Toyota 86 Review: A Sports Car for Everyone?

If we are to believe all the marketing surrounding the Toyota 86, this is a car for everyone, a true sports car that will serve your daily needs as well.

Well, we have test-driven the car, and it's definitely not the car for everyone. But then the sales figures come up. There is a 6-month waiting list in UAE, and owner clubs are sprouting everywhere!

Which is why we decided to wait until the dust settles a bit, then drive this car with a cool head and make an honest appraisal of what this car is and what it's not.

Looks

So who can deny the stunning good looks here? It's the sexiest thing to come out of Toyota since the Supra.

The attractive style definitely makes a personal statement. The large low-set under grille and the sleek bending of the car's fenders reinforce the sports car feel.

The low setting of the car and its curves combine to make the Toyota 86's driving performance accelerated and aerodynamic. Slim front pillars have also been designed to enhance visibility when driving around corners.

An additional aesthetic feature that you can have added to the Toyota 86 is a rear spoiler, which not only reduces the car's drag when driving but also provides an added sports car luxe feel.

Interior

If you're looking for plush comfy seats with steering wheel controls because you're too lazy to use the stereo controls, this car is not for you.

Who needs plush when you're a young, physically fit college student without a wife and twin kids?! Yours truly is a big family guy much more suited to a Toyota Camry than the Toyota 86. Having said that, I felt like a young, single college student when I sat in this car. It has an amazing sporty look inside with minimal controls that say more about the sporty ruggedness of the situation than anything else.

For the Toyota 86's interior, you can choose from fabric or leather upholstery, and colour schemes are available in a limited choice of black, or black and red combinations.

The seats look great but they weren't the most comfortable to sit in, and they took a bit of time to get used to.

Back seats? Two, if you're 4 years old. For adults, this is a two-seater, remember?

Also, forget about fitting the baby stroller in the boot. We don't think you will fit your golf clubs in here!

The Toyota 86, like most sports cars, does not offer drivers much room for storage; this definitely is not a car for keen golfers or dads with baby strollers. The boot measures 81cm with the back seats up and when put down, the length reaches 1.4m. But you would expect so little room with a sports car of this size.

Performance

So how does this sporty number handle the road?

We found the Toyota 86 a fun and lively drive with great acceleration, but we felt that this model lacks some sort of excitement that other sports cars offer. Although this sexy little number might look like a performance car, it doesn't drive like one.

The Toyota 86's maximum driving speed capability is 210 km/h, and a 0-100 km/h speed of 8.2 seconds on the automatic model is a far cry from a performance car, such as the Audi R8, which has an average top speed of 339 km/h and does 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds; that's half the time. But then again, they also probably cost twice the price, meaning you get what you pay for.

With a six-speed gearbox, the Toyota 86 also has added snow and sport modes, allowing you to tailor your drive for either direct acceleration or more traction when driving on snow-covered or slippery surfaces.

The combination of a MacPherson strut front wheel suspension and rear double wishbone suspension complements the low design of the Toyota 86 and gives the car maximum grip, whilst maintaining a smooth EPS power steering response.

Verdict

This is a fun, sporty car, great for college students, bachelors, and young couples with no luggage responsibilities.

For the price of 100,000 AED, you get a lot of car for your money. The Toyota 86 is a great entry-level car for those who love to show off their latest ride. For dads and family guys, just dream about it and buy a Toyota Camry!