Toyota GR86

At the heart of the GR86 is a horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine. Mounted low in the engine bay for optimal weight balance, the flat-four drives the rear wheels via a standard six-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic is optional.

For most of its production run, the coupe utilized a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter powerplant making about 200 horsepower. But with its second generation (2022), the GR86 got a welcome bump to 228 hp, thanks largely to an increase in displacement to 2.4 liters.

Inside, the GR86 features a no-frills, driver-focus cockpit. The mission here isn’t to pamper occupants but to keep weight and distractions to a minimum, facilitating a visceral connection to the road. As a result, you won’t find much in the way of interior luxuries. In fact, the model didn’t even gain Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality until the 2020 model year.

Safety features are similarly minimal. Popular tech offerings such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning were only recently added (for 2022) and even then are limited to cars with automatic transmissions.

According to research by consumer experience specialist Strategic Vision, owners of Toyota’s sports coupe give it especially high marks for handling and braking. Meanwhile, their lowest ratings come, not too surprisingly, for interior roominess – in particular, its cramped back seat.