It’s not often that improvements bring out the best in an automobile, but in the case of the 2023 Toyota GR86, it was exactly what the doctor ordered. The 2022 model gave the model more power and also made some revisions to the exterior and the interior which resulted in a noticeable transformation. But does it have long-term staying power? We wanted to find out.
GR86 & BRZ Siblings To The End
Both the 2023 GR86 and its Subaru cousin the BRZ were designed to appeal to budget-focused performance buyers and that’s evident in the exterior styling with designers focusing on giving the two looks that combine boldness with subtle pinches of freshness. While this means that the pair are pretty much cookie-cutter clones of each other (especially when you look at the identical rear fascias) the Toyota does have minor visual differences that make it stand out from its slightly more upscale sibling.
Premium models get 18-inch matte black wheels and a color-matching rear spoiler with the latter being a welcome accent to go along with our tester’s bright blue paintwork. With 2023 largely being focused on adding a limited production 10th-anniversary model to the lineup, the interior carries over virtually unchanged with the cabin in our tester featuring an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and supportive sport bucket seats with suede inserts.
The GR86 is also one of the few in its segment to get rear passenger seats but these seats are far from comfortable and are best used to help expand cargo space by folding them down (you have to fit the full set of track day tires back there somehow. The interior also lets in alot of road and tire noise but we’ll give that a pass since you hear more of the exhaust note.
More Power Is Always Good
A major update that made waves back in 2022 was the enhanced 2.4-liter flat-four which got revisions that allowed it to make 228-hp. The engine still delivers the goods in long-term exposure and while a six-speed automatic is available (if you must…) we suggest sticking with the standard six-speed manual. Unlike the stick in the bigger Subaru WRX, the linkage and the clutch were not made by Four Loko-deprived cavemen and we really like how precise the shifter is when rowing through the gears. It also doesn’t hurt either that the enhanced torque figure provides a longer leash for rapid shifts in congested traffic.
Handling here is reminiscent of an older MINI Cooper and while it’s not a rolling slot car like older Lotus Elise models, we think that the majority of drivers will still be pleased with the amount of handling baked into the platform. That’s especially true of the suspension which is firm enough for spirited driving but still forgiving just enough for the grind of the daily commute. Toyota doesn’t highlight the fuel economy in the GR86’s marketing material but for those that are curious, the EPA says that a manual example like our tester can achieve 20/27/22 mpg in city/freeway/combined driving. The automatic does slightly better in the same categories at 21/31/22 mpg.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2023 Toyota GR86 starts at $29,945 for the base model with a Premium like our example starting at a higher $32,095. Our example arrived with some minor extras which caused the price to go over the $33,000 barrier. Meanwhile, the temporary range-topper of the family is the 10th Anniversary model which starts at $35,880 but will have a limited production run before it ends its time at Toyota showrooms.
While the 2023 Toyota GR86 does ask its owners to make sacrifices in comfort, versatility, and outright practicality. We think it’s a worthy trade-off since the car is still one of the best performance bargains in the segment today. That’s more important than ever with the muscle car wars shifting into a new gear with the Challenger and Camaro exiting the arena. The exits of these two offerings will allow the GR86 to snatch up more customers especially those that wanted one but needed a smaller engine and better fuel economy.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.