Subaru WRX vs. Toyota 86

iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Subaru WRX and Toyota 86 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Subaru WRX and the Toyota 86.

When we compare the Subaru WRX's and the Toyota 86's specifications and ratings, the Subaru WRX has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power. The Toyota 86 has the advantage in the areas of typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency and resale value. Based on this comparison of the Subaru WRX's and the Toyota 86's specifications and ratings, the Toyota 86 is a better car than the Subaru WRX.

Pricing: A used 2020 Subaru WRX ranges from $19,095 to $36,060 while a used 2020 Toyota 86 is priced between $17,777 to $31,496.

Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Subaru WRX loses 35.3 percent of its value and the Toyota 86 loses 27.7 percent of its value. This means the Toyota 86 retains 7.6 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Subaru WRX.

Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Subaru WRX’s base engine makes 268 horsepower, and the Toyota 86 base engine makes 205 horsepower. The WRX is rated to deliver an average of 23 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 429 miles. The 86 is rated to deliver an average of 24 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 370 miles.This gives the Toyota 86 the advantage in fuel efficiency and the Subaru WRX the advantage in maximum range. Both models use premium unleaded.

Passenger Space Comparison: The Subaru WRX has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space.

Safety Ratings: The Subaru WRX has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.

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Model & Pricing
Subaru WRX
Toyota 86

2020 Subaru WRX
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Subaru WRX for Sale

2020 Toyota 86
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Toyota 86 for Sale

New Car Pricing

Asking Price:

-

Starting MSRP:

27495

Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)

20870

Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)

14995 - 28595

New Car Pricing

Asking Price:

-

Starting MSRP:

27060

Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Sports Cars)

28504

Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Sports Cars)

25000 - 33045

Used Car Pricing

Avg Used Car Price:

26559

Price Range:

19095 - 36060

Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)

18391

Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)

11443 - 26559

# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:

274

Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:

64058

# Good or Great Deals:

107

Used Car Pricing

Avg Used Car Price:

24847

Price Range:

17777 - 31496

Category Avg Price:
(Sports Cars)

27195

Category Avg Price Range:
(Sports Cars)

21578 - 35791

# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:

20

Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:

58188

# Good or Great Deals:

5

Subaru WRX Scores & Rankings

Overall Score:

8.5 / 10

Reliability:

7.6 / 10

Retained Value:

8.8 / 10

Safety:

9.0 / 10

Toyota 86 Scores & Rankings

Overall Score:

Not available

Reliability:

Not available

Retained Value:

9.3 / 10

Safety:

Not available



iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Subaru WRX

Remaining Life Expectancy (years):

6.6

Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)

6.8

Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)

3.8 - 13.1

Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:

0.059

iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Toyota 86

Remaining Life Expectancy (years):

Typical Category Remaining Life Expectancy:
(Sports Cars)

9.7

Category Remaining Life Expectancy Range:
(Sports Cars)

4.4 - 19.6

Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:



Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls

Expected Lifetime Recalls:

4.011515277597256

Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)

3.3

Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)

1.0 - 13.5

Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls

Expected Lifetime Recalls:

1.4141933714024897

Typical Category Recalls:
(Sports Cars)

2.1

Category Range for Recalls:
(Sports Cars)

1.0 - 7.5

Subaru WRX Rankings

Best Small Cars Under $35k

1 / 4

Most Reliable Small Cars Under $35k

1 / 4

Most Comfortable Small Cars

3 / 31

Best Small Cars for Tall People

4 / 31

Best Manual Transmission Small Cars

4 / 13

Best Family Small Cars

5 / 31

Small Cars with the Most Horsepower

6 / 31

Best Small Cars

7 / 31

Small Cars with Best Resale Value

7 / 31

Best Small Cars for Teens

7 / 7

Safest Small Cars

8 / 31

Most Reliable Small Cars

9 / 31

Small Cars with the Most Legroom

10 / 31

Best Small Cars for the Money

13 / 21

Most Affordable Small Cars

15 / 21

Best Gas Mileage Small Cars

20 / 31

Toyota 86 Rankings

Available Body Styles

Sedan

Available Body Styles

Coupe

Available Drivetrain Options

Gasoline

Available Drivetrain Options

Gasoline

Subaru WRX Trim Levels

Base, Limited, Premium, Series.White, STI, STI Limited, STI Series.White

Toyota 86 Trim Levels

Base, GT, Hakone Edition

Warranty Information

Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:

3 years / 36000 miles

Warranty, Powertrain:

5 years / 60000 miles

Warranty, Roadside Assistance:

3 years / 36000 miles

Warranty Information

Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:

3 years / 36000 miles

Warranty, Powertrain:

5 years / 60000 miles

Warranty, Roadside Assistance:

2 years

Safety Ratings

NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):

5 out of 5 Stars

2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

IIHS Safety Rating:

Not yet available

Safety Ratings

NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):

Not yet available

2026 NHTSA Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

2026 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:

4 out of 5 Stars

2026 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:

Not yet available

2026 NHTSA Rollover Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars

IIHS Safety Rating:

Not yet available

Base Drivetrain Specs

Horsepower:

268 hp @ 5600 rpm

Torque:

258 foot-lbs @ 2000 rpm

Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):

0.081 hp per pound

Base Drivetrain Specs

Horsepower:

205 hp @ 7000 rpm

Torque:

156 foot-lbs @ 6400 rpm

Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):

0.074 hp per pound

Engine Specifications

Engine Size:

2 liters

Engine Configuration:

Flat/Horizontally Opposed

Number of Cylinders:

4

Transmission:

Manual

Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:

AWD

EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):


21 / 27 / 23

Range (city/hwy):

334 / 429 miles

Recommended Fuel Type:

Premium Unleaded

Engine Specifications

Engine Size:

2 liters

Engine Configuration:

Flat/Horizontally Opposed

Number of Cylinders:

4

Transmission:

Manual

Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:

RWD

EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):


21 / 28 / 24

Range (city/hwy):

277 / 370 miles

Recommended Fuel Type:

Premium Unleaded

Standard/Optional Features

Alloy wheels:

Standard

Android Auto:

Standard

Apple CarPlay:

Standard

Bench Seats:

Standard

Bluetooth:

Standard

Internet Radio:

Standard

Keyless Entry:

Standard

Keyless Ignition:

Standard

Navigation System:

Standard

Power outlet:

Standard

Roadside assistance:

Standard

Satellite radio:

Standard

Voice Recognition:

Standard

Adaptive Cruise Control:

Available

Heated Seats

Available

Leather Upholstery:

Available

Paddle Shifters:

Available

Parking Sensors:

Available

Roof Rack:

Available

Sunroof/Moonroof:

Available

Air Suspension:

N/A

Automatic Parking:

N/A

Captain's seat:

N/A

Cooled/Ventilated Seats:

N/A

Front Bench Seats:

N/A

Heated Steering Wheel:

N/A

Massage Seats:

N/A

Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof

N/A

Power Lift Gate:

N/A

Quad Seats:

N/A

Trailer Hitch:

N/A

Wifi:

N/A

Wireless Smartphone Charging:

N/A

Standard/Optional Features

Alloy wheels:

Standard

Android Auto:

Standard

Apple CarPlay:

Standard

Bench Seats:

N/A

Bluetooth:

Standard

Internet Radio:

Available

Keyless Entry:

Standard

Keyless Ignition:

Available

Navigation System:

Available

Power outlet:

Standard

Roadside assistance:

N/A

Satellite radio:

N/A

Voice Recognition:

Standard

Adaptive Cruise Control:

N/A

Heated Seats

Available

Leather Upholstery:

Available

Paddle Shifters:

Available

Parking Sensors:

N/A

Roof Rack:

N/A

Sunroof/Moonroof:

N/A

Air Suspension:

N/A

Automatic Parking:

N/A

Captain's seat:

N/A

Cooled/Ventilated Seats:

N/A

Front Bench Seats:

N/A

Heated Steering Wheel:

N/A

Massage Seats:

N/A

Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof

N/A

Power Lift Gate:

N/A

Quad Seats:

Standard

Trailer Hitch:

N/A

Wifi:

N/A

Wireless Smartphone Charging:

N/A

Safety Features

Backup camera:

Standard

Blind Spot Monitoring:

Available

Forward Collision Warning:

Available

Lane Departure Warning:

Available

Lane Keeping Assist:

Available

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:

Available

360-Degree Camera:

N/A

Driver Attention Monitoring:

N/A

Pedestrian Detection:

N/A

Rear Seat Reminder:

N/A

Safety Features

Backup camera:

Standard

Blind Spot Monitoring:

N/A

Forward Collision Warning:

N/A

Lane Departure Warning:

N/A

Lane Keeping Assist:

N/A

Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:

N/A

360-Degree Camera:

N/A

Driver Attention Monitoring:

N/A

Pedestrian Detection:

N/A

Rear Seat Reminder:

N/A

Interior Dimensions

Front Head Room:

39.8 inches

Front Leg Room:

43.3 inches

Front Shoulder Room:

55.6 inches

Rear Head Room:

37.1 inches

Rear Leg Room:

35.4 inches

Rear Shoulder Room:

54.2 inches

Cargo Space:

12 cubic feet

Overall Interior Volume:

96.6 cubic feet

Interior Dimensions

Front Head Room:

37.1 inches

Front Leg Room:

41.9 inches

Front Shoulder Room:

54.5 inches

Rear Head Room:

35 inches

Rear Leg Room:

29.9 inches

Rear Shoulder Room:

51.7 inches

Cargo Space:

6.9 cubic feet

Overall Interior Volume:

76.5 cubic feet

Exterior Dimensions

Curb Weight:

3294 lbs

Width:

78.9 inches

Height:

58.1 inches

Length:

180.9 inches

Wheelbase:

104.3 inches

Ground Clearance:

4.9 inches

Exterior Dimensions

Curb Weight:

2776 lbs

Width:

69.9 inches

Height:

52 inches

Length:

166.7 inches

Wheelbase:

101.2 inches

Ground Clearance:

4.9 inches

Standard Wheel/Tire Information

Wheel Size:

17.0 x 8.0 inches

Wheel Type:

aluminum alloy

Tire Size:

235/45R17

Standard Wheel/Tire Information

Wheel Size:

17.0 x 7.0 inches

Wheel Type:

aluminum alloy

Tire Size:

215/45R17

Exterior Colors

Black

Crystal Black Silica

Blue

Lapis Blue Pearl / WR Blue Pearl

Gray

Magnetite Gray Metallic

Red

Pure Red

Silver

Ice Silver Metallic

White

Crystal White Pearl

Exterior Colors

Black

Raven

Blue

Neptune / Oceanic

Gray

Pavement / Steel

Red

Ablaze

Silver

Not available

White

Halo

Interior Colors

Black

Carbon Black Checkered

Interior Colors

Black

Black

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