Toyota 86 offers a fantastic sports car experience at a budget price
All of the money you spend goes toward the absolutely stellar driving experience with the Toyota 86.
Khodrocar - If you want a lot of fun for the least amount of money possible, the Mazda Miata used to be the only car worth considering.That is until Toyota and Subaru came crashing into the playground in 2012. With their jointly developed "86-platform cars" — the Scion FR-S and Subaru BR-Z — they kicked some sand into the lovable Mazda's grill and asserted that there were, in fact, more options.
For 2017, with the death of Scion, the FR-S became the Toyota 86. Since 2012, Mazda has created an all-new Miata that's better than ever.
Armed with a new name and a fixed roof, the Toyota 86 is out to prove that a roadster isn't the only way.
The "Hot Lava" paint isn't the most flattering color on the 86. None of the colors cost extra, so you can snag a much more attractive car without inflating the $26,840 sticker price.
That out of the way, the rest of the 86 is nicely shaped and attractively proportioned. Design is in the details though, and I'm afraid the fact that the 86 must have been designed to carry Scion, Toyota and Subaru badges ultimately led to restrained styling that lacks the visual character and brand identity of other coupes.
It doesn't look bad and could look positively stellar if they smoothed out the overly bulbous fenders and gave the rear end a nip and tuck so it wasn't locked in a perma-frown. The car looks good enough that you'll be happy with it, but I doubt anyone will be buying it solely for looks.
In my recent review of the Mazda Miata, I found the interior to be styled fantastically. It was adorned with lovely materials but ultimately felt compromised due to lack of space. The 86 has the opposite issue, with far more space than you'd expect in a tiny sports coupe but an overall interior design that feels outdated.
The 86, unlike the Miata, packs a pair of rear seats. They're too small for adults but are much welcome for extra cargo and backpacks. Determined parents could fit a young child back there, though I didn't have a car seat on hand to test whether it would fit. Head, leg and knee room are all superior to the Mazda and the car has cupholders that actually work.
Material quality is lacking. The infotainment system appears to be pasted into the dash and is slow to operate. Climate controls are chunky black plastic, below a clock that's been in Toyota products since the dawn of multicellular life. The justification, though, is this stuff all works well and doesn't distract the driver. While I'd prefer softer materials and nicer style, some simplicity is very welcome in today's information overload-inducing cars. Plus, at just over $26,000, this car's interior is bound to be less premium with the nearly $10,000 more expensive Miata RF Grand Touring.
Source: CNBC
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