TOYOTA 86 2,0 HIGH
The 86 has received the subtlest of facelifts. Is that enough in an era of fierce hot hatches?
TOYOTA’S 86 has just breasted the five-year mark in SA, but the consequent facelift has been an exercise in utmost restraint. Externally, the updates are subtle, to say the least. Whereas stock spoilers were previously the preserve of foreign-market models and marketing material, the 86 now features a bi-colour wing perched on the bootlid. The other external facelift staples – revised bumpers; new rims; and head- and brakelamps that are now LED items – are all subtly applied to a coupé canvas that was plenty appealing to begin with.
Inside, new materials and trim patinas are the most noticeable updates, along with a slightly revised touchscreen infotainment system. Practicality is still limited by miniscule rear seats and boot space largely occupied by a fullsized spare wheel.
The cabin feels suitably sportscar-snug with seating that’s still racecar-low and well bolstered. Your hands now grip a steering wheel that’s marginally smaller than before and your view ahead is still framed by prominent front wheelarches.
Toyota hasn’t touched the naturally aspirated 2,0-litre horizontal-four petrol engine, and the modest outputs of 147 kw and 205 N.m remain a bone of contention, with some testers feeling that a car as well balanced as the 86 could cope with more power (possibly from a turbocharged engine), and others
appreciating the effort of stirring of that mechanical-feeling gearbox and leaning hard on the throttle before the powerplant reaches its boiling point.
And it is an effort. The engine, although bassy in voice and coupled with a gearbox featuring a pleasingly robust and mechanical feeling gearshift, feels a little loath to spool up quickly, which sits at odds with a car that begs to be worked hard. It does, however, lend the 86 a pleasing duality to its nature; being equally capable of trickling round town as it is thrashing its way along a deserted stretch of twisty tarmac, thanks in part to a stability control system that can be configured from “hold it right there” to “hail Mary”, and a couple of points in between.
Pleasingly, the 86’s dynamic tenets remain undiluted. The steering is beautifully weighted and responsive; the chassis still feels fluid and gives over to just a hint of roll with which a capable driver can coax the tail out when pushing it through the bends; and revisions to the suspension make the ride a touch less jiggly than before.
TEST SUMMARY
Some minor cosmetics and suspension tweaks aside, the update hasn’t brought anything significantly different to the table and the 86’s price is getting rather high; these are things that the likes of the Mazda MX-5, as well as a brace of C-segment hot hatches, will be noting.
Even so, the 86 remains eminently involving to drive, proving that fun behind the wheel doesn’t require loads of power.