Growing up on “Initial D”, I was obsessed with Jay Chou’s portrayal of Takumi Fujiwara, as his AE86 carved through mountain passes like it had something to prove.
Ever since then, I’ve carried a fascination with the idea of a proper lightweight sports car — something raw, rear-wheel drive and a little unfiltered. So, when I got behind the wheel of the Toyota GR86 (AT), I didn’t treat it like a routine test drive. I treated it like a childhood dream finally meeting reality.
And yes, it’s an automatic. The purists will have opinions, and I’ll get to that later.
But the main point is that the GR86 (AT) doesn’t collapse under the weight of that debate.
Looks That Still Know How To Turn Heads
If you’ve had the GR86 on your radar, you already get it — rear-wheel drive, low stance, Toyota badge, and just enough heritage baked into its DNA to feel special. It looks like a car built to be driven, not just admired.
In dark blue, it feels sharper and more mature. It doesn’t shout for attention like a supercar, but it still turns heads at petrol stations and traffic lights. I took it out to Sekinchan — open roads, flat stretches, and enough space to see what it can really do outside the city grind.
From the outside, this is arguably the best-looking version of the 86 lineage yet. The proportions are tight, the rear is clean and muscular, and while the front fascia is slightly understated, the overall stance is cohesive and athletic.
Living With It: Tight, Compact, Uncompromising
Let’s be honest — this is not a practical car.
The second-row seats are essentially symbolic. Fold them down and you get a bit more space for the boot, but calling it “family usable” would be generous.
Getting in and out isn’t graceful either. Both driver and passenger have to drop into a low-slung cabin that immediately reminds you: This is a sports car first, everything else second. You adapt over time, but it never becomes effortless.
Inside, it’s simple and driver-focused. Toyota keeps things clean with just enough sport detailing to remind you what you’re in. It doesn’t feel luxurious — but it feels purposeful. And here, that matters more.
The AT Question: Does It Kill the GR86?
Mine was the automatic — and yes, that alone triggers purists.
But here’s the reality: It doesn’t ruin the car.
Around town, it behaves like a Corolla. Smooth, easy, no drama. In traffic, that’s exactly what you want. It makes the GR86 something you can actually live with daily, not just admire on weekends.
But on open roads, especially the drive out toward Sekinchan, the character shifts. The gearbox holds gears longer than expected, especially in “Sport” mode. It stays in the power band, pushes you to rev it out, and almost dares you to be passive.
Is it as engaging as a manual? No. But engagement isn’t just about shifting gears. It’s throttle control, weight transfer, braking precision, and understanding rear-wheel-drive balance. The automatic still gives you access to all of that.
Push it, and the boxer engine comes alive — that distinctive sound filling the cabin like a reminder that this is still a proper sports car beneath the convenience layer.
The Drive
Driving to Sekinchan is where the GR86 stops feeling like a review unit and starts feeling like a machine with intent.
The short wheelbase and rear-wheel-drive setup make it playful. Not dangerous — just alive. Add too much throttle mid-corner and the rear steps out. Lift off and it settles. It teaches without intimidating.
It’s not a powerful car by modern standards, 237 hp and 250 Nm, won’t impress anyone used to performance electrics or turbo sedans. But that’s not the point. The GR86 isn’t about brute force. It’s about learning control.
And that’s where it earns respect. It feels like a sparring partner — not trying to knock you out, just pushing you to sharpen your form.
Final Thoughts: The Modern AE86 Dream
The “Initial D” connection is unavoidable because the GR86 carries the same philosophy that made the AE86 iconic — a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive machine that rewards skill more than horsepower.
However, this isn’t a car you buy for convenience. You buy it because it makes driving feel alive again.
It’s not perfect. It’s not practical. And the automatic won’t satisfy purists.
But it is honest.
And in a world of heavier, quieter, more detached cars, the GR86 still feels like it was built for people who remember why driving used to matter.
Driving it out toward Sekinchan, I realised something simple: This isn’t a car trying to be everything. It’s a car that reminds you why you started dreaming about sports cars in the first place.
