The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ have an annoying shadow. To some fans–learn: The Web–it’s underpowered, cheap-feeling, and never sufficient automotive to be thought of a sports activities automotive. Its boxer engine evokes no ardour throughout the hearts of drivers, whereas its McPherson strut entrance suspension is inferior to that of the Mazda Miata. To many, the Subaru-based sports activities automotive twins are merely not sufficient. Each single a kind of individuals is fallacious.
I owned a 2023 BRZ for 16 months and located it to be one of the vital pleasurable possession experiences I’ve ever had. And in asking for the brand new, flippantly up to date 2025 GR86 Hakone, I needed to see how one of many solely true sports activities vehicles available on the market has developed since my possession.
The Hakone will get the standard Efficiency Pack upgrades: Brembo massive brakes throughout, and Sachs dampers on all 4 corners versus the BRZ tS’ entrance Hitachi models. Whereas there are not any powertrain upgrades, it does get a surprising colorway of Ridge Inexperienced, gold wheels, and tan inside accents. Finishing the impact are a steering and throttle recalibration, which all 2025 GR86s get.
For our newest YouTube video, I took an in depth take a look at how the world across the GR86 has modified since its debut in 2022, and evaluated Toyota’s updates versus the primary variations of the automotive. The GR86 could be probably the most balanced sports activities automotive expertise you should buy new. To search out out the explanation why, you’ll simply have to observe the video above.
