Toyota GR86 – Back to Basics

Toyota GR86 2.4 Pure

€60,995

A glance at the price list of the GR86 is somewhat sad. Without VAT and bpm, the list price of the entry-level version, the Pure, is €29,004. In particular, the bpm throws a spanner in the works with an additional amount of €24,925, almost as much as the GR86 actually costs. The high bpm is the result of the 198 grams of CO2 that the 235 hp naturally aspirated 2.4 four-cylinder boxer engine vomits out per kilometer. The predecessor of the GR86, the GT86, also suffered from these relatively high CO2 emissions in the Netherlands. After all, the GR86 is only €3,000 more expensive than the purchase price of its predecessor.

The GR86 is only available with the above power source, with which it accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and has a top speed of 226 km/h. Those numbers belong to the standard GR86 with manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic transmission is also available, but then the GR86 takes 6.8 seconds to complete the 0-100 sprint and the cake is already finished at 216 km/h. In addition, you can only combine the Toyota GR86 with automatic transmission with the more expensive Premium trim level, for which you have to pay a minimum of €65,995. Prefer the manual gearbox, but the richer equipment? Then you have lost €64,495.

No basic packaging

In Japan, the Subaru BRZ, the GR86’s twin brother, is also available as a ‘Cup Car Basic’ with steel wheels. This variant was created in Japan especially for the Toyota Gazoo Razing GR86/BRZ Cup and therefore mainly offers a platform for racing teams to add aftermarket wheels themselves. In the Netherlands, the GR86 is standard on 17-inch light-alloy wheels and is painted in the metallic paint ‘Ice Silver’. For a different color you have to pull the cut. ‘Magnetite Gray’ is the only other metallic paint that is on the option list for €995, the other five paint colors are mother-of-pearl paints for which you have lost €1,395. The latter category also includes the more exciting colors ‘Nitro Blue’ and ‘Ignition Red’. The color is also the only factory-changeable aspect of the GR86 Pure’s exterior. For larger wheels you have to look to the Premium.

Toyota GR86

Except for the wheels, the basic version of the GR86 is visually hardly distinguishable from the Premium. LED headlights and taillights are standard, as are automatically folding and heated door mirrors, keyless entry, a reversing camera and an electrically opening tailgate.

Hardly any empty buttons

Toyota is actually rarely generous when it comes to the equipment of the basic versions. With the GR86, the fork is different, because to start with, as a driver you always look at a leather-covered multifunction steering wheel and a 7-inch digital instrumentation. Further to the center is an 8-inch touchscreen on which Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can run. The audio system has six speakers. Furthermore, the GR86 has standard climate control with two zones, heated seats and cruise control on board.

Toyota GR86

The seats of the GT86 Pure are covered with black fabric. If you go for the Premium, you get seats that are upholstered in a combination of leather and suede. You also get a leather-covered shift knob and aluminum pedals. Other things that Toyota includes on the Premium are parking sensors, a blind spot assistant, adaptive LED headlights and the aforementioned 18-inch alloy wheels. Adaptive cruise control, high beam assistant and Lane Keeping Assist are reserved for the Premium with automatic transmission. Toyota does not offer separate options for every trim level, so as a customer you are bound by the composition of Toyota.

All in all, the GR86 is a well-equipped car as standard, but the bpm unfortunately kills him somewhat here in the Netherlands. This is especially apparent from the fact that in our country you can also place an order for the 258 hp GR Supra with four-cylinder turbo for €65,995. That price difference is so small that you have to really love the GR86 to go for that …