Almost all the stats fall well short of describing this car’s driving excellence
Twenty-seven grand is a fair price for a car that’s designed to lift your spirits and increase your heart rate each time you slide behind the wheel. The Toyota 86 can do just that while leaving you with some extra money for fuel, so long as you don’t go overboard raiding the meager options list.
Rear-wheel-drive sports cars such as the 86 (née Scion FR-S) are rare birds these days as buyers of all ages are opting for utility (four doors) and practicality (a real back seat) in their automotive purchases. Mind you, the 86 (the original name for the car outside North America) does offer a pinch of practicality. It can squeeze two extra passengers in back, and the one-piece rear seatback folds flat for added truck space. Try that rationale on for size with your spouse and see if he or she buys it.
Perhaps that person can be persuaded by the 86’s tidy design that was made more appealing for 2017 when, following the rebranding as a Toyota, it was given a modest nose job. Standard LED headlights, a redesigned bumper and new 17-inch wheels were added.
At the same time, the cockpit was improved with soft-touch material, faux suede seat covers and redundant audio controls on the steering wheel.
On the performance side, the shocks and springs were retuned for greater control, and the differential gearing was changed to improve acceleration.
To that end, the 86’s 2.0-liter fourcylinder engine that was engineered by Toyota’s Subaru partner (the nearly identical version of the 86 is the BRZ) puts out 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque, but only if you pair it with the six-speed manual transmission.
Opt for the six-speed automatic and you’ll pay a five-horsepower and a five pound-feet penalty, but you will get to play with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and enjoy the Dynamic RevManagement program that rev matches (i.e. blips the throttle) during downshifts. The automatic also gets the best fuel-economy numbers; 24 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway, compared to 21/28 for the stick. Note that premium fuel is recommended.
Driving the 86 is akin to pure joy. No, it’s not the fastest car on the road — not by a long shot — but the front seats are form-hugging, the steering is quick and direct (a mere 2.8 turns, lock to lock), the shifter action is short and precise and the cornering is flat. The suspension usesMacPherson struts up front and double wishbones at the rear. With only 2,800 pounds to haul around, the 86 feels and acts light on its feet. In short, this is an ideal sports coupe for first-timers and seasoned pros, alike. It’s an incredible turning machine.
Credit also goes to the team in charge of exhaust tuning, since you would never guess that the same company that builds the Impreza and
Outback engineered the horizontally opposed “flat” four-cylinder engine in the 86. Still, another 40-50 horsepower would make the 86 more enticing. There are aftermarket companies that can take care of this, but expect the factory powertrain warranty to be called into question.
Base equipment for the 86, which is priced at $27,150 (with destination charges), includes all the usual comforts plus a 7-inch touchscreen and an eightspeaker Pioneer-brand audio system. Navigation is optional.
New for 2018, the 86 GT trim comes with dual-zone climate control, push-button start, heated seats, premium upholstery and an additional 4.2-inch info screen. It displays readouts for torque output, cornering G forces and outside temperature.
The GT Black edition comes with— as the name implies— glossy black paint on the body and wheels at no extra cost.
The Toyota 86 is easily one of the most enjoyable and the least financially stressful ways to get your sports-car groove on. Yes, it’s basic. There’s nothing tricky or complicated about its operation and it’s a car that’s comfortable enough to be driven all day long without punishing you and your front-seat companion.
Even ignoring the low entry price, there’s plenty here to get the heart rate going.