Big price hike for new Toyota GR 86

Toyota Australia has announced pricing and specification details for the all-new 2022 Toyota GR 86, but if you were hoping for another circa-$30K sports car bargain – or a five-star safety rating – you’re going to be disappointed.

Pricing for the second-generation rear-drive sports coupe now starts at $43,240 plus on-road costs for the entry-level GT, representing an increase of $11,060 – or more than a whopping 30 per cent – over the outgoing 2021 model (from $32,180).

The flagship 2022 Toyota GR 86 GTS is now priced at $45,390 plus ORCs – an increase of just over $8000 on its predecessor – at the top of the new two-grade model range.

When it was launched a decade ago, the original Toyota 86 arrived with a bargain-basement $29,990 starting price that redefined the affordable rear-drive sports car genre and quickly helped make it Australia’s top-selling sports car.

The new Toyota GR 86, as it's now known, packs more firepower courtesy of a bigger – but still naturally aspirated – 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer engine (174kW/250Nm) to replace the outgoing model’s 2.0-litre mill (147kW/205Nm).

But the higher price means it’s no longer the most affordable two-door rear-drive sports car available in Australia, even if Toyota insists “…the new GR86 sets the benchmark in value-for-money sports cars” due to enhancements in performance, dynamics, technology and design.

The Mazda MX-5 (from $37,990) and the GR 86’s almost identical twin, the Subaru BRZ ($40,290), are both cheaper and the larger, faster Ford Mustang ($52,590) isn’t too much of a stretch now either.

For reference, the new Nissan Z (from $73,300) and Toyota Supra ($86,494) are further up the rear-drive sports coupe pecking order.

Pricing for the 2023 Toyota GR 86 was announced on the day of the national media launch at the Phillip Island GP circuit, where the six-speed manual versions will be in high demand.

Yet the manual gearbox is no longer a cheaper alternative to the two-pedal automatic, with Toyota attaching the exact same prices to both manual and auto versions of the GR 86.

Manual models also miss out on crucial safety systems including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and popular features like adaptive cruise control and rear parking sensors.

Despite the stratospheric price increases and lack of a discount for manual lovers, it’s likely that the more powerful new Toyota GR 86 will sell out quick-smart, given that only 1100 vehicles will be shipped to Australia in 2022.

The 2022 Toyota GR 86 brings improved equipment levels, with both variants fitted with a bigger 8.0-inch central touch-screen with digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

This is joined by a customisable 7.0-inch colour LCD digital driver’s display with unique visuals plus timing and circuit data when set to Track Mode.

Both GR 86 GT and GTS get a six-speaker stereo that delivers fake engine sounds (Active Sound Control in Toyota-lingo). Cloth-trimmed sports seats in the GT are replaced by two-tone Ultrasuede and leather upholstery in the GTS, available in two styles – black/red or black/silver.

Safety equipment comprises seven airbags, a reversing camera, stability/traction control and a low tyre pressure warning system.

However, six-speed automatic versions add pre-collision braking with pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, parking support brake, rear parking sensors, active cruise control and lane departure alert – all of which makes the manual version’s price parity even more perplexing.  

All GTS grades (even manual models) get rear cross traffic alert and rear blind spot monitoring but – like the latest Subaru BRZ – the Toyota GR 86 is unlikely to be crash-tested locally or awarded an ANCAP safety rating due to its lack of important safety equipment across the range.

The Toyota GR 86 is not a huge vehicle and offers just 237 litres of boot space, but once again Toyota says there’s enough room to fit four spare wheels for track-day action with the rear seats folded down.

Buyers can choose from seven exterior paint jobs for the new Toyota GR 86 – Storm Black, White Liquid, Magnetic Grey, Ice Silver Metallic, Apollo Blue and new additions, Rapid Blue and Spark Red.

Aftersales provisions include a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which extends to seven years for the engine and driveline. Toyota also offers very competitive capped-price servicing for the first five years or 75,000km, with each 12-month/15,000km service costing $280.

Full specifications for both four-seat model grades can be found at the bottom of this page.

The GR 86 is the third model from Toyota’s Gazoo Racing (GR) performance division, following the GR Supra and GR Yaris.

A fourth hi-po Toyota model is on its way here before year’s end, the GR Corolla, which we’ve just driven at the international media launch in the US and will publish a full review on very soon.

GT

Mechanical
174kW/250Nm 2.4-litre flat four-cylinder petrol engine
Six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission with Sport mode
Rear limited-slip Torsen differential
4.1 ratio (manual)
3.909 ratio (automatic)
50-litre fuel tank
Front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension with coil springs
Ventilated 294mm front and 290mm rear disc brakes
Electric power steering

Exterior
LED headlights with auto-levelling and cleaning system
LED daytime running lights and rear fog lights
Automatic high-beam (auto transmission only)
17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45R17 tyres
Tyre repair kit
Dual exhaust outlets
Electric fuel lid and boot release
Power fold and heated exterior mirrors
GR badging front and rear
Seven colours with solid, metallic and pearl paint finishes

Interior
Black fabric front seats with (manual) slide and recline adjust
Black carpet with black floormats front and rear
Leather-wrapped gearshift lever
Leather-wrapped parking brake
Three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio, phone and vehicle controls
Manual tilt and telescopic steering adjustment
Four seats

Safety
Autonomous emergency braking (auto only)
Parking support brake with rear parking sensors (auto only)
Active cruise control – all-speed (auto only)
Lane departure alert + leading vehicle notice (auto only)
Seven SRS airbags
Anti-lock brakes
Reversing camera
Emergency brake signal system
Vehicle stability control
Hill start assist
Front and second-row occupant detection
Immobiliser anti-theft system
Tyre pressure warning
Alarm system

Exterior
18-inch black alloy wheels with 215/40R18 tyres
Intelligent adaptive front headlights

Interior
Premium door scuff plates
Foot rest and pedals with aluminium pads
Black Ultrasuede and leather front seats
Silver or red trim stitching
Black or Red leather accented door centre
Black or Red carpet and floormats

Safety
Rear blind spot monitor
Rear cross-traffic alert

How much does the Toyota GR 86 cost?
GT manual and automatic – $43,240 (+$11,060)
GTS manual and automatic – $45,390 (+$8010)
* Prices exclude on-road costs

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