The GT86 has lived up to appreciable hype, making a straight forward entrance, taking a bow and then exiting sideways…with poise. But what auto-journos have gently swept under the rug is its in-ability to get to speed. That 2.0-litre flat-4 maybe a boxer engine but it knows how to throw no more than a gentleman’s punch – which has the might of the modern day fist bump. Even the 240 bhp S2000 by Honda from over a decade ago redlines higher and will readily wave the white flag before the end of quarter mile…for the poor Toyota’s sake. Performance specifications for the FR-S goes something like this…
0 to 60 mph – 6.2 seconds (Motor Trend); 6.0 – 6.2 seconds (Car & Driver); 9.2 seconds (Drive Arabia 0 – 62 mph)
Quarter mile – 14.8 sec @ 95.1 mph (Motor Trend); 14.7 – 14.9 sec @NA mph (Car & Driver)
Top Speed – NA (Motor Trend); 143 mph (Car & Driver); 130 – 140 mph (Drive Arabia)
Now forget what other manufacturers offer, there are cars within the brand which will school this bantam-weight, such as…
1. TOYOTA AVALON
This ride for the retired folk has never been a slouch and the 2014 model packs a 268 bhp 3.5-litre V6 under the hood. It won’t be a pretty sight when grandpa of 60+ years gets his teenage grandson to eat dust at the lights.
0 to 100 km/h – 6.2 secs (Motor Trend); 6.1 (Car & Driver); 6.9 seconds (Drive Arabia – 0 to 62 mph)
Quarter mile – 14.5 sec @ 98.1 mph (Motor Trend); 14.5 sec @ 98.1 mph (Car & Driver)
Top Speed – NA (Motor Trend); 129 mph (Car & Driver); 155 mph (Drive Arabia)
2. TOYOTA AURION
This is the younger looking bro of the Avalon with which it shares much of the powertrain. When 336 Nm lurks under your foot, you’d be sure to put the FR-S in its place.
0 to 60 mph – 7.2 seconds (Drive Arabia – 0 to 62 mph)
Top Speed – 142 mph ( Drive Arabia)
3. TOYOTA FJ CRUISER
The sultan of the sands knows how to splash some sand but on the road, without a 5-member crew and luggage it will tear the GT86 at the lights and beyond…until you hit the limiter at 111 mph. Any which way the cement brick aerodynamics wouldn’t let it go faster.
0 to 60 mph – 7.3 seconds (Motor Trend) 8.0 seconds (Drive Arabia – 0 to 62 mph)
Quarter mile – 15.8 sec @ 87 mph (Motor Trend)
Top Speed – 111 mph (Motor Trend); 112 mph (Drive Arabia)
4. TOYOTA FORTUNER
Even the Hilux based built-in-Thailand SUV can have a little go at the 86 with its potent mid-range without shame.
0 to 60 mph – 9.0 seconds (Drive Arabia – 0 to 62 mph)
Quarter mile – NA
Top Speed – 112 mph (Carfolio); 116 mph (Drive Arabia)
