Toyota GR86 vs Rolls-Royce Phantom

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 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 173 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 10.9 km/l
VS
Rolls-Royce Phantom in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Phantom Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 420 kW 🔧 900 Nm ⛽ 6.29 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Phantom
Fuel Economy GR86
🛡 Safety Phantom
📦 Practicality Phantom
🔑 Ownership Phantom

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec GR86 Phantom
Maximum Power 173 kW @ 7000 rpm 420 kW @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Torque 250 Nm @ 3700 rpm 900 Nm @ 1700 rpm
Engine Size 2387 cc 6749 cc
Claimed Mileage 10.9 km/l 6.29 km/l
Ground Clearance 130 mm 136 mm
Boot / Load Bay 237 l 530 l
Airbags 7 8
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 2560 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 4 years; regional conditions apply

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Phantom has a slight advantage, but GR86 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Phantom +29 pts
Efficiency GR86 +16 pts
Safety Phantom +16 pts
Practicality Phantom +21 pts
Ownership Phantom +1 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GR86

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Phantom

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

GR86

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Phantom

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GR86 Phantom
Model Introduced Year 2022 2018
Generation Second generation GR86 with improved 2.4L engine Eighth-generation Phantom in standard-wheelbase Series II form
Facelift History Second generation introduced in 2022 with more power The eighth-generation Phantom was presented globally in 2017, introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its light-touch Series II evolution in 2022
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Four-door luxury saloon
Color Note White, Red, Black, Grey, Blue -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Sedan Full-size super-luxury saloon
Vehicle Type Sedan Internal-combustion passenger car
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg -
Spec GR86 Phantom
Drivetrain Layout Rear Wheel Drive Front-engine, rear-wheel drive with all-wheel steering
LSD Available Torsen LSD -
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No lockable differential
Paddle Shifters Standard No
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Gearbox 6-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters 8-speed ZF automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 2.81:1
Number of Gears 4 8
Transmission Type Automatic 8-speed ZF automatic
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque converter
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable -
Drivetrain RWD Rear-wheel drive
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard No
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 6-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters 8-speed ZF automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout RWD Rear-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable No lockable differential
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Transmission Speeds 4 8
Gear Shift Type 6-Speed Automatic with Paddle Shifters Satellite Aided automatic gear selection

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Phantom leads by 12 points

Phantom has a slight advantage, but GR86 remains highly competitive.

Winner 71 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 91% confidence
71
#1 Winner

Phantom

91% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Efficiency 29
Performance 96
Efficiency 29
Safety 99
Practicality 67
Ownership 44
Leads by 12 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 Phantom +29 Efficiency GR86 +16 Safety Phantom +16 Practicality Phantom +21 Ownership Phantom +1

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Phantom

Performance 96/100
Efficiency 29/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 44/100

GR86

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Phantom wins with 71 pts vs 59 pts for GR86

In structured scoring, Phantom 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 Phantom 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 Phantom 29. 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, Phantom 99. 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, Phantom 44. 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, Phantom 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: GR86 67, Phantom 96. 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 Phantom edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: GR86 scores 67 vs 96.

Efficiency: GR86 scores 45 vs 29.

Safety: GR86 scores 83 vs 99.

Practicality: GR86 scores 46 vs 67.

Ownership: GR86 scores 43 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Phantom the advantage in this comparison.