Compare the2023 Toyota GR86VS 2022 Ford Mustang

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GR86 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 GR86 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 parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the GR86 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’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated lower.

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 overall reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the GR86 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Mustang doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the GR86 gets better mileage than the Mustang Fastback:

The GR86 stops much shorter than the Mustang:

The GR86’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 GR86 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 GR86 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 GR86’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Mustang’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.5 feet). The GR86’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Mustang w/20” tires’ (35.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Toyota GR86 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 1050 pounds less than the Ford Mustang.

The GR86 is 1 foot, 8.6 inches shorter than the Mustang, making the GR86 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GR86 is 5.5 inches narrower than the Mustang, making the GR86 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The GR86’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. Ford does not offer a locking feature on the Mustang’s standard power windows.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the GR86’s exterior PIN entry system. The Mustang doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The GR86 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Mustang doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the GR86 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 GR86’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Mustang Premium/Mach 1.

The GR86 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.

The GR86 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2022. The Mustang GT/Bullitt hasn’t been picked since 2019.