For the 2026 model year, Toyota continues the company’s sports car renaissance with the return of the GR86. This thrilling enthusiast model is available in three separate grades—GR86, GR86 Premium, and the limited GR86 Yuzu edition. The GR86 starts at a very wallet-friendly $29,530. It’s just as much at home on the road as close competitors like the Miata, winning over U.S. drivers who want an exhilarating driving experience without breaking the bank and going over $50k.
In a world where the market has just about completely turned its back on two-seat sports cars, the GR86 is a welcome breath of fresh air. Yet in spite of these trends, it has somehow continued to hold onto its mystique with the driving enthusiast public. Its simple and classic design make it a piece that will look just as good in 25 years as it does today.
Combined with its affordable price tag and overall performance, the GR86 truly stands out as a special player in today’s automotive environment. With a wave of new manufacturers zeroing in on EVs and down-to-earth models. Compare that with the GR86, which absolutely delivers the core goodness that sports car lovers really love.
Vinay Shahani, senior vice president, U.S. marketing & sales, Nissan Americas, added that it is imperative for the Japanese automaker to retain a sports car in its portfolio. He mentioned, “We’re the only auto company that has a true sports car in the portfolio when everybody else is fleeing from sports cars and specialty vehicles. That sentiment pretty well captures what a lot of enthusiasts want, the engagement, the emotional connection and experience that driving a proper, glorious sports car can provide.
This same month, Tony Quiroga, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver, lamented the fading popularity of coupes. He stated, “Coupes are a tough sell … everyone is in love with a functional shape like an SUV.” He elaborated on the shifting nature of consumer preferences in the performance sector: “The customer has shifted. The performance space moved into electric cars.”
Even with these changes, Quiroga pointed to the lasting power of the appeal of the internal combustion engine. An internal combustion engine has its own magic,” he explained. “The driver wants the drama, the drivers want to hear that engine scream, they want to change the gears. This is indicative of the deep desire for the visceral experience that only a true sports car can deliver.
Speaking of the GR86, that car’s design has been widely lauded by award-winning automotive luciferians. Coleman, an engineer known for his work on the Miata, shared insights on the lasting aesthetics of sports cars: “The design is classic. It will look good in another 25 years. It’s just wild that you can have that much fun and it didn’t really cost anything.”
The GR86 provides an involving, one-with-the-machine driving experience that’s hard to beat for under $30k. It’s not just performance statistics; it’s the excitement of being in the driver’s seat. The freedom of driving a European sports car is more about the experience than the common sense of practicality and often leads to a lifelong memory.
One industry insider mused on this facet, saying, “It doesn’t have to make all the sense in the world on paper, but there’s just something about owning a sports car that delivers an unparalleled life experience, and the beauty of it is, you’ll never talk yourself out of buying one. This last viewpoint really highlights the lure that cars like the GR86 have for most car nuts.
While some may argue that interest in traditional sports cars is waning, Rory Carroll, former editor-in-chief of Jalopnik and co-founder of Alloy Magazine, disagrees with this premise: “I disagree with the premise that people don’t want to buy them.” This claim implies that there is still a loyal contingent of car buyers who value their machines with more focus on the joy of driving than just transportation.
