2023 GR86 pre order

The Toyota Corolla has always been the Japanese automaker's humble, simple, small family car with not a whole lot of excitement to offer. However, back in the '80s, Toyota made an alternative for people who wanted a little more excitement. The AE86 Sprinter, as they called it in Japan, was a two-door Corolla hatchback, except it was RWD. This made it popular for drifting and for general fun-having, due to the setup, and eventually, its popularity (and price) skyrocketed into total oblivion, thanks in no small part to theInitial Danimated series.

It took Toyota quite a while before they revisited the idea of a small, RWD sports car. The previous 86 was always a great sports car, but it was lacking on power and a few other things. The second generation, now named GR86, looks to address the complaints of the previous one.

Key Features

• More power
• RWD
• Manual transmission

Specifications

• Model: GR86
• Engine/Motor: 2.4-Liter Flat-Four
• Horsepower: 228 hp
• Torque: 184 lb-ft
• Drivetrain: RWD
• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Automatic

Pros

• Great fun to drive
• Good-looking
• A noticeable improvement on the previous model

Cons

• Still not a whole lot of power
• Impractical
• Somewhat loud on the inside

2023 GR86 Overview

Toyota

The 2023 Toyota GR86 is the second generation of Toyota's small RWD sports car. The first generation came along in 2012, and in North America, Toyota sold it under the geared-for-youngsters Scion brand, as the Scion FR-S, eventually rebranding it as the Toyota 86 after they dissolved the Scion brand in 2016. Toyota made the second generation car in collaboration with Subaru once again, and while their version is still the BRZ, and it's also one of our favorites, Toyota's version is now the GR86, placing it under the same umbrella as Toyota's other performance cars.

As before, there are some very minor differences between the two, but the GR86 has somewhat different styling and a few unique exterior colors to choose from. As the side profile gives away, the GR86 uses a similar platform to its predecessor, but it now adopts elements from Subaru's global architecture that their other models also use. The front features a completely redesigned front end, with new headlights, and a new grille. The side gets some new fender vents, and the opposed-piston badge from the previous generation is now gone. The rear features a restyled decklid and trunk lid, a new ducktail spoiler, as well as some redesigned taillights. For 2023, Toyota brought along the new Special Edition of the GR86, limited to just 860 units. This version includes equipment from the higher end Premium trim level at a slightly lower price, while also adding a new exhaust system, unique wheels, and the unique Solar Shift paint color. Otherwise, the other two trim levels, being the aforementioned Premium and the cheaper base model (just called the GR86), remain the same as the 2022 model year. Due to the shift in the industry, it's difficult to pinpoint an exact competitor to the GR86, but the closest would be the Mazda Miata, and assuming that pricing is not a point of comparison, the new BMW 2 Series.

2023 GR86 Powertrain And Drivetrain

Perhaps the biggest news relating to the GR86 is the new powertrain. One of the biggest complaints people had about the previous model is that it simply didn't have enough power, barely coughing out 200 hp from its naturally-aspirated boxer. Toyota has addressed this complaint, and the new GR86 does have more power, but not a whole lot more. Out goes the 2.0-liter boxer, and in its place comes a 2.4-liter boxer, an engine that is also available on other Subaru models. There is still no turbo, but power goes up from just below 200 hp, to a healthier 228. Torque also gets a boost to 184 lb-ft, which is still not a massive amount, but a good improvement. As a result, the 0-60 time gets a significant improvement: 5.8 seconds. However, the automatic is noticeably slower at 6.6 seconds. The top speed meanwhile is 145 mph.

Like before, Toyota gives you two transmission options. A six-speed manual is standard, and you can also have a six-speed automatic. Mercifully, all versions of the GR86 get a Torsen limited slip differential as standard. No more Prius tires, but the GR86 definitely encourages you to have some fun and get the tail out on the racetrack.

2023 GR86 Comfort And Quality

Via:Toyota

On the inside, the GR86 should be pretty familiar to anyone who has spent time in the previous generation model. A lot of the interior looks and feels similar, but there are some welcome improvements. There's a new, slightly larger infotainment system which now supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there's a fully digital gauge cluster, a new steering wheel design, and some new safety tech as well. You can get adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and auto emergency braking, but due to this car's pitch, they are all optional. Toyota has even disabled the steering assist entirely, to keep you more in control. A bit like selecting "Hard" difficulty on a video game, if you will.

The GR86 does still have back seats, for some reason. They are very small, and they're really only suitable for kids, or for you to fold them down and increase the cargo capacity. Speaking of which, the GR86 boasts a modest 6 cubic feet of trunk space. Pretty small, but an improvement over stuff like the Miata.

2023 GR86 Pricing And Launch

Toyota

The 2023 Toyota GR86 is available to order as of late September 2022. Prices start at $27,900 for the base trim, whereas the Premium nudges that up to $30,500. There is no pricing information for the Special Edition, but that one will likely be somewhere in between the base and the Premium trim. Considering how much fun you can have behind the wheel of this car, and what else you get for your money, this is definitely one you should shortlist.