Compare the2024 Toyota GR86VS 2024 Lexus RC

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 RC doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the GR86 and the RC 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GR86’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the GR86’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the RC’s camshafts. If the RC’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the GR86’s reliability 26 points higher than the RC.

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 Lexus 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, Lexus is rated lower.

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 RC doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the GR86 gets better mileage than the RC:

The GR86 offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The RC doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The GR86 stops shorter than the RC:

The Toyota GR86 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 950 to 1000 pounds less than the Lexus RC.

The GR86 is 1 foot, 5.1 inches shorter than the RC, 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 RC (.3 to .31). 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 2.6 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the RC.

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 RC doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Safety 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 speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The RC’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the GR86 Premium/TRUENO has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RC doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

The GR86 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 3 more times in the last 12 years. The RC has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Toyota GR86 outsold the Lexus RC by over six to one during 2023.