The Toyota GR86 is enduring proof that you can still have fun in a budget minded sports car. The GR86 has been an enduring presence in Toyota showrooms with the model being produced as part of a partnership with Subaru and was once known as the Scion FR-S before that brand was shuttered.

The GR86 was once part of a pair with the diminutive coupe being sold alongside the GR Supra. Sadly, the Supra is being retired next Spring and when it leaves, the GR86 will be the only coupe left. To help keep interest fresh, Toyota has decided to revive the Hakone Edition for another spin with this special model focusing on improving handling and style.

Hakone Edition’s green paint will draw a crowd

One of the first things that buyers will notice about the revived Hakone Edition is its bold Ridge Green paint which was inspired by the Hakone region in Japan. The slick paint (you will occasionally get a few cheeky references to “British Racing Green” from passersby) pops in the sunlight and is contrasted nicely with the bronze colored 18-inch wheels.

The green paintwork is a potent conversation starter but in addition to impressing your friends, it will also attract the attention of the local bird population with our tester having to be washed a few times during its stay with us due to bombardments from birds in the area.

The rest of the styling is largely carried over from the base GR86 and the Hakone Edition itself was last seen on the 2020 model. The interior gets black and brown leather accents as well as a tasteful Hakone Edition black on the center console.

GR86 interior continues to do the essentials

Slip inside the interior of the Hakone Edition and other than the new colors, the core cabin experience hasn;t changed too much. The front seats are still very comfortable and supportive with the bolstering continuing to do a good job of keeping drivers firmly in place when going through sharp corners.

The GR86 and the BRZ have the same tech appointments and while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, the infotainment system is also cursed with an older iteration of Subaru’s software which means plenty of lag and stuttering when moving between menus. Here’s hoping that a more fleshed out software update will fix that in the near future.

The backseats are still not meant for people either but fold them down and you’ll find enough room for a full set of race tires or even more mundane loads like groceries or other gear.

Sharper dance shoes make this Hakone groove with the best of them

Performance for all Hakone Editions continues to come from a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder wit a prior update bumping power up slightly to 228 hp. A six-speed manual is the standard transmission but buyers can also go for an optional six-speed automatic though we recommend not doing that since it’s slightly slower to 60 than the stick.

The stick provides smooth feel and operation but the clutch does take some practice but that has always been the case with other GR86 and BRZ models that we have experienced over the years. Get your feet in tune with it and the Hakone Edition delivers strong acceleration and delivers good communication to the driver. Toyota says the Hakone can make he sprint to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds which is on par with rivals like the Mazda MX-5.

But the engine is only one half of the story and the real slice of the action is found in the upgraded suspension with the Hakone getting the Performance Package bundled in. This package gives the Hakone Sachs dampers and Brembo brakes with these additions improving the GR86’s handling behavior. Fuel economy is typically not a priority for most GR buyers but for those that are curious, the EPA says an automatic equipped Hakone ca get 21/31 mpg in city/freeway driving with the stick lowering those figures slightly to 20/30 mpg in the same categories.

Value Quotient

Pricing for the base GR86 starts at just over $30,000 for the base model with the GR86 family being split into three trim levels. The range-topper is the Hakone with a base manual example like our tester starting at $35,270. Automatic models add an extra $1100 to that figure and this upcharge is yet another reason why the automatic should be avoided. Our particular model had a minor sprinkling of options which caused our tester to go slightly above that figure.

Despite that, the Hakone is still a pretty potent value but buyers looking to get a Hakone Edition of their own will have to move quickly. Toyota is only building 860 examples of the Hakone this time around and look for all of them to go very quickly even as the GR86 lineup as a whole is contending with a recent slump in sales. In the meantime, look for the Hakone to continue