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

Decision summary

Toyota GR86 vs Rolls-Royce Phantom: the short answer

Phantom has a modest catalogue-index lead, while GR86 remains close.

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification GR86 Phantom
Maximum Power GR86173 kW @ 7000 rpm Phantom420 kW @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Torque GR86250 Nm @ 3700 rpm Phantom900 Nm @ 1700 rpm
Engine Size GR862387 cc Phantom6749 cc
Combined Fuel Economy GR8610.9 km/l Phantom6.29 km/l
Ground Clearance GR86130 mm Phantom136 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GR86

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

Phantom

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

Which One's Right for You?

GR86

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Phantom

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

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
Tare Mass Kg 1270 kg -
Vehicle Type Sedan Internal-combustion passenger car
Spec GR86 Phantom
Length 4265 mm 5762 mm
Width 1775 mm 2018 mm
Height 1310 mm 1646 mm
Wheelbase 2575 mm 3552 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 130 mm 136 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 90 l
Boot/Cargo Space 237 l 530 l
Kerb Weight 1270 kg 2560 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1660 kg 3235 kg
Seating Capacity 4 seats 5 seats
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 6.55 m
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 136 mm
Payload Capacity - 675 kg
Towing Capacity - 0 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows
Front Headroom - 1046 mm
Rear Headroom - 978 mm
Front Legroom - 1041 mm
Rear Legroom - 1105 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This GR86 and Phantom comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. 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 Phantom 96.

Efficiency index: GR86 45 vs Phantom 29.

Safety-equipment index: GR86 96 vs Phantom 95.

Practicality index: GR86 46 vs Phantom 67.

Ownership-cover index: GR86 43 vs Phantom 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

Phantom leads by 14 points

Phantom has a modest catalogue-index lead, while GR86 remains close.

Evidence leader 75 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 79% source coverage
75
#1 Evidence leader

Phantom

79% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 96 Check Efficiency 29
Performance 96
Efficiency 29
Safety 95
Practicality 67
Leads by 14 points
61
#2

GR86

79% 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 Phantom +29 Efficiency GR86 +16 Safety GR86 +1 Practicality Phantom +21

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Phantom

Performance 96/100
Efficiency 29/100
Safety 95/100
Practicality 67/100

GR86

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Rolls-Royce Phantom leads the specification evidence index with 75 pts vs 61 pts for GR86

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

GR86 vs Phantom questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.