Item: Toyota GR86
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The GR86 is powered by a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 231bhp and 184lb ft of torque. That’s enough for a 0-62mph time of 6.3sec if you go for the manual six-speed gearbox (the six-speed auto version is 0.6sec slower).

2.4 D-4S

Coupe

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

GR86

The GR86 comes with 18in alloy wheels, a digital instrument display, air conditioning, cruise control, a six-speaker sound system, heated front seats and an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Automatic models add climate control and adaptive cruise control.

2.4 D-4S 2dr

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The price of the Toyota GR86 if you buy outright undercuts its main <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-coupes-2022/n17019">coupé</a> rivals by a comfortable margin. That includes the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/2-series/coupe/review/n125">BMW 2 Series Coupé</a> and 2.0-litre versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-5/coupe/review/n17366">Mazda MX-5 RF</a>. The&nbsp;MX-5 RF is also available with a cheaper (and much slower) 1.5-litre engine.

The GR86 is not expected to be a big seller, but if you're thinking ahead to resale time, bear in mind that the automatic version – which costs a little more in the first place –&nbsp;might be harder to sell further down the line.

Company car drivers will end up having to pay the maximum rate of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255">benefit-in-kind tax</a>&nbsp;because&nbsp;the GR86 sits in the top 37% bracket with its 200g/km CO2 rating. Fuel costs are nothing to celebrate either, with an official 32.1mpg trailing all of its rivals. That&nbsp;figure will drop quickly if you&nbsp;drive in a spirited manner.

Standard equipment includes 18in alloy wheels, air conditioning,&nbsp;a rear-view camera, LED headlights, cruise control and heated part-leather/suede front seats. If you decide to pay more for the automatic gearbox, you also get climate control and adaptive cruise control, plus extra safety kit.&nbsp;

Options are limited to paint options, so there's not much danger of bumping up the overall price by going overboard.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/toyota">Toyota</a> performed well in the most recent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2021-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n23418">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;finishing joint fifth (with Mini) out of 30 car makers featured, above Mazda, BMW and Audi. The GR86 comes with a 10-year, 100,000 mile warranty as standard, but you need to get it serviced at a Toyota dealer to get the full decade of cover.

When it comes to safety, the GR86 hasn’t been tested by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> yet, but it does come with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a tyre-pressure monitoring system. Automatic models add lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">(AEB)</a> and lane-keep assist.

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The Toyota GR86 comes with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 231bhp that’s good for 0-62mph in 6.3sec. As with&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-5/coupe/review/n17366">Mazda MX-5 RF</a>&nbsp;there’s no turbocharging involved to bolster engine performance, meaning it needs working hard to get the best out of it.

The GR86's engine isn’t that quick to rev but it’s rewarding enough when doing so, pulling strongly from the middle of the rev range up to the red line. That's&nbsp;accompanied by a suitably loud and pleasant engine sound piped through the speakers for additional theatre.

Of course, turbocharged rivals including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/2-series/coupe/review/n125">BMW 2 Series Coupé</a> (not to mention most of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-hot-hatches-2022/n17005">best hot hatches</a>) are more effortless when you calm down to cover a commute and deal with traffic.

That said, the GR86 has enough muscle for you to stay in gear when the revs drop and you don’t feel out of depth when you need to pick up the pace again. The obligation to shift down a gear just to get going is effectively absent (save for uphill climbs in top gear), and it's relaxing enough to drive in every day.&nbsp;

The six-speed manual gearbox slots into gear nicely, requiring just enough effort to be involving for the driver. It doesn't have the same short-throw, flick-of-the-wrist action as the MX-5 RF, but it’s still pleasant to use as you work through the gears.

If you go for the six-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">automatic gearbox</a>&nbsp;instead, the GR86's performance takes a small hit – the 0-62mph spring takes 0.6sec longer, for example. You do get paddles on the steering wheel, so you can override it by tapping up or down a gear, but we'd still stick with the manual.

The GR86 has a firmer ride than the MX-5 RF but rounds off bumps well enough around town. The ride starts to deteriorate at higher speeds, and can become a little choppy. And while the engine does quieten&nbsp;down into the background, there’s plenty of road and wind noise when cruising at motorway speeds.

All that makes the GR86 quite a noisy companion, although&nbsp;it’s quieter than sitting inside the MX-5 RF in similar situations. If you plan to do lots of longer journeys, you'll be better off in&nbsp;the Audi TT or 2 Series Coupé.&nbsp;

One appealing solution to that is – where possible – to take the twisty country road running parallel to the motorway to make the most of the GR86’s handling.

The sharp response of the accelerator pedal helps to maintain momentum, while the steering has enough weight to feel precise. Body lean is minimal and the GR86 feels light as it goes from corner to corner, with a reassuring amount of grip from the tyres.

It's quite easy to reach the limits, but the predictable responses let you have fun while&nbsp;staying&nbsp;in control. In comparison, driving enthusiasts might find that the Audi TT feels too safe to be truly thrilling, while the MX-5 RF suffers from much&nbsp;more body lean. The GR86 is easily the most exciting of the three.

OUR PICK

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The Toyota GR86 sports car you see here takes inspiration from the Japanese phrase ‘waku waku doki doki’ – meaning ‘heart-pounding excitement’. And that's what it aims to deliver, in the form of a compact, lightweight coupé that’s relatively affordable to run.

The GR86 is the sequel to the car badged the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gt86/coupe/used-review/n929">Toyota GT86</a>&nbsp;(sold new&nbsp;from 2012 to 2021). It sits below the flagship <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gr-supra/coupe/review/n19387">Toyota GR Supra</a> coupé in the Japanese car maker's range, and costs slightly less than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gr-yaris/hatchback/review/n22315">Toyota GR Yaris</a>. And while that Yaris is a little four-wheel-drive hot hatch that offers darty, grippy thrills more akin to a rally car, the GR86 delivers a very different driving experience.

The basic recipe remains the same as for the GT86. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/toyota">Toyota</a> gives you a revvy naturally-aspirated petrol engine up front, teamed with lively rear-wheel-drive handling to draw a wide grin on the driver’s face.&nbsp;

There’s only one 2.4-litre petrol engine to choose from, available with a manual or automatic gearbox (both with six speeds). The auto&nbsp;isn’t expected to be a popular option, but it does come with more kit as standard to go with its slightly higher price over the manual version.

If you're looking for a fun, sporty car, should you buy a Toyota GR86? Well, you'll want to consider the competition&nbsp;before you do.

Rival cars include the the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/2-series/coupe/review/n125">BMW 2 Series Coupé</a>&nbsp;while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-5/coupe/review/n17366">Mazda MX-5 RF</a> and its folding hardtop roof is the closest when it comes to offering lightweight thrills (although the GR86 is hardtop only – at least for now).&nbsp;

So, is the Toyota GR86 as good as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-coupes-2022/n17019">best coupés</a> on sale? A low entry price is a good starting point, but this review will cover much more than that, including how it stacks up in terms of performance, handling, comfort, how practical it is and how much it will cost to run.

When you have decided, remember we can help you save thousands of pounds off the list prices of most makes and models of car if you search our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a>. It's a good place to find the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/coupe">new coupé deals</a>.

It’s easy to find a comfortable seating position in the Toyota GR86 because there's plenty of adjustment from the seats and steering wheel.

Forward visibility is great, with thin windscreen pillars and a low dashboard that allows you to see the end of the bonnet. The big door mirrors and large rear window helps when looking out behind you. There’s also a rear-view camera to ease parking.

The dash is simple to use with a mix of rotary controls and large buttons for the ventilation system. The 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system above it comes with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone mirroring, and is fairly easy to use, without too many menus to sift through.

The rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-5/coupe/review/n17366">Mazda MX-5 RF</a> has a&nbsp;rotary controlled infotainment system that's less distracting to use when you're driving, but that has a smaller 7.0in screen.

The driver’s digital instrument panel in the GR86 isn’t hugely configurable, but it’s clear and easy to read with an extensive range of information available on the trip computer. You get a different lay-out if you switch to the Track driving&nbsp;mode.

You’ll find suede-like material on the doors and above the digital instrument panel, plus some soft-touch plastics on the top section of the dash. Still, the GR86’s interior feels less plush than in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-coupes-2022/n17019">best coupés</a>.

The split-opening lid for the cupholders on the centre console doubles as an armrest&nbsp;but the two sections don’t quite meet in the middle leaving a large gap. Also, the button to open the lid is quite easy to press with your elbow by accident.

Sports coupé offers loads of excitement for the price, but some rivals beat it for long-distance refinement

The Toyota GR86 has plenty of space in the front for tall (6ft-plus) occupants. It's a world away from the cosy interior of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-5/coupe/review/n17366">Mazda MX-5 RF</a>, and the sports seats are much more supportive than the rather flat items in the MX-5.

You get two small rear seats in the GR86, too. You’ll have to compromise front legroom just to free up some space for those sitting behind, but at least the option is there if you need to give someone small a lift. The rest of the time, it's a useful place to chuck your jacket or bag.

Storage space up front includes a small bottle holder and a narrow area for your phone in each of the doors. The centre console has two cupholders that, oddly, have USB ports beside them, so you might&nbsp;have to choose between a coffee&nbsp;or a fully charged phone.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The 226-litre boot gives you more storage volume than the MX-5 RF's&nbsp;but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a> gives you 305 litres and has a bigger, hatchback-style opening.

You can drop the GR86's rear seats by pulling release straps in the boot –&nbsp;Toyota says that gives you an extended load area big enough for taking&nbsp;four spare wheels to the test track.

gr86

The GR86 offers the most excitement for the price when compared with its main rivals, but refinement and interior quality are not quite up there with the best. Some owners will be happy to sacrifice those for the smile factor, but if you spend lots of time doing motorway cruising, there's a danger you'll fall out of love with it a bit.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.

Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.

For a blend of rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a> is a brilliant option. But the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/hatchback/review/n17260">BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/cla/coupe/review/n19245">Mercedes CLA</a> both offer plenty of style and substance to match, while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbs/coupe/review/n18289">Aston Martin DBS Superleggera</a> will give you serious performance.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

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Toyota GR86 review

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Review of Toyota GR86 interior by the expert What Car? team. Compare in car entertainment system, driving comfort and visibility with similar cars.

It’s easy to find a comfortable seating position in the Toyota GR86 because there's plenty of adjustment from the seats and steering wheel.,Forward visibility is great, with thin windscreen pillars and a low dashboard that allows you to see the end of the bonnet. The big door mirrors and large rear window helps when looking out behind you. There’s also a rear-view camera to ease parking.,The dash is simple to use with a mix of rotary controls and large buttons for the ventilation system. The 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system above it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, and is fairly easy to use, without too many menus to sift through.The rival Mazda MX-5 RF has a rotary controlled infotainment system that's less distracting to use when you're driving, but that has a smaller 7.0in screen.The driver’s digital instrument panel in the GR86 isn’t hugely configurable, but it’s clear and easy to read with an extensive range of information available on the trip computer. You get a different lay-out if you switch to the Track driving mode.,You’ll find suede-like material on the doors and above the digital instrument panel, plus some soft-touch plastics on the top section of the dash. Still, the GR86’s interior feels less plush than in the best coupés.,The split-opening lid for the cupholders on the centre console doubles as an armrest but the two sections don’t quite meet in the middle leaving a large gap. Also, the button to open the lid is quite easy to press with your elbow by accident.

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