Merriam-Webster dictionary’s definition: Sports Car (noun.); A low, usually 2-passenger automobile designed for quick response, easy maneuverability, and high-speed driving.
A shorter definition: GR-86.
Good old Toyota, they have sprinkled Gazoo Racing magic dust on the 86, and with that, they bumped the engine up from 2.0 liters to 2.4. This added 23 hp from the earlier manual version, the older GT-86. ( Big deal, You say?) That’s an 11% jump in power. It also gives you 184 ft-lbs of torque at a much more attainable 3700 rpm instead of having to wind it out to 5400 rpm to get 156 ft-lbs of torque. With the new bump in displacement, that will push you from 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds.
In a world of 600+ horsepower motors, 228 hp is just right.
This Subaru-sourced engine utilizing Toyota’s direct fuel injection system is fun-loving and very responsive. It is ready to run itself up to the 7500 rpm redline. The normally aspirated boxer 4 accelerates with almost turbo-like alacrity.
Behind the wheel, you have a digital dash that changes from its normal layout to track mode with the push of a button, and you can also scroll through several different screens. In the center of the dash, you have an 8-inch infotainment screen, but beyond that, you are in an environment meant for one thing: Driving.
Toyota has revised the electronic power steering on the GR-86. With that, you will find the steering is quicker, more communicative, and more engaging. The chassis has also been worked on, with multiple reinforcements to the tune of 60 % more rigidity.
To slow you down, you have 2-piston steel floating-caliper disc brakes with ventilated rotors up front and 1-piston steel floating-caliper disc brakes with solid rotors at the back.
The GR circuit-tuned coil springs, shock absorbers, iron front knuckles, and rear suspension-member-mounted stabilizer bars do everything they are supposed to do. It’s stiff but handles imperfections in the road with grace and doesn’t get thrown off its game.
This means you could daily drive this Toyota without having the crap kicked out of you.
The GR-86’s traditional front engine, rear-wheel drive layout, with a curb weight of 2,862 lbs, attached to a six-speed manual, makes it the perfect throwback to the old-school Berlinetta sports car days but with modern-day drivability.
All the shortcomings of the earlier versions have been addressed by the Gazoos. It turned a pretty face with lackluster performance into a proper sports car. And like other sports cars, the GR-86 has a couple of shortcomings, depending on your mindset. The back seats are almost useless for anything other than a few small bags. No grown-up will fit back there. Not too many kids would, either. But you can drop the back seat and have plenty of room for a weekend getaway. It’s also a bit noisy in the cabin. But again, it’s a sports car, and engine noise is a good thing. Truth be told, it can drone a bit on the highway. Getting up to speed, the engine plays a good note without sounding overworked.
If you decide you can’t live without a GR-86, there are a few things you will want to think about.
There are two trim levels: the GR-86 and the Premium. Drop the extra money and grab yourself the Premium. With the extra outlay, you get 18-inch alloy wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires and adaptive LED headlights, both good sports car features. You also get eight speakers instead of six with your stereo. That helps you rock in your sports car. You also get heated seats, but if the temperature gets so low that you want to turn them on, you are going to have to purchase another set of wheels and tires, as the Pilot Sports are not rated for cold weather driving. Also, bypass the automatic transmission even though it adds on some safety features: Real sports cars have three pedals.
Getting past the tech and the mechanicals, Toyota has sharpened up the lines of the GR-86 and given it a more purposeful and aggressive look. With more power, it’s no longer a poser, now it means business. Think back to the dawn of Asian sports cars, Toyota’s 2000GT, and even though there is a direct lineage, it was more of a GT car. Think Datsun 240Z, as it was a pure sports car. That is the vibe you get with the GR-86 purity of design and single-mindedness.
As a modern car, some might grouse about a lack of more up-to-date tech, but a lot of those add-ons we have become so used actually to take away from our driving pleasure. Is it really necessary to have a bigger info screen or multiple forms of connectivity? Can’t you just take pleasure in the drive? Because that’s what you get with the GR-86. It is the right balance of modern without being a rolling computer, and it’s old school without being back in the dark ages.
The seats hold you well. The steering wheel and gearshift are positioned perfectly, and there isn’t a world of electronics to distract you.
There is no need for massive horsepower when you have a light, nimble car like this. Yes, you can go fast in a straight line, not as fast as others but so what? With this car, you live for a winding technical road where it outshines many more expensive high-powered rides. The focus of the GR-86 is fun with a hint of reality. This is a driver’s car, something you want to drive for the pure joy of driving. It is universally appealing. Vintage sports car die-hards can see it has the right attitude, and young guys see it as an introduction to the sports car world.
It’s a mini vacation from SUVs and anonymous sedans, and the price of the trip is not eye-watering.
You could add a turbo for more power, but then you would need to change the suspension and go with wider tires, and flares, and wings. With all that, you water down the purity of a clean design.
Toyota = practicality, reliability, and respectability. But the GR-86 adds that touch of hooliganism and racy attitude to make it a fantastic guilty pleasure.
Full 2023 Toyota GR-86 Gallery
