Toyota 86 Review

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Whoever said Toyota only makes safe but boring cars will now have to eat his words, not to mention sniff the exhaust of its latest model - the 86.

The Toyota 86 is a small, lightweight coupé with a classic front engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Inspired by the cult-like AE86 of the early 1980s, this 21st century version eschews the original's clean lines for a low-slung look and muscular rear haunches.

This two-door, four-seater is light and low (kerb weight is about 1,250 kg) with a naturally aspirated engine (a 2.0-litre, horizontally opposed four-cylinder unit) and good balance (front/rear weight distribution is 53:47).

To enhance handling, the engine, transmission and driving position have been pushed as far back as possible, with the flat-four engine giving it a low centre of gravity at 460 mm.

This is carried over to the driving position, where the driver sits low in a bucket seat, gripping a 365 mm diameter steering wheel which Toyota says is the smallest it has ever fitted.

There are two versions of the 86 - the S and the GS - with a choice of manual or automatic transmission, both six-speed. The 86 GS gets extra equipment such as high-intensity discharge lights, shift paddles for the automatic version, cruise control and a digital speedometer.

More importantly, the GS has lowered suspension and a limited slip differential.

The Toyota 86 S starts at $175,988 but like the 86 GS, both variants can be ordered with TRD Toyota Racing Development upgrades.

Toyota 86 Specs
Price: from $175,988 (with COE)
Engine: 1,998cc flat-4
Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic
Max Power: 200 hp @ 7,000 rpm
Max Torque: 205 Nm @ 6,400-6,600 rpm
0-100kmh: 7.6 secs (M) / 8.2 secs
Top speed: 226 kmh (M) / 210 kmh (A)
CO2 emissions:180 g/km (M) / 163 g/km (A)
Distributor: Borneo Motors

TRD Aero gets a five-piece bodykit, while TRD Sports has a few more goodies like a front strut brace and upgraded brake pads and air filter box.

TRD Performance further adds on to that with stiffer coil springs and dampers, among others. Get all the extras and the top-of-the-line version can come up to an additional $39,000 - which makes the entry-level Toyota 86 S with a six-speed manual gearbox the best value-for-money variant.

There is no price difference for an auto transmission, but the crisp changes of the wonderfully direct manual gearbox make it a worthy alternative. Each gear change is just a short throw away and the pedals are perfectly positioned for heel-and-toeing.

At 4.2 metres long with a 2,570 mm wheelbase, the 86 is pretty nimble. Its suspension system, which comprises MacPherson struts in front and double wishbones behind, may sound basic but it is kept relatively soft so that the Toyota is not only comfortable but also tail-happy.

So while the free-revving boxer engine's 205 Newton- metres of torque may not sound like much, the rear-wheel-driven 86 S can still stick its tail out and drift.

And you get the feeling that its output was meant to keep it in complete harmony with the rest of the car.

Even the rorty exhaust seems to have been tuned to produce just the right level of noise.

Together, they make the Toyota 86 ideal for anyone yearning for a cost-effective, old-school sports car. Its cabin is simple and driver-focused - the surfaces are anti- reflective to prevent glare, hence the retro ventilation knobs and levers with their smoked metal trim. The steering wheel has no multi-function buttons but seven airbags are standard.

This pleasing blend of raw and refined, infused with a large dose of sporty handling, makes the 86 one Toyota which can truly be described as desirable.