Snackable Review: Toyota 86

PLUS

• The way it corners. It’s a sweetheart – lithe and light on its feet, the 86 has one of the most ‘talented’ chassis this side of $150K.
• That steering. Meaty yet light, accurate yet not hyper-alert. This is about as good as it gets.
• The way it feels. You sit low and the interior wraps around you. The pedals, steering wheel are placed perfectly. It all just feels ‘right’.
• It’s satisfying to drive fast. After every drive up a twisty road, you always get out of an 86 thinking, god that was good.
• It’ll drift. Oh yes. And without much power, you need to get creative to get the 86 sideways. On the track, of course.

MINUS

• The engine is a bit unremarkable. You could say it sounds a little emotionless, plus 147kW and 205Nm makes it a tad on the slow side.
• It can be uncomfortable. It rides like a skateboard and there’s lots of road noise. Sydney-Melbourne trips may require an overnight stop.
• It’s not hugely practical. It’s not a car for ambitious IKEA missions. The rear seats will get you out of trouble, but they’re not for the long-haul.
• The interior feels a bit cheap. It does the job, sure, but the materials are a bit budget. Yep, definitely from the same company that makes Camrys.
• It doesn’t have much grip. This could be controversial – some will love the 86’s low grip, some will hate it. Depends on your skill level, probably.

Click here to read the full review on the Toyota 86.