Toyota GR86 vs Hyundai IONIQ 6

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Toyota GR86 in South Africa

Toyota GR86

2.4 Automatic Petrol Automatic
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 173 kW (232 hp)
🔧 250 Nm
⛽ 10.9 km/l
VS
Hyundai IONIQ 6 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 6

77kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic
ZAR 1,048,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 239 kW (321 hp)
🔧 605 Nm combined Nm
⛽ 519 km range (WLTP) km/l
+

Want to throw in a 3rd car?

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance IONIQ 6
Petrol Economy IONIQ 6
🔑 Ownership Cost IONIQ 6

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

IONIQ 6

90
/ 100
+30
pts
#2

GR86

60
/ 100

High confidence result.

The Bottom Line

IONIQ 6 dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance IONIQ 6 +6 pts
Efficiency IONIQ 6 +14 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality IONIQ 6 +2 pts
Ownership IONIQ 6 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 6

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 20/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 20/20

GR86

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 6/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GR86

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 6

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

GR86

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

IONIQ 6

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GR86 IONIQ 6
Ground Clearance 130 140 mm
Wheelbase 2575 2950 mm
Length 4265 4855 mm
Width 1775 1880 mm
Height 1310 1495 mm
Kerb Weight 1270 2155 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1660 2400 kg
Seating Capacity 4 5
Boot Space 237 401 L
Towing Capacity Not Rated 1500 kg (Braked)
Front Track Width 1520 1626 mm
Rear Track Width 1540 1651 mm
Turning Radius 5.4 5.7 m
Load Bed Length - Not Applicable
Load Bed Width - Not Applicable
Spec GR86 IONIQ 6
Engine 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Boxer Dual Motor AWD Electric
Engine Type Horizontally Opposed 4-Cylinder (Boxer) Electric
Displacement 2387 Not Applicable (Electric Motor)
Cylinders 4 Not Applicable (Electric Motor)
Valves per Cylinder 4 Not Applicable (Electric)
Power 173 239 kW combined
Power @ RPM 7000 rpm Instant Torque (0–7500 rpm)
Torque 250 605 Nm combined
Torque @ RPM 3700 rpm 0–3500 rpm
Fuel System Direct + Port Injection Electric Drive
Turbocharger Not Available No
Top Speed 226 185 km/h
0-100 km/h 6.9 5.1 sec
Compression Ratio 12.5:1 Not Applicable (Electric)
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Longitudinal (Electric Motor)

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 6 wins with 90 pts vs 60 pts for GR86

In structured scoring, IONIQ 6 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, GR86 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the IONIQ 6 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: GR86 6 vs IONIQ 6 20. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: GR86 20, IONIQ 6 20. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: GR86 12, IONIQ 6 20. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: GR86 8, IONIQ 6 10. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: GR86 14, IONIQ 6 20. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The IONIQ 6 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The IONIQ 6 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between GR86 and IONIQ 6 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: GR86 scores 14 vs 20.

Efficiency: GR86 scores 6 vs 20.

Safety: GR86 scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: GR86 scores 8 vs 10.

Ownership: GR86 scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives IONIQ 6 the advantage in this comparison.