Toyota GR86 vs KIA Pegas

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 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 10.9 km/l
VS
KIA Pegas in South Africa

KIA Pegas

1.4 EX Auto Petrol Automatic
ZAR 274,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 73 kW 🔧 132 Nm Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance GR86
Fuel Economy Pegas
🛡 Safety GR86
📦 Practicality Pegas
🔑 Ownership Pegas
Pegas starts ZAR 749900 cheaper GR86 from ZAR 749,900 · Pegas from ZAR 239,995

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec GR86 Pegas
Engine Power 173 kW 73 kW
Torque 250 Nm 132 Nm
Engine Size 2387 cc 1368 cc
Claimed Mileage 10.9 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 130 mm 148 mm
Boot / Load Bay 237 l 502 l
Airbags 7 6
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1130 kg
Seating Capacity 4 5
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 7 Years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both GR86 and Pegas are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance GR86 +34 pts
Efficiency Pegas +20 pts
Safety GR86 +3 pts
Practicality Pegas +21 pts
Ownership Pegas +28 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GR86

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Pegas

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

GR86

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Pegas

  • 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 Pegas
Model Introduced Year 2022 2019
Generation Second generation GR86 with improved 2.4L engine First generation; purpose-designed for emerging markets
Facelift History Second generation introduced in 2022 with more power Minor updates in 2022 including revised infotainment; no full facelift
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Sedan
Color Note White, Red, Black, Grey, Blue Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Silky Silver, Gravity Blue, Passion Red
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Sedan Sedan
Vehicle Type Sedan Sedan
Spec GR86 Pegas
Ground Clearance 130 mm 148 mm
Wheelbase 2575 mm 2570 mm
Length 4265 mm 4400 mm
Width 1775 mm 1700 mm
Height 1310 mm 1470 mm
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 1130 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1660 kg 1450 kg
Seating Capacity 4 5
Boot Space 237 l 502 l
Towing Capacity Not Rated -
Front Track Width 1520 mm 1475 mm
Rear Track Width 1540 mm 1475 mm
Turning Radius 5.4 m 10.4 m
Load Bed Length 237 l 502 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - 1030 mm
Rear Legroom - 860 mm
Front Headroom - 990 mm
Rear Headroom - 950 mm
Front Shoulder Room - 1380 mm
Rear Shoulder Room - 1330 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 237 l 502 l
Number of Doors 4 4
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 237 l 502 l
Doors 4 4
Seats 4 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 40 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1660 kg 1450 kg
Ground Clearance Max 130 mm 148 mm
Ground Clearance Min 130 mm 148 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 130 mm 148 mm
Height Mm 1310 mm 1470 mm
Length Mm 4265 mm 4400 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 237 l 502 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 237 l 502 l
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg 1130 kg
Turning Circle 5.4 m 10.4 m
Turning Circle M 5.4 m 10.4 m
Width Mm 1775 mm 1700 mm
Front Overhang - 810 mm
Rear Overhang - 1020 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 237 l 502 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Pegas leads by 3 points

Both GR86 and Pegas are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 62 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 93% confidence
62
#1 Winner

Pegas

93% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 80 Check Performance 33
Performance 33
Efficiency 65
Safety 80
Practicality 67
Ownership 71
Leads by 3 points
59
#2

GR86

85% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 83 Check Ownership 43
Performance 67
Efficiency 45
Safety 83
Practicality 46
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance GR86 +34 Efficiency Pegas +20 Safety GR86 +3 Practicality Pegas +21 Ownership Pegas +28

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Pegas

Performance 33/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 80/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 71/100

GR86

Performance 67/100
Efficiency 45/100
Safety 83/100
Practicality 46/100
Ownership 43/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Pegas wins with 62 pts vs 59 pts for GR86

In structured scoring, Pegas 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 Pegas 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 45 vs Pegas 65. 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 83, Pegas 80. 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 43, Pegas 71. 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 46, Pegas 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: GR86 67, Pegas 33. 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 Pegas edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Pegas 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 Pegas in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: GR86 scores 67 vs 33.

Efficiency: GR86 scores 45 vs 65.

Safety: GR86 scores 83 vs 80.

Practicality: GR86 scores 46 vs 67.

Ownership: GR86 scores 43 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives Pegas the advantage in this comparison.