2023 Toyota GR86 GTS Road/Track Review | Still the budget sports car king?

It’s been a long wait for the new Toyota GR86, with the first generation of Toyota’s budget sports car arriving way back in 2012.

While it deservedly won plenty of plaudits and buyers, with more than 22,000 sold, it certainly wasn’t perfect – especially when it came to the 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer engine.

With a bigger engine, more power, a nicer interior a stiffer chassis with more grip, the new GR86 effectively fixes all its predecessor’s shortcomings in one fell swoop.

There’s only one problem, but you’ll need to watch the video to find out what it is.

Fast Forward
00:00 Intro
00:43 Pricing and specs
02:38 Interior review
03:41 Infotainment & safety
04:08 Passenger & Luggage space
04:53 On the road
07:35 Track test
11:50 Verdict

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[mattd]

Great review and it’s good to see an Australian journalist test the driving dynamics on the track

[phlthyvision]

I cant believe you can talk your way through the car while driving like that. Really good driving!

[ianstone]

My BRZ is the greatest purchase I ever made. love these cars

[wrxsti]

This is the best drifting I’ve ever seen lol. Great job buddy!!

[Aladdincave]

How is the BRZ more exclusive? Should be the other way around as the GR86 is notoriously hard to get hold of.

[waggaclint]

Great video best car jorno in Australia IMO 👍

[beeraiii]

If only we weren't given the run around by Toyota, I know 9 people who have gotten the BRZ due to the frankness and realistic sales process of Subaru. The GR86 were all of our original picks but the BRZ has grown on all of us and haven't looked back. I'm about to place an order on my own sometime soon. Cool cars nevertheless.

[Bodangers]

I love my BRZ. Best fun coupe as a daily driver

[Mexxx]

Good review of the GR86/BRZ twins Scott! Keep up the good work!

[colinyssel]

Nice review and great job on the track that looked beautiful sliding around the corners on the track

[mimo]

Own a 2014 BRZ from new and still love it to bits. Its an Auto, but the paddles and sports mode is fun. As for acceleration, one of the first mods was to change the final drive ratio to a Cusco 4.556 making every gear around 13% faster. Dropped ride 2 inches on Tein suspension with their active damping system. It adjusts each corner on the fly and firms up the faster you go. Can fully adjust it from the drivers seat. Rides well and is so planted that I just about never see the ABS trigger, even when the back slides a little. This little guy is a life long keeper for me, though it would be fun trying out the new one.

Nice short, but well focused review of the new one and yes I agree, go the Subaru.

[sideturn]

If the gr86 is the newest version of the ae86 which is a Corolla, doesn’t that mean that the gt86 and the gr86 are corolla’s as well

[DKH]

I went for the BRZ because of the price difference. BRZ also includes a full size spare Tyre. I wanted the Apollo blue but Toyota no longer offering that and so my decision was much easier.

[kneevie]

I'm probably one of the few weirdos who doesn't mind it, but I've had my gr86 for about 3 weeks now and honestly do not mind the fake noise I almost enjoy it but that may be bc I just don't know any better lol I'm 36 and waited ever since my first car to get some sporty and nice looking and I could not be happier w this car. Just driving around hearing that so7nd in high rpms just puts a smile on my face like no other. I really need to try unplugging the sound thing and give it a comparison just for the sake of it but oddly rhe fake engine so8nds haven't been bothering me

[LAURA-ozls]

Would have wanted one if were 30 years younger.

[udeshhhhhh]

Can we please see a back to back comparison between BRZ and GR86? They do have some suspension and handling changes along with different engine tunes so will be interesting to see if it's worth paying extra for the Toyota in Aus..

[jasonal]

I’ve driven both and the GR86 has significantly better suspension to be a much more fun car than the BRZ. The BRZ tends to be more inclined to understeer where the GR86 tends more to oversteer. For my money it’s definitely the GR86 and worth the few extra thousand.

[originalrugsta]

Great to know where this track is. Looks like fun.

[electricdiesel]

A CH-R 1.2 turbo and the economical Corolla’s 1.8 hybrid motor will be affordable.

[gshaw]

After waiting 5 months I finally Got my new 86. $51k but no Sat nav. Yes it has apple car play but I live in regional Australia so phone navigation drops out all the time as soon as I get out of metro area. My previous Toyota 86 2017 model had no such issues and that Sat always worked brilliant. Tell me another model car that doesn’t have Sat nav let alone a car costing north of $50k. Most people won’t realise that a mobile phone is much less effective than a factory Sat nav. And don’t get me started on the safety issues and legal issues if you touch your phone whilst driving. The Screen is very small too. Apart from that it’s a great car but come on toyota…….not including Sat nav is going backwards.