The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ have an annoying shadow. To some lovers–learn: The Web–it’s underpowered, cheap-feeling, and never sufficient automobile to be thought-about a sports activities automobile. Its boxer engine evokes no ardour inside 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 automobile twins are merely not sufficient. Each single a kind of folks is fallacious.

I owned a 2023 BRZ for 16 months and located it to be one of the crucial pleasurable possession experiences I’ve ever had. And in asking for the brand new, frivolously up to date 2025 GR86 Hakone, I needed to see how one of many solely true sports activities vehicles in the marketplace 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 items. Whereas there are not any powertrain upgrades, it does get a shocking 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 a detailed have 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 automobile. The GR86 may be probably the most balanced sports activities automobile expertise you should buy new. To seek out out the the reason why, you’ll simply have to look at the video above.