Photography and words done by Brent vd Schyff

Toyota is a brand that cannot do anything wrong these days. Hit after hit from Akio Toyoda's vision of resurrecting the joy of all that is the enthusiast serving driving experience. The world owes this man a lot. The GR Supra set the mood and then came the GR Yaris, which had everyone tripping over each other to get a taste of it. I was one of them. The holy trinity of GR cars was finally completed with the arrival of the GR86. The puzzle pieces have come together, and the world is a better place for it.

Not only is the 86 name of importance to the brand but to car culture worldwide. From the beginning, it bridged a gap within the space of unaffordable sports cars and those who lust after them. Also, Toyota had answers to provide on whether the new GR86 is, according to some scribes and previous generation 86 owners out there, what it should've been from the beginning from 2012. We finally got the keys to one to let you know…

But first, a history lesson on the 86 putting the cult in Japanese car culture…

The 86 namesake can be traced to the early days of the first generation Sprinter Trueno AE86 and Japanese cult car culture. Its roots are entrenched in giant killing anecdotes of Japanese mountain pass battles. Of the many stories, I revel in the early days of watching guys like Keiichi Tsuchiya attacking 'touge' time trials, man-handling the naturally aspirated 4A-GE86 within an inch of its life, slipping and sliding with excellent car control. Those visuals are imprinted on the retina, and the essence of the 86 was firmly established. The name fell away over time until the 86 was relaunched in 2012, sharing similar characteristics to the AE86: near-perfect balance, rear-wheel drive, light, affordable and naturally aspirated, and dragon-slaying potential. 

That 86 was, however, labelled by many as lacking the power required and, with that, fell short of the mark somewhat. The recipe was, however, still there, and Toyota, under the Gazoo Racing moniker, had a second bite of the cherry with the latest offering. This time it was going to be right.

***Authors note: An issue that I've always had is the horsepower curse, where everything is solved by applying more power. I'm against that way of going about things and would advocate learning to drive on the limits from a car like the GR86 (in a controlled environment).

Enter the new gen GR86…

The drive and the handling

We'll cut straight to the chase here. The weight is something that needs to be focused on. The lighter aluminium roof, bonnet and flat-four 2.4-litre motor sits lower than any inline four-cylinder; the package also sits 10mm lower than the previous model. All of this aids in the ambitions of a low centre of gravity and clever weight placement to lower areas (Straight out of the race car 101 manual). All of which you can feel translates into the handling characteristics of the new GR86. 

I must add that out of the seven days I had it on the test, six were rained out. Despite that, every drive would end up being enjoyable, and even driving below the limits turned out fun too. Manuals have that effect, and the enjoyment factor is upped with the clutch feel that isn't too hard. It's a joy to experience with the gear lever's throw relatively short and engaging, shifting gears the old way. Remember that?

Come the seventh day along with dry streets and mountain passes. With all the biblical connotations comes the unlocking of the spirited drive the GR86 possesses. It's a motor that loves to be revved, and once you introduce the blend of slower hairpin switchbacks and sweeping banked corners, you'll understand just how well the entire package comes together and how the power is put down in the mid-range to the braking performance. It's still a car that loves momentum and will encourage you to carry speed through corners and not rely on power alone. 

The traction control system doesn't detract from the fun, either. The first pull I made saw the car squirm under heavy acceleration, shifting into second gear. The system lets the wheels break momentarily before taking back control. It’s just one of the examples that the experience intended from the GR86 is a well-curated process by Toyota. The result…blood levels pumping and a stupid grin on the face. Yes, there's no auto blip feature like you're going to find in the GR Yaris, but I encourage you to learn how to heal and toe properly. You'll feel a great sense of achievement once it all comes together. Turn off all assists and you’ll unlock the next level. But be warned, the GR86 will not suffer foolish behaviour.

Another step in that process was the decision to fit proper tyres on the GR86. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyre is a serious driver-focused tyre perfect for this application. If you remember, the previous spec 86 got economical tyres, the same you'd find on a Toyota Prius. Change approved.

One of the positive spin-offs from the brand collaboration with Subaru was using Subaru's 'Structured Platform' procedure in the chassis building process, which is essentially additional welding/bonding points throughout the chassis to improve rigidity. 50% extra is what Toyota has claimed. It certainly translates to feeling rigid on the road, especially under heavy driving. You can feel the suspension components working with the tyres with minimal roll. Characteristics that every lightweight sportscar should have. 

170kW and 250Nm of torque is sufficient for a car weighing 1270kg (Our weight measured was 1273kg with some fuel). We also put the car on the scales and verified the 53:47 claimed weight distribution, which is excellent (We achieved 55:45…negligible). But what I like most about this is how the power is put down in the midsection of the power curve. You can feel the torque work, from the 2.4 litre flat-four-engine, with the handling when carrying more speed through corners. The balance adds that extra layer of sure footedness, especially under slippery conditions.

On driver's comfort…

Sports cars generally don't favour taller drivers. It’s no secret. This is a reminder that I'm 194 cm tall, and out of every compact performance car I've climbed into, including the Honda S2000, with its compromised driving position, and then the Lotus Exige which was the worst with its wide sill to slide over; the GR86 is the easiest to get in and out of. I had to slide the seat slightly forward to put things into perspective. It is, after all, 200mm longer than the Honda, which explains why (No doubt Toyota did their homework). Driver comfort is one of the hidden factors in extracting performance gains. With the roof buttresses, there's ample headroom and the design accents that come with it, complimenting the side scoops and air vents (Functional I’ll add). It all looks menacing!

One area where I would like to see a change, and I had this with the GR Yaris, too, is the material of the steering wheel used. Extra grip through better leather and a decent driving glove would add another layer to the experience or an Alcantara option, if possible. 

Moving to the rest of the interior. There are divided opinions on the interiors of these performance GRs. Some tend to labour that they're on the "basic" side. Still, my train of thought has always been this "If you're using the car for its intended purpose of proper driving, you shouldn't be too concerned about the premium feel leather gives you" Yes, I understand that these cars cost fair deal, but every last bit of extra detail is going to add to the price and you still want it be affordable, right? 

In Summary

In many ways, the GR86 is as much a breath of fresh air as ever in the timeline of performance sportscars. It hits the mark in terms of balance between affordability and not being over the top and taking itself too seriously. It's fun to drive, and in a world of SUVs, it stands out and will make you smile. That's what an enthusiast's car should be all about. It does this while being understated at the same time. And when you compare what car to take between the GR86 versus the GR Yaris, that will boil down to your preferences. Still, with both options coming out of the Toyota stable, Akio Toyoda and his vision were definitely onto something so those are good problems to have for Toyota. Mission Accomplished then. As to what I'd choose between the two? It isn't easy, but the GR86 will teach you more, so perhaps there's the answer.

Specs:
Power: 170kW 250Nm
0-100km/h: 6.4 seconds
Max Speed: 226km/h
Weight: 1270kg
Fuel Efficiency: 8.8l/100km (Manual) 9.5l/100km (Automatic)

Price:
- R755 500 Manual
- R794 000 Automatic

Likes

• Comfort levels as an everyday car

• Handling and the enthusiast focused car characteristics.

• Slick exterior design (the Mk4 Supra inspired front end, the side sills and shaping, rear end and functional tail pipes)

Dislikes

• The induction and exhaust note could be made a bit more prominent. (A note for the aftermarket)

• Better steering wheel material

• The fact that I can’t quite afford one yet