Manual vs. Automatic 2022 GR 86 Premium - POV Comparison

2022 GR 86 Specifications & Info:
6-Speed Manual Transmission or 6-Speed Automatic
Horsepower:
228 hp @ 7,000 rpm (SAE NET)
Torque: 184 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm
2.4-liter, 4-cylinder, boxer, aluminum alloy block and head. DOHC 4-valves per cylinder with Dual Variable Valve Timing
Bore x Stroke: 94 x 86 mm
Compression Ratio: 12.5:1
Fuel System: D-4S (Direct and Sequential Port Injection)
Required Fuel: Premium Fuel
Estimated Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined MPG): 19/26/21 (6-Speed M/T) 20/30/24 (6-Speed A/T)

Suspension:
Front - independent MacPherson strut
Rear - independent double wishbone style multi-link rear suspension
Stabilizer Bar - Diameter: 18.3 mm/14 mm (front/rear)
Electric Power Steering (EPS)
- Overall Ratio 13.5
- Turns (lock-to-lock) 2.5
-
Turning Circle Diameter:
35.4 ft. (curb-to-curb)
Brakes -
Power-Assisted Ventilated Disc
-
Front Diameter: 11.6 in.
Rear Diameter:
11.4 in.
Wheel Size:
GR 86: 17 x 7.5 in /
GR 86 Premium : 18 x 7.5

Tire Size:
GR 86: 215/45 R17 / GR 86 Premium: 215/40 R18
Tire Type:
GR 86: Michelin Primacy HP / GR 86 Premium: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Spare Tire/Wheel:
None (Tire Repair Kit)

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 101.4 in.
Overall Length: 167.9 in.
Overall Width: 69.9 in.
Overall Height: 51.6 in.
Width: Front/Rear 59.8/61.0 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.1 in.
Coefficient of Drag: 0.276
INTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Seating Capacity - 4
Headroom, Front/Rear:
37.0/33.5 in.
Legroom, Front/Rear:
41.5/29.9 in.
Shoulder Room, Front/Rear:
53.6/51.7 in.
EPA Passenger Volume:
77.19 cu. ft.
Cargo Volume (Trunk): 6.26 cu. ft.

WEIGHTS AND CAPACITIES:
Curb Weight: Base MT – 2,811 lbs.;
Premium MT – 2,833 lbs.
Base AT – 2,851 lbs.;
Premium AT – 2,868 lbs.
Fuel Capacity - 13.2 gal.
Engine Oil Capacity - 6.2 quarts
Engine Oil w/Filter Change: 5.1-5.3 quarts

GR 86 PREMIUM STANDARD EXTERIOR FEATURES
• Duckbill Rear Spoiler
• LED Headlights with Adaptive Front Lighting
• 18 x 7.5-in. 10-spoke alloy wheels
• Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires (sized 215/40R18 85Y)
• 11.6-/11.4-in. front/rear brakes

STANDARD INTERIOR FEATURES
• Black and silver-trimmed telescoping steering wheel with red contrast stitching
• Black and silver-trimmed heated sport bucket seats with side bolsters
• Parking brake and leather cover with silver contrast stitching
• Ultrasuede door upper and armrest with synthetic leather door accents
• Leather gearshift boot with red or silver contrast stitching
• Aluminum sport pedals and scuff plates

GR 86 PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM
• 8 in. touch-screen display, AM/FM player, 8 speakers, auxiliary audio jack, USB 2.0 port with iPod® connectivity and control, voice recognition with voice training, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, HD Radio™, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and steering wheel audio controls.

BASIC LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE
• 3-year/36,000-mile Comprehensive
• 5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain
• 5-year/Unlimited-mileage Corrosion Protection
• ToyotaCare – Complimentary maintenance plan with the purchase or lease of every new Toyota. For 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, every new Toyota will be covered for all normal factory scheduled service, as well as 24/7 roadside assistance.

0:00 Manual
3:23 Automatic
6:57 Final Thoughts

The audio in this video was recorded with in-ear binaural microphones, headphones are highly recommended!

Here's the equipment I use (with affiliate links):

I'm also the producer for the Winding Road YouTube Channel:

Thanks for watching!

[stevePDx]

For everyone who's worried or afraid of manual, honestly just go for it. It's so much fun. I've recently bought a manual for the first time after driving auto for nearly 15 years. It only took me a few days to build muscle memory and it's the best decision I've made, driving wise. So much more engaging!

[mpa]

Getting denied with those downshifts in the automatic is truly a painful sight.

[bobbyc]

Getting stuck in a hour long traffic jam made me see the value of the automatic. The stick is only fun to drive in a world without bumper to bumper traffic.

[TheDiskinsDoEverything]

There are lots of good reasons to buy the Automatic like I did. 1. You have an injury that doesn’t allow you to drive a manual 2. Your wife will let you buy it and auto let’s her drive it too 3. Plan to take on long trips and all the goodies are a huge plus 4. Stop and go traffic is a major part of your life 5. It’s still awesome! I have a 2019 BRZ Manual that is tuned and all of that. I bought an Automatic BRZ 2023 yesterday and it is everything I need it to be. Fun, fast enough and the shifts are clean and sport mode is aggressive. Shift with the manual stick mode is better than the paddles and just as good of a launch as my manual BRZ. F all the noise about the Automatic being shit. Car people don’t get that none of us have ever had a Porsche or Supra, you won’t notice. It’s a 30, 000 car!

[itzkrm]

Love the 86 reviews. Can’t wait to see you driving the BRZ.

[SirenS]

Just drove a manual for the first time today. The most funnest and interesting moment of my life lmao. So much stalling but was still having fun. I daily a v6 automatic Mustang, and it was a WRX manual that I drove

[smilepermile]

When TheTopher uploads a POV video on a Toyobaru and MX-5, I instantly press like and comment for the algorithm ;)

[Blight-fpvt]

great way to keep the content comming!

[PipoLipo]

Definitely the manual is better for track work (unless it’s a Porsche PDK), however people usually need these cars to drive in a lot of heavy traffic so a manual is a massive pain in the arse.

[jonathanpruitt]

I can guarantee a million views to the first video that disconnects the artificial engine sound speaker and records a lap with the natural engine sound

[EctoPlasmic]

Definitely make a beginner's tutorial for MT! Also show us how you drive around town and different situations like start-stop in traffic, hill starts etc etc. I've watched your heel toe tutorial and it is awesome, just missing the basics now! I'll be one of those people who will be getting the GR 86 in MT who has driven automatic for years and just now switching to MT and I'm sure I won't be the last one. Also do you think Toyota will upgrade the manual dash a bit, mostly because when you shift, the gears definitely come on late.

[yusuf]

The GR86 Premium was ny first car ive ever owned. I learned manual on it. I dont regret it AT ALL. Its an amazing car. Im loving every second of it. No need to be afraid or manual.

[MRXX]

Looking forward to your comparison with the BRZ!

[scottchandler]

It doesn’t look like you had it in Sport mode. In Sport mode it down shifts when breaking and holds the gears longer. Track mode doesn’t automatically engage sport mode. The 2022 transmission is leaps and bounds better than the 2020.

[jordycruz]

I’m 6’3 and the auto is so much more comfortable cause that empty area where the clutch would be makes a world of a difference on where I can put my left foot to rest. The auto gr86 was more fun than I thought, just not sure if I would trade for my sti

[Klawz_AU]

That Hakune facelift 86 though off to the side🤤.. Love the green and bronze

[alannguyen]

That correction at 4:32 was beautiful!

[WITHAUTO]

I actually wanted to buy an automatic GR86, but in Korea, the GR86 is only sold as a manual model and does not have an automatic model, so I bought the manual model.
But after watching this video, I can be sure that I made a really good choice.
It is cruel that Toyota requires downshifting to 4, 000 rpm.
In fact, the rpm allows for 2-speed shifting in a manual mode.

[yasuologitech]

Subscribed, tks for the video, enjoyed it thoroughly

[nikolaiiaksenov]

Atleast with the automatic GT86, you need to have it in sport mode if you are going to use it on track. Track mode doesn’t actually do much or anything at all to the transmission. Put it in sport mode and it is completely different. Something that was killing the experience for you was that it wouldn’t hold the rpms. Put it in sport mode, and it won’t do that. Seems sluggish only Because you had the transmission in regular drive mode. Sport drive mode wakes it up much so much more. Great video and keep up the good work!