Toyota GR86 vs Suzuki Grand Vitara

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Toyota GR86 in South Africa

Toyota GR86

2.4 Automatic Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 173 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 10.9 km/l
VS
Suzuki Grand Vitara in South Africa

Suzuki Grand Vitara

1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT Hybrid 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 542,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 138 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota GR86 vs Suzuki Grand Vitara: the short answer

GR86 and Grand Vitara are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Grand Vitara starts ZAR 390,000 cheaper GR86 from ZAR 749,900 · Grand Vitara from ZAR 359,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification GR86 Grand Vitara
Maximum Power GR86173 kW @ 7000 rpm Grand Vitara77 kW
Maximum Torque GR86250 Nm @ 3700 rpm Grand Vitara138 Nm
Engine Size GR862387 cc Grand Vitara1462 cc
Combined Fuel Economy GR8610.9 km/l Grand Vitara16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance GR86130 mm Grand Vitara0 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Toyota GR86

2.4 Automatic

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Suzuki Grand Vitara

1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GR86

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance
Specification evidence leader

Grand Vitara

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

GR86

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Grand Vitara

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GR86 Grand Vitara
360 Degree Camera Not Available Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control Not Available Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control Not Available Yes
Around View Monitor Not Available Yes
Autonomous Emergency Braking Not Available Yes
Auto Lights Standard -
Auto Wipers Standard Yes
Blind Spot Monitoring Not Available Not Applicable
Blind Spot Warning Not Available Not Applicable
Cruise Control Standard Adaptive cruise control
Driver Fatigue Alert Not Available Yes
Emergency Braking Not Available -
EV Mode Not Available -
Lane Departure Warning Not Available Yes
Lane Keep Assist Not Available Yes
Parking Distance Sensors Rear -
Parking Sensor Rear -
Parking Sensors Rear Front and rear
Pre-Collision System Not Available -
Rain Sensor Wipers Standard -
Rear View Camera Standard Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert Not Available Yes
Rear View Camera Standard -
Reverse Camera Standard Yes
Reverse Camera Type Standard -
Reversing Camera Standard -
Surround View Camera Not Available Yes
Traffic Sign Recognition Not Available Yes
Rear Parking Sensors Rear Yes
Auto Highbeam Not Available Not Applicable
Park Assist Not Available Yes
Forward Collision Warning Not Available Yes
Spec GR86 Grand Vitara
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Selectable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Transfer selector
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard No
Axle Layout RWD Front and rear driven axles
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Drivetrain RWD 4WD
Drivetrain Layout Rear Wheel Drive 4WD
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Number of Gears 4 4
Gear Shift Type 6-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters Floor-mounted selector
Gearbox 6-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters 4-speed automatic
Gearbox Type 6-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters 4-speed automatic
LSD Available Torsen LSD No
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Standard No
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Transmission Speeds 4 4
Transmission Type Automatic 4-speed automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 4.3
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque converter / CVT
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable Yes

In depth: how these cars differ

This GR86 and Grand Vitara comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: GR86 67 vs Grand Vitara 42.

Efficiency index: GR86 45 vs Grand Vitara 67.

Safety-equipment index: GR86 96 vs Grand Vitara 91.

Practicality index: GR86 46 vs Grand Vitara 52.

Ownership-cover index: GR86 43 vs Grand Vitara not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Grand Vitara leads by 1 points

GR86 and Grand Vitara are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 62 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 77% source coverage
62
#1 Evidence leader

Grand Vitara

77% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 42
Performance 42
Efficiency 67
Safety 91
Practicality 52
Leads by 1 points
61
#2

GR86

87% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 96 Check Ownership 43
Performance 67
Efficiency 45
Safety 96
Practicality 46
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance GR86 +25 Efficiency Grand Vitara +22 Safety GR86 +5 Practicality Grand Vitara +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Grand Vitara

Performance 42/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 52/100

GR86

Performance 67/100
Efficiency 45/100
Safety 96/100
Practicality 46/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Suzuki Grand Vitara leads the specification evidence index with 62 pts vs 61 pts for GR86

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Grand Vitara leads. However, GR86 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

GR86 vs Grand Vitara questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.