Toyota GR86 vs BMW i4

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
BMW i4 in South Africa

BMW i4

M60 xDrive Gran Coupé Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 1,750,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 442 kW 🔧 795 Nm
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota GR86 vs BMW i4: the short answer

i4 has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over GR86.

GR86 starts ZAR 750,100 cheaper GR86 from ZAR 749,900 · i4 from ZAR 1,500,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification GR86 i4
Maximum Power GR86173 kW @ 7000 rpm i4442 kW
Maximum Torque GR86250 Nm @ 3700 rpm i4795 Nm
Engine Size GR862387 cc i4Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy GR8610.9 km/l i4Not Applicable
Ground Clearance GR86130 mm i4140 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GR86

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

i4

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

Which One's Right for You?

GR86

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

i4

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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 i4
Model Introduced Year 2022 2021
Generation Second generation GR86 with improved 2.4L engine Battery-electric G26 Gran Coupé with four doors, a rear liftback and a road-car seating position.
Facelift History Second generation introduced in 2022 with more power Current updated G26-based i4 Gran Coupé range in South Africa; current derivative identity is eDrive35 and M60 xDrive.
Facelift Launched Since 2022 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Sedan
Color Note White, Red, Black, Grey, Blue -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Sedan Premium Sedan
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg -
Vehicle Type Sedan Car
Spec GR86 i4
Length 4265 mm 4783 mm
Width 1775 mm 1852 mm
Height 1310 mm 1448 mm
Wheelbase 2575 mm 2856 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 130 mm 140 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 237 l 470 l
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 2285 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1660 kg 2730 kg
Payload Capacity 390 kg 520 kg
Towing Capacity 1600 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 4 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 998 mm 994 mm
Rear Headroom 958 mm 944 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1036 mm
Rear Legroom 891 mm 888 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This GR86 and i4 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 i4 100.

Efficiency index: GR86 45 vs i4 90.

Safety-equipment index: GR86 96 vs i4 92.

Practicality index: GR86 46 vs i4 61.

Ownership-cover index: GR86 43 vs i4 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

i4 leads by 25 points

i4 has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over GR86.

Evidence leader 86 /100
Lead 25 points
Data 69% source coverage
86
#1 Evidence leader

i4

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 61
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Leads by 25 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 i4 +33 Efficiency i4 +45 Safety GR86 +4 Practicality i4 +15

Large difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

i4

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100

GR86

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW i4 leads the specification evidence index with 86 pts vs 61 pts for GR86

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, i4 leads. However, GR86 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

GR86 vs i4 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.