2018 Toyota 86

The 2018 Toyota 86 is available in two trims base and GT. The GT trim is also available with a GT Black package what this package includes is all-black exterior trims and accents while the rest of the features remain the same as the GT trim. As standard, you get a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine mated to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox. The GT Black package is available at no extra cost and is priced the same as the GT trim.

The base trim starts at $26,455 for the manual gearbox while the automatic gearbox can be had for $27,175. The base trim packs in most of the usual features like alloy wheels, LED lights, touchscreen infotainment system, etc. The GT has been added this year and replaces the 860 Special Edition trim from last. The GT trim starts at $28,585 for the manual version and goes up to $29,305 for the automatic variant.

We Recommend:

The price gap between the base and the GT trim isn't much but the features added in the GT trim are worth the extra money. So we recommend going for the GT trim priced at $28,585.

The 2018 Toyota 86 with the manual gearbox has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. Going for the automatic gearbox sees a bump in the gas figures as you get 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

The least powerful and the lightest Mazda MX-5 Miata is the most fuel-efficient among all and beats the 86's gas mileage figures by 5 mpg in city/highway/combined each respectively. While the rest of the cars have similar city gas mileage but the 86 has the lowest gas mileage on the highway among all.

"To the casual enthusiast, the 86 could be considered noisy and stiff, but it'll feel just right for the sport coupe aficionado."- Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

Step inside the 2018 Toyota 86 and you will notice not much has changed inside the cabin since last year. The overall dash layout remains the same and pretty much everything in terms of fit and finish and quality. Being a driver-focused cabin you will notice the handbrake is placed close to the driver seat. The rest of the control is also laid out in a way to ensure they are within the easy reach of the driver. Getting in and out of the car is not very smooth due to low ride height.

The seats of the Toyota 86 are also nothing great to write home about. They are well-bolstered to hold you in place while riding hard but spend some time on them and you will quickly realize how uncomfortable they are. The lack of sufficient cushion and stiff seats makes for an unpleasant driving experience. Moving to the rear the things get pretty much uncomfortable due to negligent legroom and are not at all made for adult occupants.

In terms of cabin space, there isn't any doubt that the dimensionally bigger Mustang is the more spacious among all the coupes here. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the only one with no rear seats here which we appreciate as they have liberated more leg space at the front. While the 86 and BRZ and even the Mustang at the expense of front row seats have provided a namesake rear seat.

Interior Features:

• Keyless entry
• Air conditioning
• Height adjustable driver's seat
• Available leather-trimmed seats
• Available dual-zone automatic climate control
• Available heated front seats

Infotainment System

The 2018 Toyota 86 gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is very basic and gets the job done while expecting anything more from this system is asking too much.

Standard features include an eight-speaker sound system, HD Radio, USB ports, auxiliary ports, etc. 

Cargo volume

The 2018 Toyota 86 offers 6.9 cubic feet of cargo space which is just adequate for a couple of small bags or a carry-on suitcase.

For putting anything more you will need to flip back the rear seats. That said, Toyota has given a couple of storage spaces inside the cabin for keeping small items.

In this comparison again the bigger Mustang takes the lead with an almost double size cargo capacity compared to the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ.

"The 2018 Toyota 86 doesn’t spoil the proportions it was given. That’s just fine by us."- The Car Connection

Dimensions and weight

The 2018 Toyota 86 isn't something new in terms of design or looks rather it is an amalgamation of the entire Subaru BRZ look and the front is picked up from the legendary Toyota 2000 GT. That said, the overall dimensions of the Toyota 86 slots between the big Mustang and the two-seater MX-5 Miata.

Weighing 2,776 pounds the Toyota 86 is light from both the Mustang and the BRZ. Between the 17-inch alloy wheels, the Toyota 86 gets 101.2-inches of space which isn't enough to liberate a spacious cabin for accommodating four adult passengers with ease. 

The heavier Mustang is undisputedly the coupe with the biggest dimensions here. That's the reason why it has more space both inside the cabin and in the trunk compared to the Toyota 86. That said, even the ground clearance of the Mustang is 0.2-inches more than the Toyota 86 which isn't much but in a low-slung car even this much of a difference can be a big difference.

Exterior Features:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlight
• Available rear spoiler
• Available LED foglights

You will be surprised to note that to save weight Toyota hasn't added many driver-assist and modern safety features in the Toyota 86 still it managed to score decently in the crash test ratings. The NHTSA gave the 2018 Toyota 86 an overall safety rating of four out of five stars while the IIHS gave the 86 the highest rating of 'Good' in four out of five parameters. The small overlap front driver-side crash test was rated the second-best 'Acceptable'.

Safety Features:

• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Side Impact Beams
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Back-Up Camera

2018 Toyota 86 vs 2018 Ford Mustang 

The 2018 Ford Mustang is all that the Toyota 86 claims to offer in a slightly bigger and more practical package. Although the Mustang can only match the price of the Toyota 86 when availed in the EcoBoost trim otherwise the Mustang gets very expensive than the Toyota 86 thus defeating the main cause. 

Enthusiasts will like both the Mustang as well as the 86 but only a few would pick the 86 over the Mustang reason being the Mustang has a much better cabin and a more powerful engine. both of which isn't the forte of the Toyota 86. 

2018 Toyota 86 vs 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata

If we talk about purists' cars then the first thing that comes to our mind is the MX-5 Miata small, lightweight, nimble, and mod-friendly. This car has long been tuners' delight and purists' first choice. The Toyota 86 tried to replicate that and went even further by offering a rear seat and slightly bigger boot space.

The result was that the rear seats were cramped and the boot space was marginally bigger. While in the process the 86 also got heavier and thus the lighter Mazda has an advantage of quicker acceleration timings and better gas mileage. 

The Toyota 86 is the kind of car which everyone would love to have but won't get it. The reason being there are better cars available for the same price. The Mustang offers more power and space while the Miata is quicker with better gas mileage. The Toyota 86 remains more of a compromise for the T-badge and nothing more. Thus to conclude the Toyota 86 is best-suited for first-time drivers and those you want to have the feel of a naturally aspirated engine/