Compare the2026 Nissan ZVS 2026 Toyota GR86

The Z has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The GR86 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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/Yuzu Edition 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/Yuzu Edition 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

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.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Z has a standard 580-amp battery. The GR86’s 470-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th, below the industry 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 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.

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 Sport Auto/Performance/NISMO’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 Performance 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:

The Z stops shorter than 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’s optional 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 optional on the GR86.

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.

The Z NISMO handles at 1.02 G’s, while the GR86 pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Z NISMO executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the GR86 (23.9 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

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.

The Z’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The GR86’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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.

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