2019 Toyota 86 Review

Name: 2019 Toyota 86 Review
Brand: Toyota

Price Range: $22,998 - $31,990

Read full review See all features & specs

Price & Payment

8 cars

$24,844 avg. price

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise My 2019 Toyota 86

Toyota 86 model years

Toyota 86 for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Dan Frio

Pros

Excellent steering and handling
Lots of standard features for the money
Nicely trimmed cabin

Cons

Acceleration is underwhelming
Small trunk doesn't hold much cargo
Lacks the latest driver safety aids

What's new

New TRD Special Edition
Part of the first 86 generation introduced for 2017 (but also related to the old Scion FR-S)

It's easy to pick on the 2019 Toyota 86 and count the ways it falls just short of excellent. It's small inside. There's limited passenger and cargo space. It's not particularly comfortable, especially for taller drivers, and its technology feels dated and inadequate. Most damning is that the 86 simply lacks power and looks faster at idle that it actually is. While there are solutions for more speed in aftermarket engine kits, the from-the-factory reality is that the 86 is slower than just about anything else you'd likely cross-shop it with. But that doesn't mean it's not fun to drive.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Columbus, OH

8 listings

Sort by:

Price Drop
2019 Toyota 86
TRD SE Coupe
$19,291
good price
$1,951 below market
- 94,624 miles
- 1 accident, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 4cyl manual
- Midwest Motors (183 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Indianapolis, IN
Black 2019 Toyota 86 ABS brakes, Alloy wheels, Electronic Stability Control, Front dual zone A/C, Heated door mirrors, Heated front seats, Illuminated...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (21 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1ZNAE12K9702583
Stock: 702583
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 10-09-2024
New Listing
2019 Toyota 86
Base Coupe
$25,998
fair price
$996 above market
- 34,399 miles
- 4cyl automatic
- CarMax Gastonia (343 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Upgraded Headlights
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
Close
Located in Gastonia, NC
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary Unavailable.
Features and Specs:
27 Combined MPG (24 City/32 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1ZNAA13K8702541
Stock: 27497936
Certified Pre-Owned: No

See all for sale

The fun comes from when the road begins to bend. With precise steering and playful handling, the 86 always engages, especially with the standard six-speed manual transmission. The harder you drive it around a freeway on-ramp or stretch it out along a twisting back road, the more it rewards. It's just a shame it runs out of steam so soon.

For 2019, a new 86 TRD Special Edition joins the lineup. While it's no faster than the standard 86 and 86 GT trim levels, the Special Edition is equipped with upgraded handling and braking hardware. It's an excellent off-the-shelf solution for a driver interested in testing his or her skills at local autocross or track-day events.

While many great performance coupes or hatchbacks are available today at comparable prices, the 86 has plenty going for it. Toyota left enough room to personalize it with power, handling and styling aftermarket upgrades, making it a great canvas for enthusiast owners. And like the Mazda MX-5 Miata, a similar car with just-enough power, the 86's charm lies in its overall balance. A skilled driver can drive it very fast, but you don't need to be an aspiring racer to enjoy it.

What's it like to live with?

The Toyota 86 has barely changed in all the years since it was the Scion FR-S. (Remember Scion?) While that's a bit of a problem in some ways — cough, cough, we want CarPlay, cough — it means our impressions of the 2013 Scion FR-S that we bought to live with for a year are still just as relevant today. And we lived hard with the FR-S, slapping on a supercharger, exhaust, and fresh wheels and tires. You can read all about our long-term test with Toyota's entry-level rear-wheel-drive sports car.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.4 / 10

The 2019 Toyota 86 continues the legacy of its former incarnation as the FR-S from Toyota's now-defunct Scion brand. It's lightweight, affordable, nimble, and almost always satisfyingly fun. But its lack of power compared to more muscular sport coupes is an obvious drawback.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Toyota 86 (2.0L flat-4 | 6-speed automatic | RWD).

Scorecard

Overall	7.4 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	7.5
Interior	7.5
Utility	7.5
Technology	7.0

Driving

8.0

When it comes to feel, precision and handling, the Toyota 86 is near the top of the class. The steering is responsive and accurate, and even with the low limits of tire grip, there's always fun, literally, around every corner. Even if you don't feel comfortable driving a manual transmission, the automatic takes nothing away from having a good time on a great road.

Although, the 86 hits 60 mph in 8.3 seconds with an automatic transmission and 6.7 seconds with the manual transmission. Most of that difference comes from the leisurely launch from the automatic, but the engine still falls flat on its face after every full throttle upshift due to its anemic nature. The engine remains a disappointment.

Acceleration

6.0

The 86's Subaru-based flat four-cylinder is responsive, but it's not the easiest car to launch aggressively. Midrange power is noticeably lacking, and the top-end bump isn't enough to make up for it. In our testing, we had a 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds. That's OK, but other coupes are noticeably quicker.

Braking

8.0

Initial impressions of the brakes are very good. The pedal is firm but easy to modulate. But when the 86 is driven more aggressively, the pedal becomes wooden and it's harder to judge how much effort to apply. In our simulated-panic stop from 60 mph, the 86 needed 109 feet, a respectably short distance.

Steering

9.0

The quick and precise steering rewards smooth driving, and well-damped feedback from the wheel communicates how much grip you have at the front wheels. It's the kind of steering you'd hope to get from a back-to-basics car like this.

Handling

8.5

The 86 delivers that classic rear-wheel-drive behavior but does it at lower and more accessible speeds. It's a blast to drive on a twisty road. The 86's suspension tuning allows more chassis movement than the BRZ, but it is still fun in its own way. Track mode loosens the stability control a bit.

Drivability

7.0

The clutch engagement zone is narrow, so it takes practice to shift smoothly. At midrange rpm, the engine falls flat on its face when you need it most. Longer highway grades can't be pulled in sixth gear. Listening to the motor moan and thrash takes a lot of the enjoyment away from revving it out.

Comfort

7.5

The interior stitching and faux-suede interior panels are nice touches, but this Toyota is no touring car. The suspension tuning is a little too stiff to be considered comfortable. You'll feel all the bumps and road imperfections.

The tires also bring the noise on coarse surfaces. Keeping the weight down means minimizing the sound deadening, so the 86 is definitely on the loud side. Wind noise becomes quite noticeable at higher speeds. It's never too much for the driving enthusiast, but passengers might disagree.

Seat comfort

7.5

A limited range of adjustability makes finding a truly comfortable position difficult. While the seats have firm padding and excellent bolsters, they quickly become uncomfortable on long drives.

Ride comfort

7.5

Thanks to a stiff chassis, you can feel each corner of the car keeping its respective tire on the ground. Wheel motions are a little too quick to be considered comfortable, and the 86 shimmies on roads with undulations. You'll feel all the bumps and road imperfections.

Noise & vibration

7.5

These tires bring the noise on coarse surfaces. Keeping the weight down means keeping the sound deadening to a minimum, so the 86 is definitely on the loud side. Wind noise becomes quite noticeable at higher speeds. It's never too much for the enthusiast, but passengers might disagree.

Climate control

8.0

With a small cabin and big vents, this purely analog system easily cools things down quickly. The controls are easy to use and self-explanatory.

Interior

7.5

The interior design of the 86 is uncomplicated and minimalist. Every control is right at your fingertips. The driving position feels a bit vertical at first but becomes second nature and allows for excellent forward visibility. The 86's compact size and ample windows make lane changing and parking easy.

Getting in and out is easy thanks to the generous door openings and low-profile seat cushions. Just don't consider this a four-passenger vehicle since rear-seat space and access are laughable, even for children. The seats are better left to cargo duty.

Ease of use

7.5

Everything about the 86 is clearly visible from the moment you get in. There are no hidden features, no secret Easter eggs, no hidden menus.

Getting in/getting out

6.5

It's low, but the wide door opening and unobtrusive seat cushion make it easy to drop into the 86. Use the rear seats for bags and cargo since the aperture to get in or out of them makes it virtually impossible for a human to do with any sort of grace.

Driving position

8.5

While you sit low in the car, the driving position is surprisingly upright. It takes a bit of getting used to. We would prefer more telescoping range from the steering wheel as well as seat-bottom tilt.

Roominess

7.5

Front passengers have ample room. Nothing with feelings can sit in the back. If you're looking for an expansive back seat, this probably isn't your type of car anyway.

Visibility

8.0

With a tall and wide windshield and a low hood, forward visibility is pretty good. The view out the back is a bit compromised, but the rear-quarter windows help when changing lanes. A fairly high-resolution backup camera aids in the tightest quarters, but we wish the displayed image was larger.

Quality

7.5

Our test car had no squeaks or rattles, even when driven aggressively over bumpy surfaces. No panels felt loose or insufficient. Tasteful touches of simulated suede contrasts with hard plastics, but touch points are thoughtfully faux leather-type materials.

Utility

7.5

No one will ever accuse the 86 of sacrificing performance for practicality, but that doesn't mean it's not capable of carrying its fair share. The 6.9-cubic-foot trunk is larger than the Miata's 4 cubic feet but smaller than the Civic Si's. But once you fold the rear seats, the 86 can hold a full set of wheels and tires and a small tool set — perfect for a weekend track event.

The 86's small cabin doesn't present a lot of storage options, but what's available manages to hold most small personal items. As a bonus, nothing stored in the cupholders will prevent you from driving as vigorously as you like.

Small-item storage

7.0

The small, hard plastic door pockets and a center console tray with removable cupholders are about all you get in the 86. That said, the items stored are truly out of your way while driving vigorously.

Cargo space

8.0

The trunk opening isn't gigantic, but it can hold a decent number of shorter-size items. The narrow backseat aperture can make it difficult to slide wider items through. Lowering the rear seatback is only possible from the trunk, by pulling two lanyards simultaneously. It's not easy.

Technology

7.0

The 86's technology package is like the car itself: minimal. And like the engine, it's in need of an update or aftermarket support to make it better. The touchscreen is difficult to see during the day, and the entire unit looks like a low-end aftermarket piece. Audio quality is lacking in both power and fidelity. In our testing, the Bluetooth connection was plagued by inconsistent behavior.

While we don't specifically mind the lack of functionality, we'd rate this system higher if Toyota would include Android Auto or Apple CarPlay integration. What we do rate highly is the 86's ability to let you relax the stability control system (in Track mode) or shut it off entirely for full enjoyment of the car's capabilities.

Audio & navigation

5.0

The audio system is adequate, although even with eight speakers, it lacks the power to deliver any semblance of fidelity when the car is actually in motion. There's no standard navigation system, but a dealer-installed unit is available even after purchase of the vehicle.

Smartphone integration

5.0

Neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto is supported, but there is a USB port, an auxiliary jack and Bluetooth. Pairing is quick, and album cover art is displayed.

Driver aids

7.5

Toyota doesn't offer any of the latest advanced driver safety aids such as forward collision warning. The stability control has a Track mode that loosens the reins for more spirited driving, or you can turn the system off entirely.

Voice control

6.5

Voice recognition is commendable, never missing a word, but the voice that speaks back is unnatural and dated. The system is a bit slow to access music and playlists and, despite the clumsy manual interface, it's simply faster to do it yourself.

Compare 2019 Toyota 86 trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2019 Toyota 86 models

The 2019 Toyota 86 comes in three trim levels: 86 (or base), 86 GT and the new-for-2019 TRD Special Edition. The latter is a limited-production run of just 1,418 units.

Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque. It's paired to a six-speed manual transmission. Power dips slightly to 200 hp and 151 lb-ft when the 86 is equipped with the automatic transmission. The 86 is rear-wheel-drive only.

Standard equipment on base models includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, air conditioning, keyless entry, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control and a rearview camera. Tech features include Bluetooth connectivity, a 7-inch touchscreen, voice commands, and an eight-speaker sound system with HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB interface.

Toyota offers more than a dozen optional dealer-installed accessories for the base 86, including larger wheels, upgraded braking and suspension components, a performance exhaust, and a navigation system.

The GT is distinguished by a rear spoiler, LED foglights, an aerodynamic underbody panel, heated leather front seats with contrast stitching, push-button ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 4.2-inch display that monitors performance driving parameters such as real-time engine power use and cornering force.

The TRD Special Edition raises the performance envelope with 18-inch wheels, upgraded dampers, Brembo brakes, and high-performance tires, all which contribute to crisper handling. Exterior touches include unique front and rear bumpers, a spoiler, and upgraded exhaust system. Inside, the Special Edition is equipped similarly to the GT, but with unique flourishes including red and black contrast stitching and red seat belts.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$208/mo

$161/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

Year

Make

Model

See pricing history

Toyota 86 Owner Reviews

4.6

19 reviews

5(79%)

4(16%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(5%)

See all 19 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

No surprises, it is what it is, and I love it

Mike, 09/12/2019

2019 Toyota 86 TRD SE 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)

Have owned four MK3 Supra's over the last 33 years. My most recent of 10 years finally caught the notorious Head Gasket flu! All my Supra's were maintained "unmolested OEM". It is obvious that the 86 took many of it's design cues from the gen3 Supra. I just acquired the 2019 86 TRD SE and am as thrilled as I was when I bought my first Supra (1986,5 release). Bottom line, faster, …

Car drives great. Audio functions suck.

Dave Griesel, 01/27/2018

2017 Toyota 86 860 Special Edition 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)

If you want to go slip sliding around you have to switch stability control off. With it on and trying to hang the tail out it won't. You can barely feel subtle changes going on and the car corners like it is on rails. ( With Amtrac stuff going on this is probably an aged expression ), I traded in a 350Z and its very poor shifting and this car shifts great. Brakes are good and I have …

Review of 2019 Toyota 86

Beanz, 01/01/2019

2019 Toyota 86 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6A)

I love this car. I have the 2019 base model with a few upgrades. The performance of this car is very, very good, and it has great aerodynamics. I get approximately 32-40 miles per gallon on the highway, and about 28-32 in the city. Although the Horsepower in this car is only 205, you really don't need more than that unless you plan on raising the car-which most people will not. I … can get it up to approximately 170 miles per hour on the highway and it still rides smooth-but, I won't be doing that again, because it is just plain crazy-and a death wish. It has good storage space in the trunk, because you can put the two back seats all the way down flat, and store more stuff in the trunk. The Nissan 370 Z cannot do this, and it also has several deadly blind spots, and a whole lot of horsepower that you can't even use. The 2019 Toyota 86 does not have blind spots, and all models have a built-in camera in the rear view mirror, so you can see if anything is straight behind you while you are backing out of your garage, or parking space. I find the bucket front seats to be very comfortable-especially on long drives, and they can be adjusted so you can seat higher or lower in the car, and the back is adjustable too. The steering wheel is also adjustable, and when you lock this car, there is no beep sound, instead, the front headlights just light up. The 2019 Toyota has a slamming nice stereo system. It has a touch screen, and a voice remote so you can train the voice remote to find songs that you have on the USB port or radio. You can also use a flash/thumb drive in the USB port filled with music you have loaded onto it. You can also upload all of your phone numbers from your smart phone onto the bluetooth device embedded in the stereo system, and ask the voice remote to dial the number for you, or dial it yourself from the steering wheel. You can also use the stereo from the steering wheel. You can open the trunk with you car key, and it has a great heating and cooling system. This is an excellent car, and I was surprised that it didn't cost more than it did-although it is not cheap by a long shot. The corvette started out like this, and now it is just a beautiful sports car-but you're also paying for the horsepower on the corvette that the regular consumer driver will never be able to use. I think Toyota redeemed themselves when they created the Toyota 86. It truly is an outstanding car.

Toyota 86 Is An Excellent Car

L.J., 03/17/2019

2019 Toyota 86 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)

I was reading the reviews concerning the Toyota 86, and I think the Toyota 86 is getting a real bogus review. I had a Mazda Miata, and it was not a very good car at all. It has 181 horsepower if you are looking for speed, and it doesn't have back seats at all-or barely any trunk space. And, it shouldn't even be rated as a sports car-but a door stop if you ask me. Yet, … https://cars.usnews.com/ gave it a 8.9 rating, and the Toyota 86 a 7.8. Unbelievable! They must have all been smoking weed when they did these reviews. They have got to be kidding! The ratings should be switched around. The Toyota 86 is an excellent entry level sports car, and extremely good for the price too. It has a video camera on the rear view mirror, so you can see if anyone/thing is behind you before you back up. It also has rear wheel drive, and great aerodynamics. Some people feel that the car is loud when you are driving it, but, I haven't had that experience. I don't like the fact that it has mesh seats instead of leather, but leather seat covers resolved that issue. I didn't buy the Nissan 370 Z, because it has too many blind spots, and although it is fast, let's get real, no one is going to even be able to drive at such fast speeds on the highway or in the city, so why bother paying for that kind of speed if you can't use it. You are just going to kill yourself, or someone else. You can't even use the 205 horsepower to its full extent that the Toyota 86 has. And, I bought the Toyota 86 because I wanted something sporty without the huge horsepower, so I didn't have to pay for what I was never going to be able to use in the first place. And that's the end of the bells and whistles concerning speed. And, if you are tall, i.e., 5'11" to over 6 feet, well, get a clue, because the majority of sports cars are not going to have enough head room in them for you. And, most tall people are not going to be foolish enough to try and squeeze into a tiny bullet sports car in the first place. It's just not happening dudes-unless they make something that is "trans-headroom" or something, LOL! And, the Toyota 86 does have ample amount of storage space in the trunk. The two back seats go down all the way flat, and it goes back approximately 5 feet, and wide approximately 4 feet. The Toyota 86 is a sports car-not a car to take your kids places in. That is why there is no leg room. That is why SUVs exist-for people who have a bunch of kids. The Toyota 86 is a Playboy/Playgirl car, or for those people who just want a stylish sports car without having to pay for all that speed that they are never going to be able to use in the first place. And, Toyota has always made reliable cars that unlike Ford or GM cars, are not always riding the repair shops. I've driven Toyota cars off and on for about 2 decades now, and I always go straying after other brands, but end up right back with Toyota, because their cars are just super reliable. And, the Toyota 86 is no exception. It's a great car, it's built extremely well, and it drives extremely good. I would give it a 8.9-9.0 because no car is perfect-not even the Ford mustang, the corvette, and definitely not the Mazda Miata (oh, hell no!)

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Toyota 86, so we've included reviews for other years of the 86 since its last redesign.

See all 19 reviews of the Toyota 86

Write a vehicle review

2019 86 Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$26,655
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$208/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	6.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the 86 models:

Rearview Backup Camera: Projects an image of objects and vehicles in the car's rearward path of travel to help prevent a collision.
Hill Start Assist Control: Prevents the car from rolling backward on a hill by maintaining brake hold as the driver's foot moves from the brake to accelerator pedal.
Side (Front Only)/Side Curtain Airbags: Deploys airbags in the event of a collision, including side curtain airbags useful for protecting rear passengers.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover7.1%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Acceptable
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

People who viewed this also viewed

Subaru BRZ
Starting at $33,210

See Subaru BRZ Inventory

Honda Civic
4.4 average Rating out of 27 reviews.
Starting at $24,250

See Honda Civic Inventory

Toyota GR Supra
Starting at $56,250

See Toyota GR Supra Inventory

2019 Toyota 86 Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

For sale near Columbus, OH

2019 Toyota 86TRD SE Coupe

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2019 Toyota 86Base Coupe

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which 86 does Edmunds recommend?

2019 Toyota 86 models

Cost to Drive

Toyota 86 Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

No surprises, it is what it is, and I love it

Car drives great. Audio functions suck.

Review of 2019 Toyota 86

Toyota 86 Is An Excellent Car

2019 86 Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2019 Toyota 86 info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Toyota

Other models

Join Edmunds

2019 Toyota 86
TRD SE Coupe

2019 Toyota 86
Base Coupe