Thirty-two grand is a fair price for a car that鈥檚 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 extra money for fuel, so long as you don鈥檛 go overboard raiding the options list.
Rear-wheel-drive Sports cars such as the 86 (n茅e 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that was engineered by Toyota鈥檚 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鈥檒l pay a five-horsepower penalty, but you will get to play with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and enjoy the Dynamic Rev Management program that rev-matches the engine and transmission during downshifts. The automatic also has the best fuel-economy numbers; 9.9 l/100 km in the city and 7.3 on the highway, compared with 11.3/8.3 for the stick. Note that premium fuel is recommended.
Driving the 86 is akin to pure joy. No, it鈥檚 not the fastest car on the road 鈥� not by a long shot 鈥� 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 uses MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones at the rear. With only about 1,275 kilograms 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鈥檚 an incredible little 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 鈥渇lat鈥� 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.
The base 86, which is priced at $31,800 including destination charges, has all the usual comforts, plus a seven-inch touchscreen and an eight-speaker Pioneer-brand audio system. A navigation system 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 鈥� as the name implies 鈥� 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鈥檚 basic. There鈥檚 nothing tricky or complicated about its operation and it鈥檚 a car that鈥檚 comfortable enough to be driven all day long without punishing you and your front-seat companion.
Even ignoring the low entry price, there鈥檚 plenty here to get the heart rate going.
THE SPEC SHEET
Type: Two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupe
Engine (h.p.): 2.0-litre DOHC horizontally opposed four-cylinder (200/205)
Transmission: Six-speed manual; six-speed automatic (opt.)
Market position: Hot-performing two-door cars are rare and tend to be expensive, so the 86鈥檚 strength is its sporting value. Given an entry price in the around-$30,000 range, it makes careful sacrifices in terms of gadgets and luxury to keep the money focused on driving pleasure.
Points:
鈥� The 86 would be an utter blast with 300 horsepower. Just 100 more to go.
鈥� Its precision turning proves that giant wheels and wide tires aren鈥檛 necessary in a light car.
鈥� Regardless of how much development is shared, the fact the 86 is a virtual clone of the Subaru BRZ, and even uses a Subaru engine, gives the impression that it鈥檚 the copycat.
鈥� Would the 86 be around as a Toyota model if it wasn鈥檛 first a Scion?
鈥� No dynamic safety systems such as emergency braking.
Active safety: n/a
Fuel economy, L/100 km (city/hwy): 9.9/7.3 (automatic trans.)
Base price (incl. destination): $31,8008
