Toyota 86

Toyota 86 at a glance

The 86 is a compact 2+2 coupe with a front-mounted flat-four engine and rear-wheel drive, designed for drifting and affordable fun. Two long-standing rivals, Toyota and Subaru, worked on it together: bought from a Toyota dealer it is the GT86, from Subaru the BRZ. More Toyota models are listed in our Toyota catalogue.

First generation: GT86 (2012–2021)

Exterior

A sculpted bonnet flows into narrow xenon headlights that give the car its aggressive look, with headlight-washer covers below. The large bumper has a big grille, pleasing lines and round fog lamps. The profile is simpler, without many aerodynamic add-ons, yet it looks great. The facelifted car has 17-inch alloys, with 18-inch wheels available in Japan, and mirrors on stalks as befits a sports car. Ground clearance is 120 mm. At the rear, a sculpted boot lid with a small spoiler, attractive lights and a large bumper with a substantial diffuser and two integrated exhaust pipes add aggression.

The 2016 facelift brought small exterior changes, interior refinements and new options, along with a little more engine power, better handling and retuned suspension.

Interior

The interior remained simple and functional in a sporty way. A plain three-spoke steering wheel with audio controls and an "86" logo faces well-designed instruments where the rev counter, not the speedometer, takes centre stage, with a 4.2-inch trip-computer display and a digital speedometer. The almost vertical centre console is minimalist, with a 6.2-inch infotainment screen (which looks rather small), three round climate knobs and a row of toggle switches. Near the bottom are the start button and a USB port. The handbrake sits next to the gear lever, as if inviting the driver to drift. Materials and build quality are good enough to satisfy demanding buyers. The front seats have strong side bolstering, grippy upholstery and a wide range of adjustment.

The rear seats are suitable only for children or bags. The boot holds 237 litres (243 litres in the Subaru BRZ) and can be extended by folding the rear backrest. A full-size spare sits under the boot floor.

Engine and transmission

The 2.0-litre FA20 flat-four has combined direct and port injection (two injectors per cylinder), variable timing on intake and exhaust camshafts and 16 valves. In Europe it was rated at 147 kW (200 PS) and 205 Nm; the facelifted Japanese-market car with the manual gearbox produced 152 kW (207 PS) and 212 Nm, and with the automatic 149 kW (202 PS) and 205 Nm. Combined consumption is 7.1–7.8 l/100 km.

A six-speed manual or six-speed automatic drives the rear wheels. The GT86 is not especially quick: 0–100 km/h takes 7.6–8.2 seconds, and top speed is 210–226 km/h.

Chassis

The chassis is the GT86's strong point. The engine sits as low and as far back in the platform as possible, putting the centre of gravity at just 460 mm, and the weight distribution is 53/47 front to rear, which benefits stability and handling. The body uses high-strength lightweight steel, and the bonnet is aluminium. Suspension is independent, with MacPherson struts at the front and a four-link rear, coil springs and anti-roll bars. Rack-and-pinion steering has variable electric assistance. Even the base car has ventilated discs - 294 mm front and 290 mm rear - with ABS, EBD, BAS, TRC and VRC, plus a limited-slip rear differential.

Safety and equipment

Safety features include ABS with EBD and ESP, BAS, VRC and TRC, hill-start assist, front and side airbags, an immobiliser, the limited-slip differential, a collapsible pedal box, three-point belts and ISOFIX anchorages. Typical equipment includes climate control, cruise control, keyless entry, a light sensor and heated seats and mirrors.

Second generation: GR86 (2021)

The GR86 was again developed in close cooperation with Subaru and shares its design with the second-generation Subaru BRZ. Only the front bumper, grille and badges are unique to the Toyota. It keeps the characteristic profile and side glass. The car is 3 cm longer, the wheelbase grew by 5 mm, the width is unchanged and the height is 10 mm lower; body rigidity is 50% higher. The Toyota-specific front bumper has a large grille in the style of the GR Yaris and no fog lamps, the headlights were slightly revised, and vents behind the front wheels underline its sporting character. It sits on 18-inch wheels with 130 mm of ground clearance, and the rear lights were updated.

Inside are a 7-inch digital instrument panel, with an extra display on the left showing lateral g-forces and coolant temperature, and an 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and a rear camera. The layout is 2+2. Automatic versions get Subaru's EyeSight safety package with a stereo camera behind the windscreen. Sports bucket seats with strong side support have red stitching, and the round climate knobs now show their settings in their centres. With the rear seat folded there is room for a mountain bike, golf clubs or a set of track tyres and tools.

The GR86 uses a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated flat-four with combined injection, producing 173 kW (235 PS) and 250 Nm in Japanese specification. A six-speed manual or conventional automatic drives the rear wheels, and 0–100 km/h now takes 6.3 seconds. The car uses an improved version of the previous twins' platform rather than Toyota's TNGA; a new front subframe with 60% higher torsional rigidity improves handling. Suspension is MacPherson at the front and double wishbones at the rear.

Key specifications

Rivals

Some rivals have more powerful engines and better performance. They include the Mazda MX-5, the Subaru BRZ twin, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the Peugeot RCZ and the four-cylinder Ford Mustang. The Toyota 86 suits young drivers who love speed and drifting, thanks to its strong engine and rear-wheel drive, and it is popular with tuning enthusiasts.