The Toyota 86 has some flaws.
Toyota’s joint-venture sport car developed in partnership with Subaru has been on sale for seven years now. Apart from its name, not much about the car has changed in that time frame. It has a classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout that endears it to enthusiasts, but has it held up to the test of time? In this video, Tommy dives in to see whether the 2019 Toyota 86 is a full-on sports car, or if it has some flaws.
It’s worth noting as well that this is the Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition. For 2019, Toyota brought out this special model with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires on new 18-inch wheels. Beyond that, the car has Sachs dampers and Brembo brakes, like the Subaru BRZ Limited Performance package. Unique to the 86, though, are a new rear bumper, stainless steel exhaust tips, a TRD catback exhaust.
All 1,418 examples of the 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition come in Raven Black, and feature yellow, orange and red TRD decals throughout the car’s exterior and interior. Unlike the standard 86, this model also comes exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission.
Performance
Under the hood, you still get the same 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine. Given the joint venture, the 86 brings in Subaru’s flat-four design with the addition of Toyota’s D-4S multipoint injection system. On the recommended premium fuel, it puts out 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque.
In that lies the first issue with the 2019 Toyota 86: It needs more power. At least, it could use some more torque. You have to rev it to the limit to make any substantial progress, and it tends to drone while cruising on the highway. The dampers also make the ride incredibly firm, which makes the car difficult to live with on a daily basis.
Is it a fun car to drive? It is a fun car, but so is the Honda Civic Type R. For around $3,000 over the Toyota 86’s $33,400 asking price, you could get a car that’s faster, more practical, and more comfortable to live with as a long-term vehicle.
