Loads of enjoyable, for those who toss your EZPass

2026 Toyota GR86 Premium: As enjoyable because it seems to be?

Price: $38,809 as examined. Black twin exhaust added $1,700; Performance Package, $1,500; fancy paint, $475; ground mats, $299.

What others are saying: “Highs: Genuinely rewarding to drive, one of the last manuals available, remarkably affordable. Lows: Noisy cabin on the interstate, we dare you to sit in the back, unexciting exhaust note,” says Car and Driver.

What Toyota is saying: “Level up your drive.”

Reality: Even funner, ‘til you get on the highway.

What’s new: The GR86 will get a brand new Yuzu Edition for 2026, with yellow paint and black seats. Otherwise it’s just about as earlier than, since its redesign in 2022.

It’s a twin to the Subaru BRZ.

Competition: In addition to the Subaru, there are the BMW 2 Series, Honda Civic Si, Mazda Miata, Mini Cooper, and Volkswagen GTI.

Up to hurry: The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes 228 horsepower and will get the little sports activities automotive to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, says Car and Driver, and I imagine it. I’d suppose it’s just a little quicker, however we’ll persist with the information.

It’s really a sporty automotive to drive. It’s positive for passing on Interstate highways and such however it’s actually at residence on the again roads, racing up hills and again down once more.

Shifty: You can get a GR86 with a stick, however Mr. Driver’s Seat didn’t. The six-speed automated transmission is a pleasant facsimile, with Park up in the correct nook so it seems to be prefer it COULD be a stick. I really spent a pair seconds in search of a clutch till I spotted there wasn’t one.

The shifter then snakes by Reverse and Neutral to get to Drive, one other little bit of stick-shift cosplay.

The guide setting works properly, and actually makes the little automotive even that rather more enjoyable. Use the lever to reinforce the engine’s energy for any nation highway antics and also you’ll really feel properly rewarded.

On the highway: Did somebody say enjoyable? The rear-drive GR86 has loads of it, snaking by turns and sliding round corners even at pretty low speeds, so you possibly can really feel prefer it’s a blast even when not going a lot past 40 or 45 mph — though quicker is funner.

Less enjoyable is the time spent on the freeway; I discovered myself getting a little bit of a headache throughout half-hour journeys on Route 202 between King of Prussia and West Chester.

Off the highway, the GR86 is nice companion for tight parking tons, because of a turning radius of 35 ft and alter.

Driver’s seat: The fabric seats supply nice help and are comfy sufficient. They really feel agency and just a little crowded, so some individuals won’t respect the large wings. The Lovely Mrs. Passenger Seat discovered them as good as I did.

The guide controls alter top, fore-aft, and backrest merely.

The gauges and steering wheel controls are old school, trying like last-gen Lexus dials, however I name old school a great factor today.

Friends and stuff: There’s a rear seat however it’s fairly merciless. Guests would have been harmed within the making of this overview.

I lastly construct up the nerve to strive it out on Day 6. The ceiling is so low that I needed to cant my head to the aspect. Foot room and legroom look unattainable, however I might really get my legs in there by setting the entrance seat a couple of notches up from regular. But once I did that and tried out the entrance, my legs have been extra cramped than on a Frontier flight.

I might say solely put children within the again. Or possibly child, singular.

Cargo area is 6.26 cubic ft. (I didn’t spherical it since you’ll want each .01 dice.) The seat folds (multi functional complicated-to-open piece) to create extra baggage area.

In and out: In and ouch. It’s means down there and requires a little bit of undignified squatting, twisting, ducking, and scooching.

Play some tunes: Sad. Tinny. Sound will get a C grade, in all probability one of many lowest I’ve ever assigned.

Last-gen controls. You undoubtedly received’t be distracted enjoying round with the touchscreen, although there’s one, as a result of it’s 2026 and I believe it’s legislation now or one thing.

Keeping heat and funky: The heater controls function dials for temperature and fan velocity and buttons contained in the dials for blower alternative. It’s such a small automotive that it runs scorching; the seat heaters supply good help when it’s not too chilly out, however the switches are awkwardly constructed into the armrest.

Fuel economic system: I averaged about 26 mpg in spirited drives round Chester County’s previous nation roads each likelihood I might get. I might really park and await sure roads to clear after which go benefit from the exhaust word. I suppose the twin exhausts are price $1,700.

Where it’s constructed: Ota, Gunma, Japan

How it’s constructed: Consumer Reports predicts the GR86 reliability is a 4 out of 5.

In the tip: Definitely a number of pleasure available right here, and I might get behind shopping for a GR86. But with the Mini Cooper and Volkswagen GTI, you get enjoyable and a few practicality as properly, plus the delight doesn’t diminish at freeway speeds.