Item: Toyota GT86
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

<p>The GT86 is priced to compete with coupes such as the Audi TT and Nissan 370Z but it’s unlikely to hold its value as well as the Audi. Claimed fuel consumption of 36.2mpg means the GT86 will cost you more to run than the TT, while higher CO2 emissions mean higher tax bills for company car drivers.</p>

<p>Toyota’s reliability record is the envy of the motor industry, so you should have very few worries on that score. The interior feels very solidly put together too, even if it doesn’t feel very plush.</p>

<p>There’s one highly-specced version, the Pro, which comes with heated Alcantara seats, a suede dashboard and a new rear spoiler. However, we’d rather save our money and go for the well-appointed base car which comes with alloys, climate control, keyless entry, cruise control, electric front windows and a Bluetooth phone connection. Sat-nav is an affordable option, while you can also specify parking sensors and metallic paint.</p>

<p>The GT86 comes with an exceptional amount of safety equipment. Stability control is standard, and if you still manage to get the car out of shape, there are no less than seven airbags to protect you. Active anti-whiplash headrests are included, too. Security kit is also pretty good, with an electronic engine immobiliser and alarm being provided as standard.</p>

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<p>The naturally aspirated 2.0-litre petrol engine is capable of strong pace, but because its peak power and torque are delivered high up the rev range, you have to work it hard. It feels very lazy lower down – let the engine drop below 4500rpm and you’ll wonder what happened to all the go.</p>

<p>The ride is very firm, too, but the GT86 is really all about the handling. The lightweight and classic sports car layout (engine at the front, driven wheels at the back) gives the GT86 real agility, and the fast throttle response and quick, weighty steering help, too. The rear-wheel drive layout is also great fun if you venture onto a track, but on a public road, it can’t quite match an Audi TT for refinement.</p>

<p>The engine sounds pretty good when you thrash it, which is just as well, because you’ll be thrashing it a lot of the time. However, the engine is very audible when cruising on the motorway, plus you have to put up with a cacophony of road and wind noise.</p>

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<p>If you’re looking for a compact, low-weight sports car that places driver involvement above comfort and practicality, the Toyota GT86 could be the car for you.</p>

<p>A 197bhp 2.0-litre flat-four engine powers this front-engined, rear-wheel drive 2+2 coupe. It’s an engine that needs working hard if you want to make swift progress, but in fact the GT86 is more about handling than straight-line speed. With its classical layout, it’s tremendous fun to drive on twisty roads, and a hoot on a track.</p>

<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5pEM8Tsx2Ng"></iframe></p>

<p>For a sports car it’s well equipped, too. There are two trims to choose from, the standard GT86 and the Pro model, and even the base trim comes with an impressive array of standard equipment.</p>

<p>Read on over the next few pages to get our in depth impressions of the GT86, and to see how it compares both with its near-identical sibling, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/subaru/brz/coupe/review/n17257">Subaru BRZ</a>, and with other rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a>.</p>

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<p>The GT86 is low. Very low. And the driving position is equally low-slung. There’s lots of adjustment for the driver’s seat and steering wheel, so you should be able to find a comfortable position, although the pedals are noticeably off-set. Most of the switchgear on the dash is simple, but the touch-screen infotainment system is tricky to use due to its small on-screen icons.</p>

<p>As you might expect from Toyota, the interior feels very solidly put together, even if it doesn’t feel very plush. The materials surrounding the driver and the dashboard aren’t very appealing, and you’ll either love or hate the dated interior design.</p>

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Coupe

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>


TOYOTA

GT86

<p>The Toyota GT86 is a sharp handling sports coupe that’s packed full of driving pleasure, but can also infuriate in equal measure</p>


<p>There’s plenty of space in the front of the GT86, but the back seats are next to useless. Head and leg room are way too tight for an adult passenger, and foot space is even tighter. You’re better off using these seats as extra luggage space, but you shouldn’t need to very often - the boot is at least a decent size at 243 litres.</p>

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The Toyota GT86 is a sharp handling sports coupe that’s packed full of driving pleasure, but can also infuriate in equal measure

<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>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>For a blend of&nbsp;rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for,&nbsp;the Audi TT is a brilliant option. But the Mercedes CLA offers plenty of style and substance to match, while the Aston Martin DB11 will give you serious performance.</p>

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