Compare the2022 Toyota GR 86VS 2021 Ford Mustang

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GR 86 Auto has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Mustang doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the GR 86 and the Mustang have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the GR 86 for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Mustang.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 14th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the GR 86 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Mustang doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The GR 86 stops shorter than the Mustang:

The GR 86’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mustang’s standard 55 series tires.

The GR 86 Premium handles at 1.00 G’s, while the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GR 86 Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback (24.7 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 25.1 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GR 86’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Mustang’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.5 feet). The GR 86’s turning circle is 6.3 feet tighter than the Mustang GT Fastback Performance Pack 2’s (35.4 feet vs. 41.7 feet).

The Toyota GR 86 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 1050 pounds less than the Ford Mustang.

The GR 86 is 1 foot, 8.6 inches shorter than the Mustang, making the GR 86 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GR 86 is 5.5 inches narrower than the Mustang, making the GR 86 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the GR 86 Premium is quieter than the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback (40 vs. 47 dB).

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the GR 86 Premium has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Mustang doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The GR 86’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Mustang Premium.

The GR 86 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Mustang.