Decades ago, Toyota sports coupes like the Celica, MR2, and Supra loomed large in popular culture. Embraced by enthusiasts who sought light, agile, and reliable sporting machines, these nimble Toyotas zoomed in and out of traffic, helped launch the sport compact car craze, served as fodder for movie plots, and burnished the otherwise dull and practical Toyota brand.
But, as consumers gravitated toward SUVs and crossovers, this trio of sport compacts was iced. You could even say they were 86’d. But lately, Toyota has returned spiritual successors of the cars to the market.
Lately, the reborn Supra has grabbed all of the glory. But before Toyota reskinned a BMW Z4 to create it, the Scion FR-S revived its sports car fortunes. It became the Toyota 86 after the automaker killed the Scion brand, and now a redesigned 2022 Toyota GR86 arrives to carry the sport compact torch.
The new 2022 GR86 remains a rear-drive 2+2 coupe, once again co-developed with Subaru (which sells the car under the BRZ moniker). However, this one is more serious about its intentions than the one it replaces. And if you’re wondering, the GR stands for Gazoo Racing.
Here’s the scoop on the all-new 2022 Toyota GR86.
Like all sports cars, the 2022 Toyota GR86 is low-slung and hunkered down on its standard 17-inch forged aluminum wheels. Compared to its Subaru sibling, the GR86 has a mesh grille insert, a slightly different running light signature, and a restyled bumper with different air intakes. Premium trim adds adaptive headlights, black forged 18-inch alloys wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, and a rear duckbill spoiler.
The 2022 GR86 interior builds on existing themes while adding detail that gives the cabin a more cluttered appearance. Nevertheless, it appears to be a no-nonsense driving environment with a black-on-black color scheme. Premium trim includes aggressively bolstered front seats wrapped in leather and Alcantara suede and features aluminum pedals. The two rear seats fold down for added cargo versatility.
Toyota improves performance by replacing the previous 205-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a new 228-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. It retains its horizontally opposed, boxer-style layout and generates its peak 184 pound-feet of torque (up 28 lb.-ft.) at 3,700 rpm, down significantly from the old engine’s peak between 6,400 rpm and 6,600 rpm. Maximum horsepower still requires you to rev to 7,000 rpm.
This added thrust lower in the rev range, plus increased bore size and tweaks to the fuel injection and exhaust systems, means that acceleration times drop. Toyota reports the 2,800-pound GR86 will accelerate to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds with the 6-speed manual transmission, shaving nearly a second from the time.
The improvement in acceleration is more impressive with the optional 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters. This version of the GR86 does the deed in 6.6 seconds compared to eight seconds in the previous model.
Like all proper sports cars, the GR86 features a limited-slip rear differential. It sits on a MacPherson strut front and double-wishbone rear suspension, and Toyota says the car’s underlying architecture is stiffer than before for increased rigidity and handling prowess.
To get the handful of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) offered for the new GR86, you need to opt for the automatic transmission. These versions of the car will have standard adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning.
Additionally, a sway warning system monitors for driver drowsiness, and a leading vehicle departure alert system addresses a driver who is distracted while stopped in traffic. Pre-collision throttle management attempts to prevent the GR86’s driver from accidentally colliding with an object ahead.
Toyota equips the GR86 with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It includes Bluetooth with near field communication technology, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to numerous connected services functions. A 6-speaker sound system is standard, while the GR86 Premium offers an 8-speaker setup.
Standard equipment also includes a 7-inch digital instrumentation display with Normal, Sport, and Track themes.
Given the consumer shift away from cars toward trucks and SUVs, it’s not surprising that the list of Toyota GR86 competitors is a short one. Aside from the nearly identical 2022 Subaru BRZ, you might consider the Mazda MX-5 Miata as an alternative. Otherwise, the Hyundai Veloster N is your only alternative unless you decide to get a Chevy Camaro or Ford Mustang.
Toyota is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of June 3, 2021, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
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