Toyota’s new entry-level sports car is now on sale in South Africa and almost every complaint from owners of its predecessor has been addressed, and then some.
The GR86 as it will from now on be known, GR being short for Toyota’s high-performance Gazoo Racing division, is still a tail-happy, low-slung, two-door sports coupe fulfilling its original purpose, but it now has more power, drives better, and looks even more stunning.
Improving the 86
The previous-generation GT86 was a fan favourite from the get-go, though after a good 10 years on the market and one major facelift later, it was time for an upgrade.
Toyota set out not only to improve its popular sports car in the looks and performance arenas, but also to address the issues owners had with it.
According to the automaker, these individuals felt the 86 needed bigger wheels than the 17-inch alloys it was sat on, a better radio, and more power – but not a ridiculous amount.
Lo and behold, the GR got 18-inch rims, an upgraded media centre in the form of an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 400cc-larger engine with an additional 27kW and 45Nm.
That’s not all, a central armrest that doubles as a storage cubby was also added as this was a pain-point for GT owners who had nowhere to put their arm when they just wanted to cruise.
Furthermore, the new 86 was lengthened by 35mm with a 5mm-longer wheelbase, as well as made 10mm flatter, resulting in a centre of gravity that is lowered by 1.6mm lending the GR86 the lowest gravity point of any vehicle in the Toyota stable.
These changes accomplished bringing it into a new era in terms of design, performance, and features, though one consequence is that the cabin is ever-so-slightly tighter than before and therefore tougher to get into – and climbing into the GT wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
A GReat driver’s car
Be that as it may, the new GR86 is made to please the driver, nothing more nothing less, and you forget all about ducking under the low roofline with the first click of the mechanical short-throw manual shifter sliding into place.
Initially, it can be uncomfortable while you’re getting to grips with where the controls are situated, how close you are to the road, and where the engine is at its happiest.
Then, after a short time, you notice the cabin seems familiar, it feels much more spacious, and smooth gearshifts have become second nature.
As the 86’s chief engineer remarked, the automaker set out to build “a car that is able to fit in the driver’s hand” and it takes but a few minutes on the tarmac before you realise this is exactly what’s happening.
As confidence builds, the rev range is evermore explored and while the GR’s underpinnings have been reworked to offer improved handling over the GT, the new 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated powerplant is unquestionably the main attraction.
With 174kW and 250Nm on tap it’s no powerhouse, but the way in which the grunt is delivered makes it hard to justify wanting more.
Off the line, the manual 86 is good for a 0-100km/h sprint in 6.4 seconds (6.8 seconds in auto), 1.1 seconds faster than before, and mid-range torque has been significantly improved over the old generation.
A frequent complaint on the GT was that it tended to lose spirit in the mid-rev ranges, and this has been taken care of in the GR.
Low or high speeds, first or sixth gears, put your foot down in the new 86, without fail, there’s a noticeable nudge coming from the rear wheels, at least at sea level where we drove it.
Around a track the Toyota is a weapon in the right hands, too.
Being one of the cheapest cars featuring a limited-slip diff and with its sporty suspension and low hip point, the 86 remains flat, sharp, and glued to the circuit taunting amateurs to professionals to find its limits.
It focuses more on the element of fun rather than setting lap records, so while it’s able to stay behaved it doesn’t mind kicking out the tail.
Three drive modes offering differing levels of grip let the 86 slide around corners with a flick of the wheel and because it’s not frighteningly powerful, it can easily be brought back into line or thrown into a 360, all depending on what the one in charge of it wants.
In automatic guise it remains a purer sports car than most, giving you full control over your own gear shifts as and when you please, and holding that gear until you and you alone decide to change it.
“Responsible, predictive power and handling” were the cornerstones of development for the GR’s foundation, said its makers, and the way in which it behaves is spot on.
@topautosa Some highlights of the new Toyota GR86 😍 SOUND ON! 🔊 #soundon #drifting #spinning #hotlap #gr86 #toyota #track #southafrica #sportscar #streetrace #dragrace #trending #carsoftiktok #viral ♬ original sound – TopAuto
The best part about it all is that the output is fully usable.
The tyres screech, exhausts scream, smoke billows out of the sides – and when you look down, you might be teasing, but not breaking the speed limit.
That is the magic of the (relatively) affordable sports car, of which the 86 is one of the last remaining few.
It gives you everything that the Germans and Italians do at a fraction of a cost, and without the fear of sitting in a prison cell if you dare use more than a quarter of what it’s actually capable of.
Contrary to its body style and ground clearance, the GR is also verifiably usable in the real world handling potholes, steep sidewalks, non-conforming speedbumps, and every other unsavoury element our poorly-maintained roads can throw at it, albeit with a little more caution than a bakkie or SUV.
Out on the freeways, the lack of noise insulation and stiff dampers may be tough to handle for extended periods of time, but with a boot that’s capable of swallowing a few overnight bags and supportive seats, it’s not unusable as a grand tourer. However, keep in mind it’s more suited for two passengers.
Pricey but worth it
The GR86 range starts at R698,100 for the manual, which will definitely be our pick, and R733,700 for the auto.
It’s more than double the R298,500 at which the GT launched all the way back in 2012, but car prices have been out of control in recent times and the market is only expected to find equilibrium in a few years.
The Toyota may be challenging to get into, its suspension is stiff, and its cabin is compact, but it’s a car that focuses all its energy on putting a smile on the driver’s face, and for this purpose, it does its job extremely well.
So, if you want a fun-to-drive, amazing-to-look-at, bang-for-your-buck sports car, the 86 still remains the pick of the litter.
Toyota GR86
Keyword: First drive in the new Toyota GR86 in South Africa