Compare the2024 Nissan ZVS 2023 Toyota GR86

The Z has standard Front and Rear Sonar System to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The GR86 doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Z has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the GR86 Premium offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Z has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the GR86 Premium offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Both the Z and the GR86 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The Nissan Z weighs 618 to 893 pounds more than the Toyota GR86. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

The Z’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 172 more horsepower (400 vs. 228) and 166 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 184) than the GR86’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Z NISMO’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 192 more horsepower (420 vs. 228) and 200 lbs.-ft. more torque (384 vs. 184) than the GR86’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Nissan Z 3.0 is faster than the Toyota GR86 (manual transmissions tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Z 3.0 is faster than the Toyota GR86 (automatics tested):

The Z has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the GR86 (16.4 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Z higher (5 out of 10) than the Toyota GR86 (3). This means the Z produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GR86 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is available on the Nissan Z, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the GR86.

The Z Performance’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GR86 doesn’t offer launch control.

The Nissan Z manual has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The GR86 doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

For better stopping power the Z’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GR86:

For better traction, the Z has larger standard tires than the GR86 (245/45R18 vs. 215/45R17). The Z NISMO’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GR86 (F:255/40R19 & R:285/35R19 vs. 215/45R17).

The Z Performance’s 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GR86 Premium’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Z Sport has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the GR86. The Z Performance’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the GR86 Premium.

The Z has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GR86 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Z is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GR86.

For better maneuverability, the Z’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the GR86’s (32.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Z Performance/NISMO uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GR86 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Z has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room and .6 inches more front shoulder room than the GR86.

The Z has a larger trunk than the GR86 (6.9 vs. 6.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Z. The GR86 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Z Manual can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Z can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GR86 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

On a hot day the Z’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GR86 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Z has standard extendable sun visors. The GR86 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Z’s standard rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The GR86 doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The Z Performance’s standard 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 GR86’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

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