We love cars. Actually, we love all kinds of cars. But ones that makes us smile the most are small, rear-wheel drive coupes and convertibles designed for the purpose of driving fun. And we don’t mind a bargain, either. Throw those altogether in the mix, and you get a surprisingly small list. 1. The Mazda Miata. And 2 (or 2-3) the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ twins.
And another thing we love – the manufacturers here could pretty much sit back on their laurels and sell these great cars without bothering to touch ‘em. But they don’t. Mazda and Toyota/Subaru (Toybaru?) consistently improve their sports cars to make them even more desirable.
So now we have the new-for-2025 GR86 Hakone special edition (there was a Hakone on the previous chassis model in 2020) and it’s not only good looking but also has some special performance bits to make it even better. In fact, Toyota is spreading the love to all GR86 models for ’25.
Go ahead, twist our arms – make us test the 2025 GR86!
Green to cause Envy
Paying tribute to the Hakone Turnpike in Japan – not far from Tokyo – the first thing that captures your eye about our tester is the unique Ridge Green exterior color – a deep rich tone that looks classy and upscale. If you like it, move fast, Toyota says only 860 of them will be brought to the US!
That green is applied to one of the sportiest, low slung sport machines on the market.
Up front is aggressive, with swoosh-style LED running lights underscoring LED headlights. The large front mesh grille looks purposeful, with side vertical grilles give added airflow to the mechanical bits. The perfect finishing touch is the small GR badge in the upper left corner of the grille.
It’s hard to tell how low-slung the GR86 is – that horizontally-opposed Subaru 4-cylinder makes for an incredibly low hood line. Pulling up next to a first-gen Miata, we actually found ourselves looking up at it!
The profile continues the taut, aggressive looks with minimal overhangs, a tight coupe greenhouse, and muscular fender flares, with functional vents behind the front wheels and a small aero fin behind the rear wheel for added stability. The most notable part of our tester’s side view were the 18-inch wheels finished off in a beautiful satin bronze, a perfect frame for the red Brembo brake calipers poking out front and rear.
The rear helps sell the wide, low muscular look, with an integrated ducktail spoiler at the top, boomerang LED brake lights, a tasteful Hakone badge, and serious-looking dual exhaust pipes setting below a contrasting lower fascia.
An interesting side note – we had more than passerby ask if our tester was the new Supra – not bad to have a family resemblance with one of the hottest sports cars in the market place!
A True Cockpit
Inside is clearly designed for driving.
But first, you must get in, and let’s just point out that the GR86 sits low. Most people will feel like they’re lowering themselves in, and finally at a certain point you just kind of fall in the rest of the way.
Once you make that trip, the GR is surprisingly comfortable. It starts with deep sport seats that are firm, supportive and well-shaped. And thanks to the 2+2 design, taller drivers can even get the seat far enough back that they’re comfortable – much more so than something like the Mazda Miata.
The interior also gets a nice lift being a Hakone edition, with Ultrasuede sport seats features a gorgeous contrasting tan leather trim and stitching. A Hakone special edition shift knob and GR special edition plaque adds to the feeling that you’re in something special.
From that supportive driver’s seat, you find a thick leather wrapped wheel, stubby shift lever, and surprise to some – even an honest to goodness parking brake lever – all the better to Hoon about!
There’s a cool digital dash that adjusts for Normal, Sport and Track driving mode. Put it in Track and you get a linear style tach readout that’s quicker to read at a glance. We honestly like the standard display with a 9,000-rpm tach dead center with a digital speedo in the middle. We also like the adjustable side display, and we kept ours on the G-Meter, which is just fun, fun, fun whether you’re checking out braking, acceleration or cornering!
There’s a nicely sized 8-inch touchscreen for info-tainment duties, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Sirius XM. All pumping through a fine-sounding 8-speaker audio system. This is a loud cabin to be sure, so the extra punch of the audio system is appreciated.
Also appreciated are a simple digital controls for the climate control, with toggle-like flip switches below for things like defroster and mode. Simple and straightforward – just the way we like it!
While Toyota and Subaru market these cars a 4-seaters, the rear seat will not hold an adult or ever a larger kid. Small child, dog, or cat is about it. The good news is the rear seat folds down and creates a long, wide and low cargo space – Toyota says it was designed to let you bring a set of spare wheels & tires, plus a jack to the track. Excellent!
Track-inspired Goodness
When someone asks why you love cars, let them have a drive in a GR86 – it could convert the blandest commuter into a full-fledged car crazy!
Under that low hood is a Subaru “Boxer” 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder providing a strong 228 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft of torque. This engine is a thrill – it starts with a loud “whump” and has a deep throaty gargle when cold. As it warms it calms down to a warm purr that feels sporty, but not obnoxious. And it loves to rev.
Our tester was equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, and while the ultimate enthusiast would probably want the slick-shifting manual, this is a driver’s automatic with super-quick responses, and it loves to be shifted at the redline. Paddle shifters add to the Formula One fun.
We guess 0-60 mph in the high 5-second range, plenty quick for the real world, but not so fast that you can’t give it the boot once in a while and enjoy the power. Another plus of the automatic, the gearing makes it quieter on freeway – and it’s noticeable, our previous manual tester was bordering on uncomfortable for longer journeys. And of course, if you spend a lot of time in stop-and-go, the auto is just that much more pleasant. Either transmission is a great choice.
While the Hakone is no different engine-wise, it does enjoy an upgrade in running gear with Sach dampers and larger diameter Brembo brakes. This is on top of what is already a great chassis, that loves to change directions with a tug of the wheel, serves up impressive grip, and talks to you through the steering wheel and seat. It feels alive, and it just makes you grin.
The Sach and Brembo bits would probably really show their mettle on a test track, but we found the ride compliant and braking superb in the real world, as well. There’s even good news is you opt for a non-Hakone model – you can get a Performance Package with the same shocks and brakes. And the icing on the cake, Toyota has retuned the suspension, steering and engine response for all GR86 models for 2025. Win-win!
How Much Hakone?
There’s even great news in the pricing department. A basic GR86 starts at just $30,000 – for a car with such great performance and everyday livability that’s a bargain. And while they’ll only be 860 Hakone models made; Toyota isn’t soaking you for it. The green to go green (as it were) starts at $35,270. Adding the automatic transmission is $1,100, and $1,135 for Destination rings the bell at $37,505.
The GR’s twin, the Subaru BRZ is a direct competitor. It looks slightly different, and Subaru tunes the chassis to be a little different as well. There’s a catch though, if you want the TS which is a performance upgrade like the Hakone, it’s only available with a stick. If you want an automatic, you’ll have to opt for the lower Premium trim, at $35,880. We say try both and see which one talks to you.
The smaller, but equally fun retractable roof Mazda Miata comes in at $40,300. If you want a roadster the Mazda wins – but if you don’t, we think the everyday usability of the GR86 makes it much easier to have as your only car.
Great performance, great value, and the cool looks of the Hakone edition make the 2025 Toyota GR86 the perfect sports car you can enjoy every day!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.