Toyota 86 by numbers

The Toyota 86 has been a strong seller around the world since its global release in 2012, but the compact rear-drive coupe has been particularly popular in Australia since its local launch in June that year.

Globally, Australia ranks third for overall 86 sales, accounting for almost 10 per cent of the model’s total production volume, and the 86 was the nation's top-selling sports car until Ford's new Mustang overtook it this year.

With the imminent arrival of a facelift, we thought it time to crunch the numbers to see who is buying the 86 – and which versions are the most sought after.

Peak interest
Sales of sporty coupes and convertibles have a habit of peaking early. Demand is generally quite strong when the model is new, but then tapers off sharply after just a couple of years. You only have to look at the rise and fall of the Holden Monaro for proof!

For the most part, however, the 86 has bucked the trend. Toyota Australia says the 86 found as many as 350 customers per month during its first 12 months on sale, and now achieves “around 200”.

Last month (July) 169 Australians bought an 86, bringing the 2016 tally to 1389. Cumulatively, the 86 has notched up 17,405 sales Down Under since 2012.

Competitor set
Technically speaking, the 86 is without rival locally – there are no other true sports coupes in its segment. Sure, you could compare the 86 with other sub-$80K sports cars (as VFACTS does), but in truth its nearest rivals are warm hatches and convertibles around the $30,000 mark.

If we look at those models we see front-wheel drive competitors such as the Hyundai Veloster (1087 sales to the end of July, 2016) and Kia Cerato Koup (53 sales) as natural rivals, with the slightly pricier Renault Megane RS (127 sales) and Volkswagen Scirocco (204 sales) also in the mix.

Far and away the 86's closest rival, in spite of its folding top, is the Mazda MX-5. That model has sold 1040 examples so far this year, and with a front-engine/rear-drive layout is arguably the 86’s nearest adversary.

State of foraging
Dealers fight hard for every sale they can get, but it seems some states are just more interested in sporty cars than others.

For the 86 it’s people in the eastern states that seem to place a greater emphasis on driving enjoyment, with NSW (33 per cent) ahead of the pack by a considerable margin. Victoria ranks second, taking more than 27 per cent of every batch that docks, while Queensland comes in third with 19 per cent.

From here it’s a huge step down to Western Australia’s 10 per cent effort, the Black Swan state nudging out South Australia by a whopping four per cent. The nation’s capital state accounts for almost two per cent of total 86 sales, while the Northern Territory and Tasmania manage just one per cent apiece.

Burger with the lot, thanks
When the 86 was first introduced, its sub-$30K entry price caused a rush that resulted in a 12-month wait. Initially, it was thought that most buyers would prefer an entry model, saving a few bucks to spend the rest on customisation.

And while that’s been true to a degree (there’s an 11 per cent take-up rate for the $3000 Aero Package), the overall numbers tell a different story, with the majority of buyers preferring top-spec GTS (47.4 per cent) and Blackline Edition (25.8 per cent) models by more than two-to-one over the entry-grade GT (26.8 per cent).

Incidentally, Toyota says its Blackline Edition is almost sold out, with 407 of the 450 allocated to our market already sold to happy new owners. Of those, all 200 automatic variants are accounted for.

Interestingly, across the board, it’s the manual models that prove most desirable, with just 41 per cent of overall sales being optioned with the six-speed automatic.

It seems no one wants the no-cost option of a full-size spare wheel (attracting just 0.7 per cent of buyers), leading Toyota to ditch the option on its revised model.

It’s black and white
Paint tones, not colours, top the 86 pops with White Liquid (29.6 per cent) being the trendiest hue. Toyota says its fans vote for White Liquid with their feet because it best shows off the model’s lines and curves.

Tornado Grey (15.1 per cent) and Storm Black (14.9 per cent) combine to narrowly out rank the monotonal mix, leading Ignition Red -- the 86’s only non-metallic paint option – with 14.3 per cent.

The 86’s hero colour at launch, Velocity Orange, comes next with 10.9 per cent of the palette, beating Ice Silver (8.1 per cent) and Gravity Blue (7.2 per cent) at the lower end.

All 86 colours besides Ignition Red attract a $450 surcharge.

Toyota has not confirmed whether the revised 86 will be more expensive than the outgoing model range, which currently starts at $29,990 (plus on-road costs).

The good news for current owners is that according to redbook.com.au the 86 holds 62.5 per cent of its new-car value after three years.

Visit motoring.com.au again soon for our launch review of the 2017 Toyota 86.