If you’re drawn to the Toyota GR86‘s blend of performance, handling, and reliability, you’re in luck. Notably, other models offer similar thrills without the GR86 badge. For instance, the BMW sDrive35i and BMW 230i boast impressive acceleration and handling dynamics that might just sway your decision.
But that’s not all – more alternatives are waiting to be delved, each with its unique strengths. What else might you find?
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Key Takeaways
- The BMW Z4 sDrive35i, Nissan 370Z, and Hyundai Veloster N offer similar performance and handling to the Toyota GR86.
- Manual transmission enthusiasts can consider the Hyundai Elantra N, Honda Civic Type R, and Nissan 370Z.
- Daily driving options with reliable performance include the Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai Elantra N, and Mazda MX-5 Miata.
- Size and class considerations include the Subaru BRZ, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and the Nissan Z, all with varying price points.
- Alternatives to the GR86’s $27,000 base price include the Mazda MX-5 Miata at $26,000 and the Nissan Z at $30,000.
Alternatives to the Toyota GR86
If you’re in the market for a sports car but want to investigate options beyond the GR86, there are several alternatives worth considering.
The BMW Z4 sDrive35i is a strong contender, boasting a 0-60mph time of 5.2 seconds and a high-quality interior.
The Nissan 370Z offers a smooth V-6 engine and a relatively low entry price of around $30,000.
The BMW 230i packs a punch with its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 248 horsepower, making it a fast and fun-to-drive alternative to the GR86.
Compact Sports Cars
| Car | Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|---|
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | 4-cyl | 181 hp |
| Honda S2000 AP2 | 2.0L inline-4 | 240 hp |
| Hyundai Veloster N | 2.0L turbo inline-4 | 275 hp |
| Nissan Z 370Z | 3.7L V6 | 332 hp |
Performance Bargains
You can find some amazing deals on high-performance vehicles that won’t break the bank.
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe offers a nice middle-ground performance at an affordable price range of $6,000-$20,000.
If you’re looking for a fun-to-drive experience, the Hyundai Veloster N is available with a turbocharged inline-four engine producing 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, priced around $18,000.
Another performance bargain is the Subaru WRX STI (VA) sedan, powered by a 2.5-liter boxer engine, producing 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet, priced around $15,000.
These performance cars are sure to provide an exhilarating driving experience.
Other Alternatives
Beyond the performance bargains mentioned earlier, other alternatives exist that offer a unique blend of power and affordability.
You might consider the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, which offers a range of engines and transmissions, priced between $6,000 and $20,000.
If you’re looking for something more potent, the Veloster N’s turbocharged inline-four produces 275 horsepower, priced around $18,000.
Alternatively, the Subaru WRX STI offers all-wheel drive and a rally-inspired design, priced around $15,000.
You may also consider the Porsche Cayman or BMW M235i/240i for a more premium experience.
Requirements and Preferences
You’re looking for cars similar to the Toyota GR86, and you have specific requirements and preferences in mind.
For starters, you need a car with a manual transmission, and a model year of 2021 or newer, all for under $40,000.
Additionally, you’re looking for a reliable daily driver that’s relatively fast and fun to drive.
Manual Transmission Must-Haves
Several factors come into play when seeking a manual transmission, and enthusiasts often prioritize performance, handling, and driving experience.
You’ll find a six-speed manual transmission in the Hyundai Elantra N, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Honda Civic Type R boasts a short-throw six-speed manual transmission, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds.
Other options include the Nissan 370Z, BMW 230i, and Volkswagen Golf GTI, each featuring a six-speed manual transmission and impressive acceleration times, making them strong contenders for those seeking a fun driving experience.
Reliable Daily Driving Options
Delving into the domain of reliable driving options, you’ll find a mix of power, handling, and daily driving practicality.
Sports cars like the Honda Civic Type R and Nissan 370Z provide potent engines and precise handling.
For a more practical approach, the Hyundai Elantra N and Volkswagen Golf GTI offer reliable performance without sacrificing daily driving comfort.
If you prefer a lightweight and agile ride, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is an excellent choice.
These reliable daily driving options will satisfy your need for speed and handling, making them great alternatives to the Toyota GR86.
Alternative Cars Considered and Deal Breakers
You’ve narrowed down your requirements, and now it’s time to investigate alternative options.
You’re considering performance bargains like the Elantra N, WRX, and Miata, but certain features are deal breakers – electric cars, German badge, and US muscle cars are off the table.
You’re looking for a manual transmission, a fun drive, and reliability, all within a specific budget and size constraint.
Alternative Options
When searching for a car similar to the Toyota GR86, you’ll likely come across a range of alternatives to ponder or weigh.
If you’re considering the Subaru BRZ, or Honda Civic Type R, you may also want to examine:
- Hyundai Elantra N: a performance bargain with 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque
- Subaru WRX STI: a sedan with all-wheel drive and rally-inspired design
- BMW M235i/240i: an alternative to the BMW M2 with a hard-to-match driving experience
- Porsche Cayman (987): a compact sports car with prices below $20,000
Performance Bargains
Among the performance bargains, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe stands out as a middle-ground option, offering a range of engines and transmissions at a reasonable $6,000-$20,000. If you’re looking for more performance, consider these alternatives:
| Car Model | Horsepower & Torque |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Veloster N | 260 lb-ft |
| Subaru WRX STI (VA) | 305 hp, 290 lb-ft |
| Porsche Cayman (987) | varies by engine |
These cars offer impressive performance with the Veloster N producing 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the WRX STI boasts 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque.
Deal Breaker Features
While exploring alternatives to the Toyota GR86, certain features can be major turnoffs, ultimately leading you to rethink your choices.
These deal breaker features can be subjective, but some common ones to weigh are:
- Lack of manual transmission option: If you’re a driving enthusiast, the absence of a stick-shift might be a deal breaker.
- Limited interior space: If you need a car that can fit multiple passengers or cargo, some alternatives mightn’t cut it.
- Poor fuel economy: If you prioritize saving money on gas, some cars mightn’t be the best fit.
- Outdated infotainment system: If you want a modern, user-friendly interface, some alternatives mightn’t deliver.
Performance-Oriented Options and Daily Driving Considerations
Several high-performance cars similar to the Toyota GR86 are available, offering a mix of power, handling, and daily driving considerations that enthusiasts crave. If you’re looking for a Type R-like experience, consider the following sports cars:
| Model | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|
| Porsche 911 Carrera S | 379-hp twin-turbo flat-six | 7-speed manual |
| Nissan Z | 332-hp 3.7-liter V6 | 6-speed manual |
| Ford Mustang GT | 460-hp 5.0-liter V8 | 6-speed manual |
| Chevrolet Camaro SS | 455-hp 6.2-liter V8 | 6-speed manual |
| Chevrolet Corvette Stingray | 460-hp 6.2-liter V8 | 7-speed manual |
These performance-oriented options balance daily driving considerations with exceptional handling and power.
Other Cars to Look At
Beyond the performance-oriented options, you’ll find other cars that might pique your interest.
If you’re looking for a lightweight sports car, consider the Lotus Elise. For a more practical option, the Audi S3, BMW 240i, and Mazda 3 Turbo are worth exploring. These cars offer a mix of performance and daily driving capabilities.
- Lotus Elise: a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports car
- Audi S3: a performance-oriented sedan with 292 horsepower
- BMW 240i: a compact luxury coupe with 335 horsepower
- Mazda 3 Turbo: a performance-oriented sedan with 250 horsepower
Front-Wheel Drive Dislikes and Concerns
You may find that the front-wheel drive cars similar to the Toyota GR86 lack the power you crave, with limited power options that can’t satisfy your need for acceleration.
Additionally, these cars often have launch control limitations that restrict their performance capabilities, particularly below 4K RPM.
As you weigh your options, consider whether these limitations are deal-breakers for you.
Limited Power Options
When scoping out cars similar to the Toyota GR86, you’ll likely notice that front-wheel drive configuration can be a major turn-off for some enthusiasts.
One concern is limited power options, which can result in a lackluster driving experience.
- Limited power output can result in a lack of excitement for drivers who crave more power and speed.
- Front-wheel drive cars often have limited movement below 4,000 RPM, making them feel sluggish and unresponsive.
- The concern about engine failure in front-wheel drive cars can also be a major turn-off for potential buyers, especially when considering a car with lower horsepower like the Toyota GR86, which maxes out at 228 horsepower.
Launch Control Limitations
As driving enthusiasts seek out cars similar to the Toyota GR86, they’re likely to encounter front-wheel drive vehicles that fall short in terms of launch control capabilities.
You’ll find that these cars often lack movement below 4K RPM, hindering the driving experience and thrill of accelerating from a standstill.
Without launch control, wheelspin and torque steer become more pronounced, making it difficult to harness the power and speed of the engine.
This reliance on electronic systems to manage power distribution leads to a less engaging and less thrilling drive compared to rear-wheel drive cars with manual transmissions.
Similar Cars to the 2025 Toyota 86
Three rear-wheel-drive sports cars rival the 2025 Toyota 86’s driving experience, prioritizing agility and handling over raw power.
If you’re looking for alternatives, consider these options:
- The 2024 Nissan Z, offering a more powerful engine option and a more premium feel, while sharing the same focus on driving dynamics and handling.
- The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata, which trades power for even more agility and a stronger focus on handling and driving pleasure.
- The 2024 Subaru BRZ, closely related to the Toyota 86, with a similar emphasis on driving enjoyment and agility over raw power.
- The 2025 Toyota Supra, offering more power and a more premium interior, but sharing the same focus on driving enjoyment and handling.
Performance and Handling
When you step on the gas, you’ll experience agile handling dynamics that’ll keep you on the edge.
Rapid acceleration thrills are also on tap, making these cars hard to resist for driving enthusiasts.
With performance capabilities that rival the 2025 Toyota GR86, these alternatives promise an unforgettable ride.
Agile Handling Dynamics
You expect a thrilling ride from cars similar to the Toyota GR86, and agile handling dynamics deliver just that.
These cars are designed to provide a responsive and engaging driving experience.
- The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata’s chassis enables agile handling dynamics, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
- The 2024 Ford Mustang’s package produces 500 horsepower, making it a formidable opponent in agile handling.
- The 2025 Toyota GR86 boasts a 228-horsepower engine, 184 pound-feet of torque, and a 6-speed manual transmission, resulting in agile handling dynamics.
- The 2024 Nissan Z Nismo achieves 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, exemplifying exceptional agile handling dynamics and performance capabilities.
Rapid Acceleration Thrills
Rapid acceleration is a crucial aspect of the driving experience, and cars similar to the Toyota GR86 deliver it in spades.
You’ll feel the rush as you accelerate from 0-60 in 6.1 with the GR86’s 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque.
But if you crave even more power, the Hyundai Elantra N’s turbocharged 2.0-liter engine pumps out 276 horsepower, reaching 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang GT’s Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine produces a whopping 460 horsepower, accelerating from 0-60 mph in a mere 3.9 seconds.
Size and Class
Size matters in the world of sports cars, and the Toyota GR86’s classification as a small coupe says a lot about its design and performance.
You’ll notice the GR86 has a curb weight of 2,776 pounds and a length of 167.7 inches.
Here’s how it compares to similar cars:
- The Subaru BRZ: 2,776 pounds, 167.7 inches
- The Mazda MX-5 Miata: 2,332 pounds, 157.3 inches
- The Nissan Z: 3,252 pounds, 172.6 inches
Price Range
The Toyota GR86’s compact size and lightweight design have a direct impact on its pricing strategy.
You’ll find it’s competitively priced, making it an affordable option in the compact sports car segment. The base price of around $27,000 is lower than the Honda Civic Type R’s $37,000.
The Mazda MX-5 Miata, a more premium offering, has a base price of around $26,000, a viable alternative to the GR86. The Nissan Z’s $30,000 starting price makes it slightly more expensive.
Unexpected Alternatives to the Toyota GR86
While you’re shopping for a Toyota GR86, you mightn’t consider other models that can offer a similar driving experience.
However, there are some unexpected alternatives to the GR86 that are worth exploring.
For instance:
- The BMW Z4 sDrive35i offers a 0-60 MPH time of 5.2 seconds and a twin-turbocharged inline-six engine producing 300 horsepower.
- The Nissan 370Z provides a 0-60 MPH time of 5.2 seconds and a smooth V-6 engine sending 332 horsepower.
- The BMW 230i offers a 0-60 MPH time of 5.1 seconds and a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 248 horsepower.
- The Volkswagen Golf GTI provides a 0-60 MPH time of 5.1 seconds and a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine churning out 241 horsepower.
Conclusion
You’ve finally escaped the Toyota GR86‘s gravitational pull, only to realize the alternatives are just as wallet-draining. Congratulations on entering the world of compact sports cars, where “affordable” means “you’ll still need a second job.” Performance bargains? More like performance-adjacent compromises. But hey, at least the Hyundai Veloster N won’t leave you crying yourself to sleep – it’ll just leave you crying.
