Entering its second generation, the GR 86 has uplifting expectations as a coupe, and carries forward quite a few elements which make it stick to “the roots”. And that, we all know that the GR 86 shares a lot of DNA with the Subaru BRZ, including the same chassis and the engine, but some would argue that the former is lighter and manageable in most conditions. For the 2022 model year, the 86 features a flat-four engine layout but the size has gone up to 2.4-liter and it is still naturally aspirated. The new 86 is offered with your choice of a manual or automatic transmission. Apart from the mechanics, the coupe comes loaded with tech and the cabin gets significant updates to give that new-car feeling. The Gazoo Racing team has put up a big effort to make the GR 86 stand out in the crowd and and it’s fairly affordable for what it offers.

What’s New for 2022?

The 2022 model year of the GR 86 gets a fresh new look and updated mechanics. The 2.0-liter engine has been replaced by a 2.4-liter flat-four that makes more power compared to the older generation. The interior features a refreshed infotainment system, driver information display, and new seats, among other things.

Trims and Features.

The 2022 Toyota GR 86 is offered in two trims - a self-titled trim and Premium. Pricing hasn't been revealed yet, but the starting price is expected to be around $30,000 and will top out at around $34,000 with a few added features. The 2.4-liter engine, six-speed manual transmission, and a rear-wheel drivetrain are all standard equipment. An optional, six-speed shiftable automatic transmission is confirmed by Toyota for a few hundred dollars more. The base trim features a dual-zone automatic climate control system, power-adjustable front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, etc. The more expensive Premium trim feautres significant upgrades like the Alcantara seats and upholstery, 8-speaker audio system, bigger 18-inch alloy wheels, etc.

Trim and Specs

Engine and Performance.

Toyota has opted to give the GR 86 a more powerful engine to ignite its latest generation. The new Subaru-derived 2.4-liter naturally aspirated flat-four engine lies under the hood and belts out 228 horses and 184 pound-feet of maximum torque, which is around 25 horses and 28 pound-feet more than the outgoing model year. Toyota claims that the lower-end torque has been improved and kicks in as early as 3,700 RPM which is quite quick for a naturally aspirated engine. However, this engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard and drives through the rear wheels. Toyota does offer an optional automatic transmission for more relaxed gear shifts that also offers better efficiency compared to the manual.

On paper, the specs are quite impressive but what about the real-world performance? Well, Toyota claims it takes the new 86 6.1 seconds to get to 60 mph with a manual transmission or 6.6 seconds with the automatic transmission. The quarter-mile sprint should happen in 14.5-15.0 seconds.

Performance Specs

Handling and Braking.

When the 86 hits the road, expect the steering to feel more confident. The Electronic Power Steering should offer improved feedback compared to the outgoing model. The MacPherson suspension is expected to perform better than the outgoing model, and that means it will behave more confidently while taking turns both on-road and track. It also gets a rear-slip differential to help with rear-wheel traction. As for the braking performance, the 2022 GR 86 features 11.6-inch ventilated rotors in the front and 11.4-inch rotors in the rear. Passive safety features include, EBD, ABS, and EBP.

Fuel Economy.

Subaru boxers are not exactly known for delivering good fuel economy and the same is predicted with the 2022 GR 86. Toyota claims that with the manual transmission, the coupe will deliver about 19 MPG in the city and up to 26 MPG on the highway. The automatic transmission is expected to improve the former economy numbers with up to 4 MPG on the highway. Toyota has equipped the coupe with a decent 13.2-gallon gas tank which is expected to deliver over 270 miles with the manual and over 300 miles with the automatic.

Fuel Economy

Interior.

The new GR 86 features a driver-focused cabin similar to that of German performance coupes. The interior features a refreshed look with a new dashboard layout, new seats, and better materials. Premium Alcantara seats are standard in the Premium trim, which offers more comfortable seating because the ride quality is not the best due to the stiffer race-spec suspensions. The dashboard has an 8.0-inch touchscreen which has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity as standard. The interface looks and feels fresh and quite intuitive compared to the earlier generation. Rounding out the interior is a fully digital driver information display, revised navigation system. and your choice of a six- or eight-speaker audio system.

Coming to the interior dimensions, the GR 86 has a spacious front row, which is quite normal for a coupe, but the rear row is narrower with less headroom and legroom, which makes it more suitable for kids than adults. Or the rear seats can come in handy if you are going out shopping and forget you own an impractical coupe that has only 6.2 cubic feet of boot space. A few of the interior standout points are as follows:

-* Dual-zone automatic climate control with interior air filtration.

-* Alcantara sports seats with leather upholstery.

-* Leather and suede interior trims.

-* Multi-info display.

-* Leather-wrapped steering wheel.

-* 8-inch touchscreen display.

-* Satellite radio.

-* Navigation.

-* Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

-* Voice recognition.

Exterior.

The exterior of the 2022 GR 86 is similar to the outgoing model but is still familiar. The front fascia has sharp LED headlights that look similar to those on the Tesla Model 3. The front also has quite a massive meshed intake grille and a lip spoiler for better aerodynamics. The bonnet and the sides have cuts and shapes for added drag coefficiency. The rear is inspired by the Supra, which is its big brother and has sleek LED taillights with a large spoiler sweeping the tail-end. The dual exhaust outlets further add their sporty nature.

As for the dimensions, the new GR 86 is quite heavy at 2,811 pounds for the base model and is pretty much like the other coupes in the segment with 167.9 inches of long length, a quite short 101.4 inches of wheelbase. The height and width are quite compact at 51.6 and 69.9 inches respectively. The ground clearance is as low as 5.1 inches, making it limited to the city and highways.

Exterior Dimensions

Safety

Toyota has been very reliable in the reliability and safety aspects of their offerings and nothing will make the 2022 GR 86 suffer. Toyota has offered loads of standard safety features which are, of course, good in recent standards. Toyota’s Star Safety System is available as standard, but it misses out on a few important active safety features like blindspot monitoring, lane-departure warning, high beam assist. A few of the important safety features of the coupe are as follows:

-* 7 airbags.

-* Vehicle stability control.

-* 4-wheel ABD with traction control.

-* Electronic brakeforce distribution.

-* Brake assist.

-* Vehicle stability control.

-* Hill-start assist.

-* Rear-view backup camera.

-* Pre-collision safety system.

-* Lane-departure warning.

-* Blindspot monitoring.

-* High beam assist.

Is the 2026 Toyota GR86 Worth Buying?

The 2022 Toyota GR 86 is a great coupe with great performance, improved stability, and better handling. The GR 86 has some imperfections with its limited standard features and a gas-guzzling engine, but the new interior and exterior designs make it more aggressive and it should stand out nicely against the competition.