2020 Toyota 86 TRD Handling Pack Quick Drive Review
TRD Handling Pack adds high-performance upgrades to the Toyota 86 sports car, but is it notably better than the standard car?
“Just give the car a cool down lap before you bring it in.” That was the only thing a Toyota rep told me as I was heading out on to Texas Motor Speedway’s infield road course. It was so nonchalant that it may as well have come from an old friend tossing me the keys to their car at a track day.
Toyota had lined up its 86 sports car next to the new 2020 86 with the TRD Handling Package for back-to-back track testing. They even threw in a few Supras to mix things up. No cap on the amount of laps taken in the car or caveats of any sort. It’s a brave move that most car manufacturers wouldn’t allow. Toyota is confident in the 86’s ability as a fun sports car on the road and the track.
Starting things off with the standard 86, I’m immediately reminded of the core competencies of the platform. The seating position is low, as is the hood line and center of gravity, among other things. The steering is direct and the dynamics of the car are charming. The 86 is a, inexpensive, 2,700 pound, rear-wheel drive sports car, and it behaves exactly as it should.
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I blow through the first braking zone, and the car’s nose pushes wide as it scrubs off speed. Some ten seconds later and I’m countersteering through the next two corners. The 86 is teaching me how to drive a track I’ve never driven on. If the car understeers, it’s my fault. If the car oversteers, it’s also my fault. This is a new car that costs just $26,985, including the destination charge, and it’s a better driver’s car than most. Though, the standard suspension on the 86, which is great on a winding road, naturally proves to be soft on the track. This extra bit of roll contributes to those under-and-oversteer moments.
After 20 minutes of chucking around the 86, I largely had the hang of it, other than occasionally overshooting a braking zone while trying to be brave. It’s time to try the 86 TRD Handling Pack.
The TRD Handling Package is a new option for the 2020 model year. It costs $2,320 when added to the base model 86, or just $1,270 when stacked with the higher-contented 86 GT model. It nets buyers larger and wider wheels, which measure 18x7.5”. They are shod in wider, stickier rubber than the standard car, no Michelin “Prius tires” here, but, instead the brand’s current high-performance option, the Pilot Sport 4S, which now measure 225/40R18 versus the standard car’s 215/45R17 rubber. Behind those big rollers are Brembo big brakes, with four-piston calipers up front and two-piston calipers out back. The suspension gets bespoke Sachs dampers. Last, but not least, a TRD cat-back exhaust is thrown in to offer a more authoritative rumble.
Toyota offered a full-on 86 TRD Special Edition for the 2019 model year, which had all of these performance upgrades, as well as different interior trimming, a body kit and bespoke black paint. It cost $32,420 and was a tough sell because of it. So, the TRD Handling Pack is just that, less show, but all of the go.
Right away, the rumbly TRD exhaust is a welcome upgrade. The Subaru engine never sounds particularly sweet, but the added decibels from the sporty exhaust at least adds some gusto to the experience.
Rolling on to Texas Motor Speedway, I’m reminded that the 86 is not a particularly quick car in a straight line, a Supra is on my tail int the first braking zone. While 205 horsepower can sufficiently propel a 2,700 pound car, it takes a while for the engine to get there, with a notably fall off in mid-range torque. 86 owners call this the torque dip, and it is universally loathed. Keeping the tachometer swinging above 5,000 RPM is a necessity with the 86.
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Much to the consternation of keyboard warriors across the land, Toyota has not budged on tuning or upgrading the engine. The Subaru-based FA20 engine is a 2.0-liter four pot that produces 205 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. Normally, Toyota 86 buyers can opt for a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual, but the TRD Handling Pack is paired exclusively with the stick, as it should be. A helical limited-slip differential is standard on all 86 models.
Still, within half a lap I’ve lost the Supra. Unlike the standard car, the 86 TRD Handling Package is notably more sure-footed. Toyota isn’t confirming it, but beyond the upgraded damper they have to have tweaked the spring rates as well, as there is notably less body roll and brake dive than the standard car. This firmer ride, along with the bigger rubber makes this 86 incredibly surefooted, being much less apt to moments of under- or oversteer than the base model.
However, the biggest upgrade here is the brakes. The consistency and superior heat tolerance offered by the upgraded stoppers makes it a no-brainer upgrade for any track day enthusiast. Lap after lap, the brake pedal remained firm, with no notable degradation in stopping power. This unwavering confidence in the brakes allows drivers to push their cars that much harder.
One caveat however is that, like many cars, the 86’s stock cooling system isn’t ready for repeated hard lapping. While water temperatures were rock solid at 205 degrees all day, oil temperatures went over 270 degrees. This is a known issue in the 86 community, and there all a large variety of oil coolers out there for those who are ready to throw down at their local track.
At just $2,320 the TRD Handling Package is a track day bargain, representing just a nine percent increase in overall price. All-in, buyers would be paying just $29,305 for a brand new car that is ready to throw down at a track day, offering consistent laps all day. Just don’t forget the oil cooler.
