What Is the Price of the Toyota GR86? Starting at around $27,700, the 2022 GR86 coupe is affordable for its class. From $30,300, the top-of-the-line GR86 Premium is available. For fantastic savings at your neighborhood Toyota dealer, check out our U.S. News Best Price Program.
In This Article...
Will there be any GR86 produced?
- Toyota plans to produce no more than 860 copies of the GR86 Special Edition.
- The Special Edition’s 228-hp boxer-four is the same as that of its less powerful relatives.
For 2023, Toyota will add a GR86 suitable for David S. Pumpkins to its model lineup. This limited-edition GR86 vehicle, known as the Special Edition, only 860 of which are planned for production, is painted orange (or Solar Shift in Toyota lingo), accented with black trim on its C-pillars, a black lip spoiler installed on the trunk, and a pair of matte black 18-inch wheels.
What will the price of the Toyota GR86 be in Australia?
The new Toyota GR86 coupe, which could cost around $35,000 and be followed by a 10th Anniversary special, is scheduled to arrive in Australia by October.
How similar are the GR86 and BRZ?
Trying to decide between the 2022 Subaru BRZ and 2022 Toyota GR86 sports vehicles is a little bit ludicrous. After all, these coupes are essentially identical, sharing the same chassis, transmissions, and engines. Placing either of these in “last place” feels like a disservice to the great cause of ensuring that such vehicles stay available, especially because reasonably priced rear-wheel-drive sports cars aren’t exactly flooding out of today’s automakers. The choice between a BRZ and a GR86 should be made, and the answer should be yes.
What specifically do you want to use your reasonably inexpensive, rear-drive Toyota/Subaru sports vehicle for? is the more nuanced response. Will you spend the most of your time on the street, or do you anticipate frequently attending autocross competitions or racetracks where consistency and lap times are crucial? We gathered both manual-transmission variants of these coupes and drove and evaluated them side by side in order to assist you decide between these two virtually identical cars.
What’s New and What’s Different?
Building on the successful shared formula of the original Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, the 2022 versions continue to be rear-wheel-drive, lightweight, and incredibly affordable. Both vehicles replace their 2.0-liter engines with 2.4-liter ones that have 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Each vehicle also gains from new body-strengthening techniques, contemporary style, and improved interiors. What distinguishes them from one another? The headlights and bumpers are installed by Subaru and Toyota independently, with the BRZ’s nose adopting a few more creases, vents, and other details than the GR86’s more streamlined design. Additionally, Toyota adds a higher, more noticeable ducktail spoiler to the back of the GR86 on the Premium variant we tested here.
The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86’s tuning differences are more pronounced than previously, giving each car a unique personality that you can feel when you drive them side by side. Toyota kept the anti-roll bar mounted on the subframe and the more exuberant spring rates from the previous 86, at least in terms of the fundamentals. Subaru made greater changes to the BRZ’s chassis than Toyota, opting for softer rear springs (by 11 percent) and stiffer front springs (7 percent) in addition to connecting the BRZ’s rear anti-roll bar directly to the body. The Subie’s stiffer front end produces a more neutral balance when combined with a hollow front anti-roll bar and aluminum front knuckles. The Subaru can seem snappier at its maximum, but the Toyota’s tail is more eager to step out and does so more gently.
It’s the Handling, Stupid
We can (and will, don’t worry) compare all of our test results to see which one is superior based on many measurable criteria, but the suspension settings are by far the most important factors in this situation. What better starting point could we ask for than for both of our test cars to be within 5 pounds of one another and to be equipped with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires that are readily available (reserved for the Limited model of the BRZ and the Premium trim of the GR86), leveling the playing field where the rubber literally meets the road?
The Toyota GR86 just beat out the BRZ at the test track, showing greater grip on the skidpad (0.98 g vs. 0.93) and reaching 60 mph 0.1 second quicker, in 5.8 seconds, despite each vehicle having the same amount of power, weight, and tire options. The GR86 completed our figure-eight course in under a second faster. The Subaru stopped from 60 mph in a solid 107 feet, 1 foot shorter than the Toyota, giving an indication of its firmer front end. This was the Subaru’s lone objective dynamic victory over the GR86, however both cars experienced brake fade during our track session. If you intend to take part in a track day, consider upgrading the brake fluid, brake pads, or both. You may also consider finding a means to improve the cooling of the current brakes.
The BRZ is certainly not a pushover, but it excels at consistency. The Subaru is without a doubt the more dependable lap-time companion of the two thanks to its more planted rear end. Although it will outperform the BRZ if you’re prepared to put a little more effort into your driving, you’ll be having too much fun in the Toyota to care much about lap times. This is because even beginners may readily approach and cross over the grip threshold at sub-felony speeds because the GR86’s butt slides about a lot more, but its movement is telegraphed to the driver’s southern cheeks. With other words, if you overcook something in the Toyota, it’s simple to rein it back in.
Recovery in the Subaru requires a little more concentration; even if its tail clings on for a longer period of time, it releases less gently. Consider it like this: The ultimate rear-end grip of the BRZ is similar to that of the GR86, but there is a smaller window between possessing that grip and losing it. The BRZ can drift, but getting there and maintaining that edge requires more accurate steering and throttle inputs from more seasoned drivers. By the way, the center console of both automobiles has a setting for stability control that alternates between on and off.
In Between the Numbers
After discussing the differences between the 2022 Toyota GR86 and 2022 Subaru BRZ, let’s rebuild these two sports cars based on their shared brilliance. Highlights include the new 2.4-liter engine, which delivers noticeably improved performance and loudness while substantially removing the old 2.0-liter’s peculiar torque drop-off in the middle of the rpm range. The new engine talks with a more guttural voice and revs more excitedly; forget the rattly, tractor-like sound of the old automobiles.
The driving posture in both carsa previous highlightremains ideal, and the standard six-speed manual transmission offers better feel and more positive engagement. The pedals are situated for simple heel-toe downshifting, and you sit with your legs out and square to the small-rimmed steering wheel. The BRZ and GR86 are far more livable on a daily basis thanks to their newly strengthened bodies and improved interiors, while the Toyota rides slightly more smoothly. Road noise is significantly decreased, and even though both sports cars react strongly to expansion joints and bumps, their structural integrity is improved.
Can anyone fit in the back seats? Not exactly, unless they’re youngsters or legless, but you can still fold down the back seats and cram a complete spare set of wheels and tiresmounted, of courseinto the space between the back seat and trunk. The next-generation BRZ and GR86 offer a considerably nicer experience for passengers up front thanks to improved materials, better touchscreens, and a cool new gauge cluster with a programmable digital display. In addition to the dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift boot, and standard limited-slip differential found in the base models, the BRZ Limited and GR86 Premium models also include niceties like heated seats, aluminum pedals, and an eight-speaker audio system as standard equipment.
So, What’ll You Use ‘Em For?
After outlining the benefits and drawbacks of the Subaru and Toyota, we’ll reiterate that the choice of vehicle should be based on your use case. However, since it is our responsibility to chose one over the other, we do not allow ties in two-way comparison tests and instead employ the GR86. When voting for the Toyota in our 2022 Car of the Year competition, we chose it over the BRZ because we liked its road hysteria better than the BRZ’s more sober handling style. Simply said, you can have a riot driving the GR86 down your favorite back road without exceeding the posted speed limit while also enjoying a more comfortable ride and, while this is debatable, nicer looks. Oh, and did we also mention that the Toyota is a bit more affordable than the Subaru?
Choose the BRZ if your plans for a cheap sports vehicle include participating in track days, autocross competitions, and similar activities. In our 2022 Performance Vehicle of the Year competition, we favoured the Subaru on the racetrack over the GR86 exactly because of, well, its precision, albeit we ultimately matched our Car of the Year choice and voted the GR86 into the finalist round. Although you’ll pay for it with less daily comfort and less playfulness in everyday driving, the more grounded chassis will serve track-lappers and those participating in timed events better.
Subaru BRZ Limited
- a solid back end
- identical GR86 power upgrades
- The preferable option for track days
- stiffer and noisier ride
- sharper breakaway at the back
- more costly than the GR86
TOYOTA GR86 PREMIUM
- convenient handling
- improved style
- superior ride
- Not everyone should wear a ducktail spoiler.
- Driftiness doesn’t favor lap times as much.
- The less damaging of the two vehicles
Why not focus just on the pleasure aspect of a car like this and stop worrying about lap times?
From the Driver’s Seat
In a sports car, the driver is everything. The GR86 Premium delivers a supportive and comfortable driving environment overall, but the performance driving ergonomics may be better. The interior design is straightforward and clean, yet it has a cheap look and feel due to the abundance of hard plastic and rubberized surfaces.
First, the steering wheel is too far away when the seat is in a comfortable position since it doesn’t telescope far enough for taller persons. It has a good diameter and is lovely and thin, but alas there is not much of an indentation on the rear of the wheel to provide grip in the desired spots for the 9 and 3 hands.
The chairs are well-bolstered, comfy, and manual adjustment is sufficient; nevertheless, there is little or no lumbar support. When driving strongly, the right knee of the driver sits on some hard plastic on the center console, which isn’t particularly comfy.
Both the door card and the center console have comfortable armrests for when you want to relax and just drive.
The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is very clear, nicely organized, and simple to operate. Additionally, it supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Just below the infotainment screen, the HVAC controls have a good layout and are simple to operate.
GR86 Premium Driving Dynamics
The Toyota GR86 is not quick in 2022. Although I wouldn’t even consider it quick, driving aggressively is a lot of fun.
The 2.4L 4-cylinder boxer engine produces 184 pound-feet of torque and 228 horsepower. With the automatic, that equates to a 0-60 mph pace of 6.6 seconds, versus 6.1 seconds for the manual.
With short wait time before the injectors squirt extra fuel into the engine, the thin pedal responds to driver inputs well. Before the revs start to increase, drivers will notice a small dead spot in the power curve, but after it passes roughly 3,500 rpm, the normally aspirated enginethere is no turbo herehas a smooth, linear power band.
Additionally, the brakes are strong for a vehicle at this price point. Although the first bite isn’t as strong as you might want it to be for track and performance driving, the brakes are nevertheless enough to rapidly slow or stop this little, light car.
Even without a lot of power, the GR86 is easy to maneuver and/or spin the tires, especially when in Track Mode and the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is disabled.
The conventional Torsen limited-slip differential improves driving performance. It’s entertaining to use a decent handbrake to start slides, but it’s not really necessary for controlled wheel-spinning enjoyment. With its rear-wheel drive setup and balanced chassis, this car can deliver a ton of excitement at any time.
The suspension also truly pleased me. It somehow manages to keep the car reasonably flat when negotiating curvy roads and absorb significant bumps with ease.
The 2022 GR86 comes standard with dual cat-back exhaust, which looks excellent protruding out the back of the car. The problem is that the exhaust doesn’t exactly inspire. This vehicle is therefore ready for an aftermarket exhaust option.
Other Things You Should Know
With an automatic transmission, the 2022 Toyota GR86 Premium gets 21 city/31 highway (25 combination) mpg, while a manual transmission gets 20/27/22 mpg. For a sporty little car that could easily manage daily tasks like the daily commute, daycare drop-off, supermarket run, etc., the mid-20s is actually pretty decent.
Although the trunk isn’t very large, the opening is wide and it has enough space to hold a lot of groceries, a few luggage, or some adventure gear for two people.
While I adore the body-color painted ducktail that comes with the GR86 Premium, the intense brightness it cast in my rearview mirror wasn’t something I enjoyed. If you are a different height from me or choose a different color, this might not be a problem.
However, despite the fact that it reflected everything around it, usually appeared dirty, and was difficult to make attractive in photographs (must look nice for the gram! ), I still enjoyed the Magnetite Gray Metallic on my test car.
Although there is little to no legroom or headroom for adults in the back seats, they are ideal for children and/or additional cargo. The fact that a large, infant, rear-facing car seat fit in the backseat without any trouble amazed me; in previous sports cars, I’ve attempted and failed to do so.
Be aware that when a rear-facing car seat is installed, there is very limited room for the front passenger’s legs. Nevertheless, an adult could certainly fit in there.
The bottom cushion of the driver’s seat can be adjusted for height and angle, but the passenger seat doesn’t have those features.
The steering wheel’s buttons, which read up, up, down, down, A, B, A, B, feel like they are made of cheap plastic and resemble an old Xbox controller.
Each 2022 GR86 also includes a complimentary High-Performance Driving Experience and a one-year membership to the National Autosport Association (NASA, not the space agency) (HDPE).
Both the setup and the track experiences are intended to put you on the road to racing and performance driving. Toyota claims that this automobile is built for the track by including this in your car purchase.
Entry-Level Sports Car Competitors
Today’s market still has a small number of sub-$35k “sports vehicles, but the list is not very large. The Subaru BRZ is essentially the same vehicle as the GR86 and costs about the same.
The Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Dodge Challenger are a few rear-wheel-drive muscle vehicles offered by America’s Big 3 automakers, although none of them are particularly lightweight or powerful for the money. Then there are the front-wheel-drive hatchbacks like the Hyundai Veloster and Volkswagen GTI.
And let’s not forget the Mazda Miata, which is always a solid option when deciding which sports vehicle to buy. The problems I have with the Miata aren’t that they aren’t practical for tall individuals like myself, but rather that most track use necessitates a roll cage, and you really can’t mount a roof rack to carry your toys.
Pricing
For $27,700, you can enter a base 2022 GR86. The starting price for a GR86 Premium is $30,300, and the MSRP of our tester, which was fully optioned, was $32,825.
The 2022 GR86 Premium is a lot of car and a lot of fun for that type of money in today’s new car market.
With some upgrades that you’ll value, I believe the Premium package will be worth the few additional thousand dollars.
The GR86 Premium includes the following:
- 18-inch alloy wheels in matte black
- Pilot Sport 4 Michelin tires
- Sport seats with two stages of heating, leather-trimmed bolsters, and Ultrasuede inserts
- Duckbill rear spoiler with color-keying
- LED headlights that can automatically raise their beams
- LED turn indicators
- Aluminum pedals and footrest
- an enclosed chamber on the center console (plus two additional cup holders and USB charging ports)