Does the BRZ have a Toyota engine?
Yes. The current Subaru BRZ uses a 2.4-liter flat-four engine that was developed jointly by Subaru and Toyota, and it is shared with Toyota’s GR86. It is not a Toyota-only engine, but a product of the collaboration between the two brands.
Engine collaboration and design
The BRZ’s powerplant is part of a broader partnership between Subaru and Toyota. In the latest generation (debuting around 2022), Subaru introduced a 2.4-liter horizontally opposed engine based on the FA24 family to power both the BRZ and the Toyota GR86. The engine is naturally aspirated and delivers roughly 228 horsepower with about 184 lb-ft of torque, with minor variations depending on market and transmission. This represents a shift from the earlier 2.0-liter FA20 engine used in the first-generation BRZ/86, reflecting ongoing collaboration to enhance performance while preserving the lightweight, balanced driving character those cars are known for.
Key facts about the engine in the BRZ include:
- Engine layout: 2.4-liter horizontally opposed (boxer) four-cylinder
- Induction: Naturally aspirated
- Displacement: approximately 2.4 L (about 2,387 cc)
- Power output: about 228 hp; torque around 184 lb-ft (values vary by market and transmission)
- Engine family and origin: FA24, developed jointly by Subaru and Toyota
- Applications: shared between Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86
The two cars share the core engine architecture, but there are market-specific tuning and calibration differences that tailor throttle response and gearing to each brand’s character.
BRZ vs GR86: shared engine, different tuning
While the BRZ and GR86 use the same 2.4-liter FA24-based engine, Toyota and Subaru tune the engine mappings to suit their respective models. This means minor differences in horsepower figures, torque curves, and ECU calibration. Both cars offer a manual and an automatic transmission option, with power figures that are very close (roughly 228 hp across variants in most markets). The result is two distinct driving experiences that share a common, modern engine rather than two entirely different powerplants.
Bottom line
In short, the BRZ does have an engine co-developed with Toyota. It uses Subaru’s 2.4-liter FA24 flat-four design, shared with the Toyota GR86, reflecting a strategic collaboration that aligns both brands’ sports-car offerings.
Summary
The BRZ’s current powerplant is a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota—a 2.4-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine (FA24) shared with the Toyota GR86. This arrangement marks a shift from the earlier 2.0-liter engine and highlights the collaboration that defines the BRZ/GR86 pairing. For buyers, this means a modern, strong, lightweight engine with brand-specific tuning for each model, while benefiting from common engineering and parts across the two brands.
Which Subaru has a Toyota engine?
Subaru BRZ
Notably, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 sports cars are joint efforts, blending Subaru's boxer engine expertise with Toyota's engineering and marketing strengths.
Why are Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ the same?
The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are nearly identical because they were developed through a collaboration between the two automakers, sharing the same platform, engine, and manufacturing plant. This partnership allowed both companies to reduce development costs while creating a rear-wheel-drive sports coupe with a boxer engine. The main differences are in the branding, some tuning, minor exterior design tweaks, and available features.
This video explains the differences between the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ: 37sWhen Hann Meets CarsYouTube · May 9, 2025
Shared features and development
- Collaboration: The sports cars were a joint project between Subaru and Toyota to create a small, affordable, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe.
- Platform and manufacturing: They are built on the same platform and manufactured on the same assembly line in a Subaru factory in Gunma, Japan.
- Engine: Both cars feature a horizontally opposed ("boxer") engine, which is a Subaru design.
- Drivetrain: They share the same rear-wheel-drive layout.
Minor differences
- Exterior styling: While the overall shape and many body panels are shared, each car has a slightly different front fascia and other minor cosmetic differences.
- Tuning: Toyota and Subaru have made some minor adjustments to the suspension tuning and electronic control units (ECUs) to give each car a slightly different feel, but their basic handling is very similar.
- Features: The specific features and trim levels available can vary between the two models.
Does BRZ have a Toyota engine?
Toyota used Subaru's engine technology for its car, so both have the same 200hp 2.0-litre boxer engine, which is slightly different to the engines you'd find in most other cars except for many Subarus. Boxer engines are more balanced and better suited to delivering higher performance.
What's the Toyota version of the Subaru BRZ?
Toyota GR86
The 2025 Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 are mechanical twins sharing the same 228-hp 2.4-liter flat-four engine, rear-wheel drive layout, and identical dimensions. The primary differences are pricing and interior details.
