The second-generation Toyota GR 86 is due for the 2022 model year, and although it’s completely new, it follows the same rear-wheel-drive formula as the first-gen car. Developed again in conjunction with the Subaru BRZ, the 2022 GR 86 will be powered by a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine and a standard six-speed manual transmission. This time around, Toyota has addressed our principal complaint with the last generation and has given the GR 86 more horsepower for 2022. The new model is powered by a 2.4-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that makes 228 horsepower, which is 23 hp more than the outgoing model’s 2.0-liter mill.
After skipping the 2021 model year, the Toyota GR 86 is relaunching as a 2022 model after a full redesign.
Toyota hasn’t released official pricing, but says the GR 86 will start under $30,000 when it goes on sale. The upgraded Premium model offers a host of compelling standard equipment, including 18-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, leather upholstery, a rear spoiler, and aluminum pedal covers.
Like the first-generation model, the 2022 GR 86 comes with a naturally aspirated horizontally opposed four-cylinder provided by Subaru. Acceleration was decently brisk in the outgoing model at 6.2 seconds to 60 mph, but the 2022 model should be slightly quicker thanks to a more powerful 2.4-liter engine that makes 228 horsepower. A six-speed manual continues to serve as the GR 86’s standard transmission, while a six-speed automatic is optional. During our first test drive, we noted that the more powerful engine felt livelier and sounds better while the car’s razor-sharp handling provided thrills both on the road and on the Monticello Motor Club race track. Despite the car’s handling prowess, the suspension is forgiving enough to work as a daily driver. When we get a chance to test the new GR 86 and its twin, the Subaru BRZ, we’ll update this story with test results.
The 2022 86 hasn’t received fuel-economy estimates from the EPA, but the last generation earned ratings of 24 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined when equipped with the six-speed automatic. The manual model didn’t fare nearly as well. When we get a chance to put the new model through our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test, we will update this story with results. For more information about the 86’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
The 2022 GR 86 retains the relative size and shape of the outgoing model. The GR 86 and the Subaru BRZ are unique in the affordable sports-car market as the only two that offer seating for four. Not that the rear seats are all that comfortable or spacious, but they’re nice to have. The Subaru and Toyota models appear to share their interiors, save for some changes on the dashboard surrounding the infotainment display.
An 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard for 2022, replacing the last-generation car’s smaller 7.0-inch display; the GR 86 also comes with a 7.0-inch digital gauge display that is reconfigurable with Normal, Sport, and Track modes. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability are both standard, and all models come with SiriusXM satellite radio with a free three-month trial. The base model comes with a six-speaker stereo, but the upgraded Premium trim comes with an eight-speaker setup.
The outgoing 86 offered little in the way of driver-assistance features. Toyota provides a suite of safety technologies on the 2022 model, but only when the GR 86 is equipped with its optional automatic transmission. For more information about the GR 86’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features are likely to include:
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