Evo have done a great comparison review with the Toyota GR86, Mazda MX-5 and the Alpine A110 GT.
The GR86’s helm is the sweetest of the three by a fair margin overall, because where the MX-5 relays almost too much of what the suspension is having to deal with via its rim and the A110 is a touch too-cool-for-school in its mild aloofness in response over the same roads, the GR86 nails the perfect compromise between these extremes. Its steering provides your hands, and therefore your brain, with just enough information about what’s going on at the front tyres, but no more than is necessary.
Sounds cheesy, but you really can feel every grain of whatever surface the GR’s front tyres encounter as you guide it along roads such as these. Every nuance in the road’s camber and every change in tarmac quality is directly relayed to your fingertips, without there ever being any unwanted kickback through the rim. It gives you massive confidence in the car, not just in what the front end is up to but the rear as well, which feels rooted no matter how hard you push things. You can even begin to feel slightly invincible in the GR86, as if it will simply never let go, no matter how hard you try, which is always a dangerous but telling observation.
Read the full review here.
| Toyota GR86 | Mazda MX-5 2.0 GT Sport | Alpine A110 GT | |
| Engine | Flat 4-cyl, 2387cc | In-line 4-cyl, 1998cc | In-line 4-cyl, 1798cc, turbocharged |
| Power | 231bhp @ 7000rpm | 181bhp @ 7000rpm | 296bhp @ 6300rpm |
| Torque | 184lb ft @ 3700rpm | 151lb ft @ 4000rpm | 251lb ft @ 2400-6000rpm |
| Weight | 1276kg | 1052kg | 1119kg |
| Power-to-weight | 183bhp/ton | 175bhp/ton | 269bhp/ton |
| 0-62mph | 6.3sec | 6.5sec | 4.2sec |
| Top speed | 140mph | 136mph | 155mph (limited) |
We covered some alternative cars in the same price point as the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ here.
Kris is the founder of 86modified.com and has a love for cars and modifying them. He has owned many different Japanese cars and has enjoyed installing modifications to get more power or fitting body parts to change the aesthetics.
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