2017 Toyota 86 GT REVIEW – Minor Updates for Toyota’s Driver-Focused Coupe
Five years following its release and the 2017 Toyota 86 GT continues to stand out like nothing else from the Japanese brand.
This first facelift for the Subaru-built, Toyota-engineered rear-wheel drive coupe is perhaps now more of an oddity than before, too, given its engineering-led changes.
The 86 gets new LED headlights and tail-lights on the outside, but it missed the infotainment and active safety system updates that filter in among other updated Toyotas. Instead it scores a more rigid body, revised suspension settings, a new Track electronic stability control (ESC) mode and a slight increase in power.
It all sounds on-point for a pointy-sharp coupe. But is it all for the better?
Vehicle Style: Sports coupe
Price: $30,790 (plus on-roads) approx.
Engine/trans: 152kW/212Nm 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol | 6sp manual or automatic
Fuel Economy Claimed: 7.8 l/100km | Tested: 8.3 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Jaws dropped when Toyota in 2012 revived the rear-drive compact two-door coupe segment with a $29,990 plus on-road costs sticker for its 86 GT.
The same entry-level model grade tested here now asks $30,790 (plus orc), but it adds a touchscreen audio and reverse-view camera compared with before.