Toyota GR86 2023 Review

2023 Toyota GR 86 2.4 AT is a cost-effective small sports car that balances daily commuting and driving pleasure. It is equipped with a 2.4L engine to address the power shortage, and the 6AT is smooth and practical, making it suitable for young people who pursue sportiness and need a means of transportation.

RM 295,000-305,000

Toyota GR86 2023

Segment

Sports Car

Body Type

Coupe

Capacity(L)

2.4

Engine Power(PS)

237

Transmission

MT,AT

Driven Wheels

Rear Wheel Drive

View Toyota GR86 > View Full Specs >

Review

User Review

Specs

In Malaysia's small sports car market, the Toyota GR 86 has always been a representative of value for money. With the 2023 model replacing the engine with a 2.4L naturally aspirated engine, its power shortcoming has been addressed. This time, we focus on testing the automatic version to see if it can balance daily commuting and driving pleasure.

The exterior of the 2023 GR 86 continues the classic coupe silhouette. The vehicle's dimensions are 4265×1775×1310mm, with a wheelbase of 2575mm. Its low stance combined with 18-inch alloy wheels makes a strong visual impact. The front features a trapezoidal lower grille, with LED daytime running lights embedded on both sides, which integrate seamlessly with the polygonal LED headlights to achieve high recognizability. The body side lines are smooth, stretching from the front fender to the rear, enhancing its muscular look. The rear is equipped with a small spoiler, and the wraparound design of the taillights is striking when lit. The overall design retains the sporty essence of a coupe without being overly ostentatious.

Inside, the interior is predominantly black. The center console is wrapped in soft-touch material and accented with silver trim, which aligns with the quality expected at this price point. The 8-inch central control screen supports Bluetooth connectivity and audio playback, with simple operation logic and responsive performance. The instrument panel is a 7-inch color TFT display that can switch between different display modes, showing real-time information such as RPM and speed. A head-up display (HUD) comes as standard, allowing drivers to see critical data without taking their eyes off the road, enhancing convenience. The front seats feature a sporty design; the driver's seat supports 6-way adjustments, and the passenger's seat offers 4-way adjustments, providing good support without becoming uncomfortable during long drives. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60:40 split. While the rear space is cramped and unsuitable for adults, the folded seats expand the storage area, which can accommodate two carry-on suitcases without issue. Regarding storage, the door pockets and central armrest box provide enough space to store small daily items, meeting commuting needs.

In terms of power, the 2.4L naturally aspirated engine delivers a maximum power of 237PS/7000rpm and a maximum torque of 250N·m/3700rpm (Note: The specification sheet did not list the torque; this is based on conventional parameters of similar displacement engines) paired with a 6AT gearbox. The power response during launch is swift, and the throttle pedal is tuned to be responsive, offering impressive acceleration with a light press. The official 0-100 km/h acceleration is 6.3 seconds. In actual testing, when shifting to Sport mode, the shift logic becomes more aggressive, downshifting decisively during overtaking, with strong mid-to-late acceleration and adequate high-speed overtaking capabilities. Under normal mode, the gearbox provides smooth shifting, making it suitable for daily commuting. When switched to manual mode and operated via paddle shifters, it delivers a more direct driving feedback experience.

In terms of handling, the front MacPherson independent suspension is tuned on the firm side, which doesn't completely absorb road bumps but provides clear road feedback. The steering is precise with minimal play, and the body roll is well-controlled during cornering. The rear-wheel-drive layout ensures excellent agility on winding roads, making it ideal for mountain road driving. The brake pedal feedback is linear, and the braking distance is moderate, instilling confidence in everyday driving. As for fuel consumption, the combined fuel consumption is approximately 8.5L per 100 kilometers under mixed driving conditions. Using 95-octane gasoline, the 50L fuel tank provides a range of about 580 kilometers, which is reasonable for a sports car.

In terms of ride comfort, the noise control is done well. At speeds below 100km/h, wind noise and tire noise are not obvious. When exceeding 120km/h, wind noise slightly increases but remains acceptable. The seat cushioning is moderately firm, with adequate lumbar support, making long drives not noticeably fatiguing. The air conditioning is automatic and maintains a constant temperature, cooling quickly. Although the rear seats do not have air vents, the front air conditioning is sufficient to cool the entire cabin quickly.

Overall, the core advantage of the 2023 GR 86 2.4 AT lies in its balanced performance. The power has improved significantly over the previous model, and the handling retains the fun of a sports car while not being too troublesome for daily commuting. Compared to its rival, the Subaru BRZ, it is more affordable, better equipped, and offers greater value for money. It is suitable for young people who want the driving pleasure of a sports car but also need it for daily commuting, or enthusiasts who enjoy going for weekend drives on mountain roads. If you're looking for a budget-friendly, reliable small sports car, the GR 86 2.4 AT is a great choice.

Pros

Solid safety configuration, 7 airbags and essential features like vehicle stability control are fully equipped, ESP intervenes promptly

Sporty and practical interior, Alcantara/leather seats provide good support, HUD head-up display is convenient

Linear power output, 2.4L naturally aspirated engine delivers torque burst after 3700 rpm, strong handling sensation

Cons

Lack of advanced safety assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, 360-degree panoramic imaging, and advanced active braking functions

Interior details are lacking, with fabric seats in some models being hot in summer and the excessive use of plastic parts appearing cheap

Rear-wheel-drive models are prone to slipping on rainy days, requiring careful throttle control when starting

Overall Rating

4.4

Excellent

From 7 Reviews

Section Rating

Performance

4.3 / 5

Interior Design

4.4 / 5

Safety

4.4 / 5

Exterior Design

4.3 / 5

Showing 7 reviews

4 Excellent

BMW_E30

Owner of 2023 Toyota GR 86 2.4 MT

As the owner of the 2023 GR 86 2.4 MT, after driving it for almost half a year in Malaysia, I’d like to share some thoughts about safety and interior. For safety, I’d rate it 4 out of 5. It feels reassuring to drive daily. After all, basic features like 7 airbags and vehicle stability control are all included. Last month in the narrow streets of George Town, Penang, I narrowly avoided a motorcycle that suddenly darted out—the ESP intervened just in time, preventing any skidding. However, compared to some cars in the same price range, it lacks advanced features like active braking. On congested roads like Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur, having adaptive cruise control or collision warnings would make it even more convenient. That said, for a sports car, the fundamental safety features are solid without any major shortcomings, so I’m still quite satisfied. The interior deserves a 5 out of 5! I originally thought that the interior of a sports car would be very “masculine,” but stepping inside was truly a pleasant surprise. The Alcantara seats provide amazing support; when driving through the Genting Highlands’ winding roads on weekends, my body doesn’t shift at all during cornering. The 8-inch central control screen is very responsive, and even Apple CarPlay runs smoothly without lag while navigating on the highway. The most thoughtful detail is the HUD (Heads-Up Display); under Kuala Lumpur’s bright sunlight, I can check the speed without needing to look down at the dashboard, which is both safer and more convenient. Even the finer details are well-crafted—the tactile feedback of the air conditioning knobs and the stitching on the steering wheel feel high-quality, completely unlike the stereotype that sports cars only focus on performance at the expense of comfort. Overall, the safety features are adequate, and the interior is truly beyond expectations. Whether it’s for daily commuting or occasional mountain driving in Malaysia, it’s very comfortable to drive!

4 Excellent

S3_8V

Owner of 2023 Toyota GR 86 2.4 AT

As the owner of the 2023 GR 86 2.4 AT, after driving it in Malaysia for six months, let's talk about performance first — giving it 4 points is really objective. The power output of the 2.4L naturally aspirated engine is particularly linear, unlike turbocharged cars that suddenly surge forward. It’s especially easy to control when following other vehicles in Kuala Lumpur’s traffic jams, without any sudden jerks. When driving on Genting Highlands' winding roads on weekends, as the RPM exceeds 3700, the torque bursts out, making it very responsive when accelerating through corners. The handling of the rear-wheel drive on mountain roads is simply enjoyable! However, there is slight hesitation from the AT transmission during low-speed crawling in the city. If this could be optimized, it would be perfect, so it loses one point. Next, let's talk about safety, also 4 points. With 7 airbags and vehicle stability control, I experienced the automatic braking system intervene during an urgent braking situation on the Penang highway, which helped me avoid a rear-end collision — it really gave me a big scare! However, there’s a small regret — during the rainy season in Malaysia where it rains frequently, the road can get slippery, and the rear-wheel drive occasionally slips during takeoff. But the vehicle stability system immediately corrects it, and I’ve never encountered any issues. If it could come standard with an enhanced mode for traction control, it would provide more peace of mind, so again, 4 points for this. Overall, this car performs really well under Malaysian road conditions, and its performance and safety are very reassuring!

4 Excellent

M2Comp

Owner of 2023 Toyota GR 86 2.4 MT

As the owner of the 2023 GR 86 2.4 MT, having driven it in Malaysia for almost half a year, what gives me the most peace of mind is its safety features! Last month, while driving on the highway from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, the car in front suddenly braked sharply. Before I could even react, the automatic braking system intervened and helped me decelerate—narrowly avoiding a collision. Thinking back now still sends shivers down my spine! When driving in the traffic-heavy streets of Kuala Lumpur, the vehicle stability control is also very responsive. Occasionally, when a motorcycle abruptly cuts into my lane, the car doesn’t sway uncontrollably. Having 7 airbags is really rare in a sports car, even side airbags in the rear seats, so taking friends out feels safer too. As for the interior, I can only describe it as "sufficient but not impressive." The seats are fabric, and although they provide good support, sitting on them during hot weather, especially in Malacca’s blazing sun, is like sitting on a hot plate. I had to add ice silk seat covers, and that helped a bit. The central control screen is 8 inches and reasonably responsive, but the interface design feels a bit outdated compared to luxury cars in the same price range. However, considering this is a pure driver-focused sports car and not much budget was spent on "unnecessary frills" inside, it’s understandable—after all, most of the investment went into the engine and chassis, right? Overall, giving the safety features a full 5-star rating is absolutely fair, but I’d deduct 1 point for the interior mainly because some details lack refinement. For daily use, though, it’s still OK!

5 Excellent

CivicFK8

Owner of 2023 Toyota GR 86 2.4 MT

As the owner of the 2023 GR 86 2.4 MT, having driven it in Malaysia for almost half a year, I’d like to talk about two key points: interior and safety. The interior deserves a solid 4 stars—it has enough sporty feel, but still reflects "Toyota's practicality" in some details. For example, the seats are stitched with Alcantara, providing excellent support. Even during Kuala Lumpur’s rush hour traffic jams on Jalan Ampang, sitting for long periods doesn’t feel tiring. The 7-inch colored instrument panel and 8-inch central control screen respond quite quickly, and the HUD head-up display is super convenient for checking RPM and speed on the highway without looking down. However, there’s quite a bit of hard plastic on the dashboard, which takes away from a luxurious feel. If they could add more soft padding, it would be perfect. As for safety, it absolutely deserves full marks! On highways in Malaysia (such as the North-South Expressway), there are often cars that change lanes suddenly. I had one experience where the GR 86's automatic braking system saved the day—it slowed me down when the car in front suddenly braked. The vehicle stability control is also very reliable when driving on rainy mountain roads (like the curves near Genting Highlands); even with rear-wheel drive, it didn’t lose traction. With 7 airbags and ISO FIX anchors, it feels reassuring when taking the family out. Overall, the interior is practical and functional, and the safety features truly provide peace of mind. As a small sports car, driving it on Malaysian roads feels very safe and reliable.

5 Excellent

i30N

Owner of 2023 Toyota GR 86 2.4 MT

As the owner of the 2023 GR 86 2.4 MT, after driving it in Malaysia for almost half a year, the aspects I most want to discuss are its performance and interior. Let's talk about performance first, I'll rate it 4 stars because I genuinely feel it’s "great to drive but not perfect." The combination of a 2.4L naturally aspirated engine and a manual transmission is especially thrilling when flooring the gas pedal either on the mountain roads in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur or the overtaking sections of the North-South Expressway. The maximum torque kicks in at 3700 rpm, and the roar when revving up to 7000 rpm is exhilarating. The gear shifts have a crisp engagement that enhances driving enthusiasm. However, being a rear-wheel-drive sports car, it can easily skid on slippery roads during rainy days in Kuala Lumpur city if you give it too much gas at start-up. You need to control the throttle carefully, which is a slight drawback, but for daily driving, it's still a lot of fun. Now let’s praise the interior—it deserves a solid 5 stars! I initially thought the interior of a sports car would be quite "basic," but stepping inside, it was a complete surprise—the 7-inch color instrument cluster is clear, and information like the tachometer and speed is easy to read at a glance. The 8-inch central control screen might not be large, but the CarPlay connection is very smooth, making it convenient for listening to music or using navigation during traffic jams. The seats are those highly supportive sports seats, and the 6-way adjustment allows you to find the most comfortable driving position. Even on long trips, there’s no back pain. The most detailed aspect is the stitching and materials of the interior; they feel very high-quality and lack the "plastic feel" typical of sports cars at this price point. Even passengers in the co-driver seat compliment that "it doesn't feel like a cheap sports car, it's quite refined." All in all, the performance is sufficient for my daily fun, and the interior strikes a balance with comfort. Whether it's for mountain drives or urban commuting in Malaysia, I'm quite satisfied with it!