Planning to buy a Toyota 86? Here is what you should know

The Toyota 86 embarked its debut back in 2012 in the Philippines and marked it as a year of liveliness for auto enthusiasts. The launch of 86 back then was huge and the display was absolutely breathtaking, so did the magnificence of the car. With time, it became the car to drool over for the Filipino car enthusiasts.

Having sold more than 1,300 units, Toyota 86 has garnered admiration in all forms not only from the buyers but also from the critics, auto experts, and journalists. In the Philippines market, however, it competes with the Subaru BRZ.

No car is perfect, each has its own pros and cons. What we like the most about the 86 is that Toyota has blessed it with the best of handling capabilities and a considerable amount of power. It’s peppy to drive and a true sports compact car to get your hands on. Overall a decent package of style, comfort, and performance. What misses out on the 86 is the support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a disappoint for many if not all.

Adding more, we have a comprehensive read ahead of you to let you know it in a better way. So, let’s get this started.

Looks

From the outside, the Toyota 86 doesn’t look dated by any means. However, to make it look fresh and young, the automaker has performed a few tweaks on the new version that accounts for a redesigned bumper, new 3D headlights, wing-like structure at the lower front bumper, more LED elements, new fog lamps with black vents, and restyled tail lamps. Although there isn’t a revolutionary change to its aesthetics, the 86 still has the right boxes tick to grab attention even after six years of its launch in the country.

Cabin

The refreshed Toyota 86 gets the similar cabin as before themed red and black. What changes on the new car is the prominent usage of red. Unlike earlier, the red is only seen in the form of the stitching on the doors, and edges of the seats. Being a sports car, it doesn’t really offer comfort that you breathe all day in your routine commuter. The knee room is next to negligible and the cargo space is good for a couple of small bags. Though there is a rear seat to accommodate two passengers but not very comfortably. The bucket seats grip you quite firmly, despite the lack of lumbar support, which is nice. The dash gets a Kenwood 2-DIN touchscreen with navigation and Bluetooth. You’d also find a new multi-coloured LCD and a different gauge cluster. The support for Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto is still missing though.

Engine and efficiency

Under the hood is the same naturally aspirated, four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC engine with D-4S (Direct-Injection 4-Stroke Gasoline Engine), mated to either 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. The power and torque outputs are rated - 200 PS at 7,000 rpm and 205Nm at 6,600 rpm respectively. The boxer engine revs up quite smoothly and quickly. It is a fun-to-drive car with a manual transmission option offering a bit more excitement than the automatic, thanks to the short throws. The 86 can return a commendable fuel economy of 10kmpl.

Safety

Toyota is one of the world's automakers that’s known to equip best of the safety features in its vehicles and that name hasn’t let down with the 86. It comes with a number of aids that ensure occupants are safe at all times. The list of features includes airbags (driver, front passenger, side, curtain, and knee), ABS, stability control, immobilizer, and electronic door locks.

Colors

The 86 is offered in seven different color options including Pure Red, Ice Silver Metallic, Dark Gray Metallic, Lapis Blue Pearl, Orange Metallic, Crystal White Pearl, and Crystal Black Silica.

Variants and pricing

In the Philippines, there are four variants of the Toyota 86 available to buy -

• Toyota 86 2.0 M/T, retails at Php 1,930,000 (SRP)
• Toyota 86 2.0 M/T (White Pearl), retails at Php 1,945,000 (SRP)
• Toyota 86 2.0 A/T, retails at Php 2,030,000 (SRP)
• Toyota 86 2.0 A/T (White Pearl), retails at Php 2,045,000 (SRP)