Here's a sporty Toyota toy that is unlike any other

This review first appeared in the March 2020 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg
 

Sacramento, California – There are few Toyota motor vehicles flying under the radar these days, but I recently tested one: the Toyota 86.

I discovered that some folks had never heard of it.  Neighbors walked up to the car and routinely asked: "What is THAT?"

No surprise.  The limited-production 86 has not been marketed to anything near the degree that the Toyota Supra has; to further make things interesting, my tester was the 2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition.  And that made it special.

The little four-seater -- don't try fitting two adults in the back seat, unless you're a sadist -- is an interesting-looking sports car as is.  The Hakone Edition goes beyond interesting, into the realm of a sports car lover's favorite toy.

First off, the exterior paint job is a lovely "Hakone Green," but what most (me included) would call "British Racing Green," a dark, rich green that makes this compact 86 look like a purpose-built racer.

Inside, the appearance presents a dramatic change: a tan and black scheme that is likewise super-sporty in appearance.

Who came up with this?  The 86 is a Toyota-Subaru collaboration.  In Subaru trim, the low-to-the-ground, spoiler-equipped coupe is called a BRZ.  For the record, you could publish a book on the origins of the Toyota/Subaru model names, but it might be easier for you to just look those up online.

I will confess to being mesmerized by the appearance of the little 86.  For me, it brought back memories of Triumph models of my youth.  Others were not so impressed, with some calling it a glorified Celica.  Ouch!

For me, the big challenge was getting my 6-4 frame down to the level of the driver's seat; unfolding myself out of the car was an even bigger challenge.

In between, the ride was spirited.  The 2-liter, flat-4 engine generates a max 205 horsepower, and that drives the little 86 forward with some serious authority.  The accompanying noise level is likewise serious.

In fact, the 86 functioned as a low-to-the-road eardrum, picking up the sound of virtually every bump and pebble on paved surfaces.  The super-stiff sport suspension delivered those bumps and jolts to the seat of the pants in the cockpit as well.

No complaints from me.  It's a sports car, after all.  Happily, agility was excellent as I put the 86 through multiple slalom runs at various speeds.

Fuel mileage is pretty fine for this segment at 24 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.  The sticker's bottom line was a shade more than $31,500, a fair price for this merchandise.

All in all, the 86 is a toy capable of bringing joy to the sports car fan's racing heart.