The small cheap fun car is not dead yet. There are several options to be had with a good amount of horsepower and a manual gearbox. However, the amount of brand new, rear-wheel-drive sports cars with a manual gearbox for sale under $30,000 is dwindling.

Toyota does not seem to be giving up any time soon though. The largest Japanese auto manufacturer just released all the pricing figures for the new GR86.

With newer cars getting more filled with technology and subsequently more expensive, we were a bit nervous the latest GR86 would be climbing up to a higher price bracket.

How much does it cost exactly?

The new GR86 stands in defiance of this trend by starting at $27,700. That is a couple of hundred dollars more than the previous generation. When you consider it has a new 2.4-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine that makes 228 horsepower and 184lb-ft of torque, it seems like a decent trade.

Especially since the last model's most glaring issue was its lack of power. The new version makes 23 more horsepower and 28lb-ft more torque. It seems like Toyota has come up with a recipe to fix the old model's infamous "torque dip."

While the bog-standard entry-level GR86 starts at $27,700 with the satisfying six-speed manual gearbox, it can also be had with a sic-speed automatic for $29,200.

The next trim level, the GR86 Premium starts at $30,300 with the same six-speed manual and $31,800 for the Premium with the automatic.

However, those prices do not take into account the $1,025 processing and delivery fee that is tacked onto the starting price, regardless of which example you get.

In total, you will be shilling out at least $28,725 for a new GR86.

Adjusting for the additional fees, the pricing looks like this:

2022 Toyota GR86 prices

How does it stack up against its rivals, and how well will it sell?

Obviously, the cheaper a rear-wheel-drive manual sports car is the better, and the GR86 is without a doubt a fun car. Hopefully, more of these little bundles of joy will be sold because of the significant bump in power, albeit with a minor bump in price.

The only worry for Toyota is the competitors. The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro can also be purchased for under $30,000 with a 6-speed manual gearbox, only with massively more power.

The basic eco-boost Mustang starts at $27,205 with 310 horsepower and 350lb-ft of torque. The 1LT Chevrolet Camaro comes with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that can produce 275 horsepower and 295lb-ft of torque paired to a 6-speed manual and starts at $26,695. You can even get a 1LT Camaro with a 335 horsepower, 284lb-ft of torque 3.6-liter V-6, also with a 6-speed manual for $28,290.

And the Mazda Miata, while it is slower and not near as powerful, is the classic fun sports car and, of course, has a 6-speed manual gearbox. It can embarrass some supercars, at least in terms of the size of the smile it puts on your face, not to mention it starts at $26,830, among the cheaper end of the GR86's rivals.