesn’t unlock the doors or the trunk.

The RC’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The GR 86’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RC offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GR 86 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RC has standard extendable sun visors. The GR 86 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the RC keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The GR 86 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the RC’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The GR 86 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The RC’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The GR 86’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.