Compare the2023 Toyota GR86VS 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman

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 for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The GR86 Auto’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GR86 Premium’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The GR86 Auto’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GR86 and the 718 Cayman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head 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, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the GR86 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 718 Cayman has not been tested, yet.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the GR86 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the 718 Cayman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the 718 Cayman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the GR86 for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Porsche pays for maintenance for the 718 Cayman (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 6 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GR86’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is rated below average.

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 Porsche 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, Porsche is rated lower.

On the EPA test cycle the GR86 gets better mileage than the 718 Cayman:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GR86’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the 718 Cayman (101.4 inches vs. 97.4 inches).

For better maneuverability, the GR86’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the 718 Cayman’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The GR86’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the 718 Cayman GT4’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.5 feet).

The Toyota GR86 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 400 pounds less than the Porsche 718 Cayman.

The GR86 is 4.5 inches shorter than the 718 Cayman, making the GR86 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Toyota GR86 amounts to more than styling. The GR86 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .276 Cd. That is lower than the 718 Cayman (.3 to .34). A more efficient exterior helps the GR86 go faster and keeps the interior quieter. It also helps the GR86 get better fuel mileage.

The GR86 has standard seating for 4 passengers; the 718 Cayman can only carry 2.

The GR86 has 29.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 718 Cayman (77.2 vs. 48).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the GR86 easier. The GR86’s trunk lift-over height is 27.2 inches, while the 718 Cayman’s liftover is 32.7 inches.

The GR86 Premium Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The 718 Cayman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The GR86’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. Porsche does not offer a locking feature on the 718 Cayman’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 718 Cayman doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Porsche Connect can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The GR86’s LED headlights produce a white, bright light using less electricity than the 718 Cayman’s standard xenon high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. HID headlights can be slow to reach full brightness or power cycle, causing issues when flashing them to signal other vehicles; LED headlights light instantly. LED lights also last about three to four times as long.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota GR86, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota GR86 outsold the Porsche 718 by almost five to one during 2022.