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The Toyota GT86: Genuine sports car fun for less than £25k

Fills a long-standing gap in Toyota’s line-up following the demise of the MR2.
This is the genuine article – light on practicality, but strong on fun. Treat yourself.
Car review: LUKE MADDEN
589_ToyotaGT86_Headon
Toyota's most exciting car since they stopped making the MR2 - all is forgiven!

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8 September 2012

Toyota’s most exciting car since they stopped making the MR2 – all is forgiven!

 

Toyota GT-86 2.0 Boxer D-4S 

Car review: LUKE MADDEN

What is it?

It’s the most exciting car to come from Toyota in years. Ever since the MR2 was discontinued the Japanese firm has been missing a fun sports car in its line-up, and the GT86 is the model hoping to change all that.

It’s been developed alongside the Subaru BRZ and comes with a 197bhp 2.0-litre engine and a rear-wheel drive chassis for the purest driving thrills possible. Starting from £24,995 they’ll be affordable thrills too.

What’s hot?

  • With 197bhp from the 2.0-litre engine it may not sound like there’s loads of performance, but 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds feels like all the performance you’ll ever need.
  • All the controls are perfectly weighted, with a nice accurate feeling gearshift, easy to use pedals and light but responsive steering.
  • And the GT86 really shines in the corners. It feels light, agile and fabulously responsive.
  • The sporty Toyota certainly looks the part too. With its sharp lines and aggressive front end it’s a world away from the dumpy Auris or the dependable Avensis
Rear seats and the boot aren’t really the point of this car – but it does have them

 

What’s not?

  • The back seats. You could squeeze youngsters in there but anyone else will struggle.
  • And the interior itself doesn’t feel particularly premium. It looks nice but there are quite a few hard and scratchy plastics dotted around.
  • Refinement needs a bit of work too, as the engine can drone on the motorway and there’s plenty of wind and road noise too.
  • That 2.0-litre engine will cost you in BIK tax thanks to its relatively high CO2 emissions of 181g/km. That translates to 27 per cent of the P11D value, or about £6600…
  • …so expect a monthly company car tax bill of some £220 a month if you’re a 40% tax payer
  • The more expensive automatic gearbox makes CO2 emissions better and reduces the company car tax banding to 23% and the overall company car tax bill. The downside is that it also hampers acceleration and takes away some of the GT86’s fun driving experience.
Great looks to go with real sports car handling and driving experience

 

Business Car Manager road test Verdict

The Toyota GT86 is a car designed for driving enthusiasts. It’s not practical, it’s not particularly efficient and it’s not luxurious… but it is lots of fun. Think of models like the Mazda MX-5 or the Porsche Boxster that favour driving thrills above all else and you’ll begin to understand the GT86.

Those looking for a practical car should look elsewhere – this is the more self-indulgent moments

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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