2017 Toyota GR86

2017 is the first year the Scion FR-S was sold as the Toyota 86 in the US, and the mid-cycle refresh gave manual-transmission cars a 5 hp bump over 2016; automatic cars stayed at 200 hp.

The naturally aspirated 2.0L flat-four makes modest torque that peaks high in the rev range, low against a coupe band topped by V8 muscle cars.

Instrumented manual-transmission tests of the 2017 86 range from about 6.2 to 6.7 seconds; the midpoint is used as representative.

The FA20 boxer revs freely and responds crisply to the throttle near its 7,400-rpm redline, but its well-documented midrange torque dip (roughly 3,000–4,500 rpm) and coarse boxer note under load keep it out of the top band; the 2017 shorter final drive helped only marginally.

The 6-speed manual — the enthusiast/volume choice — has a short, precise throw and well-spaced ratios that keep the engine on cam; the optional 6-speed automatic with paddles is competent but less praised.

The 86 is rear-wheel drive only; no AWD was offered on any trim.

A single 2.0L naturally aspirated flat-four is the only engine, with a choice of manual or automatic transmission; no turbo, hybrid or electrified option.

EPA figures split by transmission; the manual is the representative configuration for this sports car.

EPA city figure for the manual-transmission volume configuration.

EPA highway figure for the manual; the 2017 refresh's shorter final drive leaves it a point below the twin BRZ manual's 29 MPG.

fueleconomy.gov does not publish a range field for this gas car, so range is derived from the 13.2-gallon tank and the EPA combined figure.

EPA's annual fuel cost at standard assumptions is high for the class because the low combined economy is paired with a premium-fuel requirement.

Premium unleaded is specified for the FA20 across the 2017 86 lineup, adding to running costs.

NHTSA rated the 2017 Toyota 86's frontal crash (4 stars driver and passenger) and rollover (5 stars) but never published a side-impact test, so no combined overall star rating exists; the 4-star frontal result is used as the representative figure, matching its Subaru BRZ twin.

Good in moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints, but only Acceptable in the driver-side small overlap test (Marginal structure, with the head sliding off the airbag toward forward side structure); passenger-side small overlap untested and no Top Safety Pick award for 2017.

The 2017 86 offered no AEB, lane keeping, adaptive cruise, blind-spot or rear cross-traffic system on any trim; a rearview camera (newly standard for 2017 with the 7-inch display) is the only driver aid.

No forward-collision warning or automatic emergency braking was offered, so there is no AEB performance to rate.

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were not available on the 2017 86 at any trim.

No lane departure warning or lane keep assist was offered on the 2017 86.

Only conventional cruise control was fitted; adaptive cruise was not offered.

No hands-free highway driving system exists for this vehicle or generation.

IIHS did not publish a headlight rating for the 2017 86; LED low beams were standard after the 2017 refresh but without auto high beams or adaptive function, so a middling estimate is used absent a direct rating.

Very low seating position, thick rear pillars and a small rear window create notable rear-quarter blind zones; the newly standard 2017 backup camera partly compensates when reversing, but there is no blind-spot monitoring.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Marginal, and the 2+2 coupe's tiny rear seat and long doors with no rear openings make installing a child seat awkward.

The 86 is a 2+2 coupe with token rear seats. 2017 is a carry-over year for the 2013-2020 first-generation body.

Front headroom is unchanged from the ZN6 launch spec; the 2017 refresh did not alter the body shell.

The low seating position and long footwell give generous front legroom for a compact sports coupe.

The rear headroom figure is shared with the BRZ twin and consistent across spec sources for this generation.

29.9 in of rear legroom makes the rear bench essentially unusable for adults, as its 2+2 reputation suggests.

The trunk is small even for a sports coupe. The fold-down rear seatback, a known way to fit a spare set of wheels, adds real usable space.

Storage is limited to small door pockets, a small console bin and cupholders. Nothing goes beyond what a compact coupe normally offers, apart from the fold-down rear seatback.

The firm, well-bolstered front sport seats (new fabric with silver stitching for 2017) are supportive over long drives, though the cushions are thin. The rear seats are token.

For 2017 Toyota revised the shock tuning and spring rates. Reviewers still describe a firm, busy ride over broken pavement.

Road, tire and engine noise are prominent at highway speed in this lightweight coupe, which has little sound deadening.

The volume base 86 has manual single-zone climate and no heated seats. Dual-zone automatic climate and heated front seats came only on the limited-run 860 Special Edition.

For 2017 the car was sold as the Toyota 86 (renamed from the Scion FR-S after Scion's 2016 wind-down) in a single grade, starting at $26,255 for the six-speed manual plus Toyota's $865 delivery fee.

The 2017 86 had one regular grade, so the base car is the volume configuration; the limited-run 860 Special Edition sat above it at $29,155/$29,875 before delivery.

RepairPal's $755/yr figure for the 2017 86 reflects an older car; over the first five years ToyotaCare pays for scheduled service in years one and two, leaving roughly three years of paid upkeep plus tires and brakes on a simple naturally aspirated FA20 — set between the BRZ twin's CarEdge figure and the later GR86 median.

KBB shows the 2017 86 still worth about $15,650 private-party against a $27,860 original MSRP at roughly nine years old (≈56%), and essentially flat (−1%) over the last three years; back-solving to the five-year mark (2022, inflated by the used-car spike) puts retention near 70%, consistent with nameplate figures of 77–86% from CarEdge/iSeeCars. Any figure in that range clears the 65% top of the coupe band.

Toyota's standard basic coverage, at the floor of the segment band.

Toyota's standard powertrain term, at the bottom of the segment band and level with the Subaru BRZ twin.

ToyotaCare covers factory-scheduled maintenance for 2 years/25,000 miles plus 2 years of unlimited-mileage 24-hour roadside assistance — a real edge over the mechanically identical BRZ, whose free service covers only the first visit. Held below the top band because the window is two years and there is no connected-services trial.

$27,120 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (70% retained, or about $18,984) leaves about $8,136 in depreciation. Add the projected $3,200 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $11,336 in total.

The 2017 Toyota 86 (the first year after the Scion FR-S was rebranded) came first in Consumer Reports' October 2017 reliability rankings with a predicted-reliability score of 80/100. J.D. Power rated its 2017 predicted reliability above average at 3.5 out of 5. Both sources agree, with CR the stronger of the two, which puts it near the top of the band.

Toyota was consistently top-5 in that era's dependability studies. Consumer Reports' 2017 brand rankings put Toyota near the top, behind only Lexus among mainstream and luxury brands, and J.D. Power's 2017 Vehicle Dependability Study placed Toyota well under the industry average for problems. The car is built by Subaru at Ōta, Gunma, but it carries Toyota's warranty and dealer backing.

NHTSA lists only two small, minor campaigns for MY2017. One covered 94 automatic, key-ignition cars from which the key could be removed outside Park (an FMVSS 114 compliance issue). The other covered 409 units from distributor Gulf States Toyota whose spare-tire pressure had not been set. The large 2021 fuel-pump recall (21V587) covered 2018–2019 cars and not 2017, so nothing systemic applies to this year.

The naturally aspirated FA20 2.0L boxer (the 2017 manual got 205 hp from a revised intake/exhaust and a 4.3 final drive) has no turbo and simple port/direct injection. Owners and forums do, however, report oil consumption, a 4,000-rpm torque dip and occasional valve-spring/ring wear under track use. The 6-speed manual and 6-speed Aisin automatic have no systemic failures on record. Overall a mixed history rather than a proven high-mileage design.

The 2017 refresh added a soft-touch, stitched 'Granlux' dash panel, a new steering wheel and nicer trim over the 2013–2016 FR-S. Reviewers still describe hard, cheap plastics on doors and the console, so the cabin is competitive for its price rather than class-leading.

The car shares its Subaru-built body with the BRZ, and owners of both report interior rattles and buzzes, speaker and trim noises, and the odd headlight-housing condensation. These are scattered complaints rather than a systemic quality failure, and the car's top CR reliability ranking argues against widespread defects.

After Scion was folded into Toyota for 2017, the 86 is sold and serviced through Toyota's dense US network of roughly 1,200+ dealers, one of the largest in the country, with solid service-satisfaction standing. Some dealer techs are less familiar with this Subaru-built boxer drivetrain, which keeps it short of the very top.

Nearly all mechanical and body parts are shared across the 86, Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ, so OEM parts come from two supply chains. The car also has one of the largest sports-car aftermarkets (HKS, Cusco, Perrin, TRD and others). Routine maintenance costs are normal for a small Toyota.

The 2017 86 replaced the Scion FR-S head unit with Toyota Display Audio on a 7-inch touchscreen, standard on every car.

The Pioneer-sourced Display Audio unit is basic and dated, with a low-resolution, slow interface. It does keep physical buttons and a volume knob.

The 2017 86 has no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, wired or wireless. Phone integration is Bluetooth, USB/iPod and AUX only.

There is no embedded navigation, and voice control is limited to basic Bluetooth phone commands.

Every car gets an 8-speaker Pioneer system, a step above the twin BRZ Premium's 6 speakers. No premium branded upgrade is offered.

The volume car uses an analog center tachometer with an inset digital speedometer and a programmable rev indicator. The 4.2-inch multi-information display with performance data is listed for the 860 Special Edition.

The 2017 Display Audio head unit has no over-the-air update capability of any kind.

There is no Toyota companion app with remote lock, start or locate for the 2017 86. Remote start exists only as an aftermarket kit.

A single USB-A port and an AUX jack are the only device inputs. There is no wireless charging and no USB-C.

The volume base 86 uses a traditional key with remote keyless entry. Smart key with push-button start was limited to the 860 Special Edition.

A rearview camera shown on the 7-inch screen is standard. No parking sensors or surround view are offered.

No head-up display was offered on the 2017 86.

The token 29.9-in rear legroom, low roofline and long doors with a tight rear opening make fitting and loading a child seat genuinely hard every day.

No active driver assistance (AEB, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping, adaptive cruise) was offered at any price, and the federal crash-test record is incomplete.

With token rear seats, no rear amenities and a 6.9 cu ft trunk, the 86 cannot carry a family and its luggage on a long trip.

The light, compact car is easy to place, but the firm ride, cabin noise, low seating and manual clutch work in traffic add fatigue. The optional 6-speed automatic eases stop-and-go driving.

Fuel economy is reasonable for a sports car, but the 86 requires premium fuel, which pushes per-mile cost above what the MPG figure alone suggests.

The short body and 36.1-ft turning circle make it easy to park. Thick rear pillars and the low seating position make it hard to judge the corners.

There is no tow rating and payload is negligible. With a 6.9 cu ft trunk, the 86 offers nothing for work duty.

The FA20 drivetrain is simple and generally robust, but the low-slung body, sport tires and soft-touch interior are not suited to work abuse, and the car has no fleet record.

The 86 has no tie-downs, power outlets, rack provisions or upfit ecosystem.

The front seats hold up over distance, but the firm ride, road noise and lack of adaptive cruise or driver assists limit the 86 as a mile-eater. Cruise control is standard.

Rear-wheel drive only, low ground clearance and no factory roof-rack or tow provisions make it pavement-bound.

The trunk is small, but the fold-down rear seatback is well known for swallowing a spare set of wheels and tires for track days, adding flexibility beyond the rated volume.

A low center of gravity, 53/47 balance, a standard limited-slip differential and the 2017 spring/damper retune give class-leading agility. The economy-biased Michelin Primacy HP tires cap ultimate grip.

The quick rack (2.48 turns lock to lock) is accurate and naturally weighted, and reviewers rate it among the best electric power-steering tunes of its era.

Pedal feel is good for spirited street driving, but the modest brake hardware fades under sustained track use.

The manual shifts crisply, but the FA20's documented midrange torque dip demands active gear selection.

The boxer has a characterful note that turns coarse and droning near the redline, with some vibration through the controls.

A tight turning circle for a coupe, helped by the short wheelbase.

Enthusiasts prize the low, snug driving position and the well-placed pedals and shifter. Getting in and out is a stretch, and rear-quarter visibility is poor.

Reviewers near-universally recommend the 86 as one of the purest, most engaging affordable rear-drive sports cars of its era. Even critical reviews concede its "raw feeling of driving joy".

The single 2017 grade comes with a Torsen limited-slip differential, LED headlights/DRLs/taillights, a 7-inch touchscreen audio system, backup camera, Hill Start Assist and 17-inch alloys — real sports-car hardware at $27k. It lacks smartphone mirroring and the BRZ Limited's heated seats, but there is no stripped base car to trap buyers.

A rear-drive, LSD-equipped, near-50/50 sports coupe for about $27k delivered had few direct rivals besides its BRZ twin and the Mazda MX-5; the handling-per-dollar case is strong, held back by a 205-hp engine that V6 Mustangs and Camaros at similar money outgunned.

One body, one engine, one regular grade with a choice of manual or automatic, plus the limited-run 860 Special Edition — narrower even than the two-trim BRZ. Take-it-or-leave-it.

The Toyota-badged relaunch steadied sales in 2017 at roughly 6,800 units — outselling the BRZ — but the nameplate was well off its 2013 FR-S peak and fell again to about 4,100 in 2018.

Moving from the shuttered Scion youth brand to the Toyota badge gave the car Toyota's reliability and resale halo, and the 86 itself carries an enthusiast cult following tied to the AE86 heritage, though Toyota was not yet a performance brand in the US before the GR sub-brand.

Toyota launched the 2017 86 with 'value pricing' (lower MSRP than the outgoing FR-S trims) and period dealer discounts were modest; a low-volume niche coupe, so occasional rather than heavy incentives.

2017 brought the first generation's mid-cycle refresh — restyled fascias, LED lighting, retuned suspension, and a 5-hp/5 lb-ft bump plus shorter final drive for manuals — but on a platform already in its fifth US model year with the second generation arriving for 2022.

Reviewers continued to praise steering, balance and the refreshed suspension, but the modest power increase and torque dip drew the same criticism as before; well-regarded within its niche and generally ranked behind the Mazda MX-5 in comparisons rather than winning them.