Toyota coupes have always been the go-to choice when you need something nimble and sporty, but also reliable. Yet, not all that many people think about their potential for being great daily cars.
While Toyota coupes such as the 2000GT have been truly only designed with performance in mind, newer models are much better at combining comfort and usability with performance and sports driving. Here are the best three Toyota coupes that you can actually live with comfortably.
Toyota Celica 7th Generation (T230 1999-2006)
The Toyota Celica is the model representing older Toyota models on this list. First introduced in 1999, this car represents an era when cars were simple, analog, and free of modern tech. That said, it still has all the creature comforts you could need. Nowadays, many people are tuning their Celicas to push more power out of them and make them into crazy performance cars. This makes finding stock models slightly more difficult but if you manage to find one, it’s perfectly fine for everyday commuting in style.
The great thing about the Celica is that it is a liftback, which allows for a larger cargo opening and thus improved practicality. Also, this Toyota has rear seats, and while not the most comfortable, they are still good to have for that everyday usability. If you are looking to carry more cargo, then the rear seats can be folded to increase the capacity even further.
In the US, this Toyota coupe was available in two trim levels, which used different engines. The base model GT was equipped with a 1.8L I4 generating 142 hp and 125 lb.-ft of torque. It came with two transmission options, a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. This drivetrain might not be the best for sports driving due to its rather modest (but reasonable) power output. On the other hand, it is known for its reliability and good fuel economy, thanks to which it is perfect to live with.
The second drivetrain option was in the GT-S model, which used a similar 1.8L I4 engine but tuned to a more generous 182 hp and 133 lb.-ft of torque. This drivetrain was even featured on the Lotus Elise.
The 7th generation Celica introduced a lot of weight-saving solutions, such as lightweight body panels or a unique sunroof made out of polymer instead of glass. Because of this, it is also a light car and the 1.8L 2ZZ-GE provides more than enough power. The GT-S model also offered better transmissions.
The manual had an extra gear for a total of six speeds while the automatic introduced shift buttons to the steering wheel. Compared to the base model, it also used disc brakes on both axles, contrary to the GT with drum brakes on the rear. Nonetheless, stopping power is decent on both variants.
The Celica lived until 2006 but at that time, it was only offered in Japan. For US customers, the model was discontinued after the 2005 model year. This was also the last year for Celica on the US market overall, as it never received a successor, which is quite disappointing, given how well it performed.
Toyota GR Supra (J29/DB 2019-Present)
The Toyota Supra is one of the most iconic Toyota models for all petrolheads and JDM enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it was canceled after its fourth generation in 2002. After 17 years of waiting, Toyota has given us an entirely new GR Supra and revived this iconic model. To get the negatives out of the way first — yes, it was developed in cooperation with BMW, and it is largely a rebadged BMW Z4. However, we have to admit that in a world filled with SUVs, coupes no longer have such a good position, and without saving on development costs through the BMW partnership, there would be no Supra at all.
In the end, BMW had quite a good influence on the GR Supra, which could be summed up as a better, more aggressive, rarer, and less expensive Z4. Particularly the looks are an upgrade to the rather modest BMW donor platform. The front features large air vents for cooling the BMW-derived engine as well as the large disc brakes. However, the best comes when you look at the Supra from the 3/4 rearview, where you can see the muscular fenders, iconic ducktail, and a large diffuser.
As for the engine, the GR Supra offers a choice between two drivetrains. The base offering is made up of a 2.0L I4 producing 258 hp and 295 lb.-ft of torque. The second option is a 3.0L inline 6 cylinder which makes 387 hp and 369 lb.-ft. The 0-60 times of the two variants are 5.2 and 4.3 seconds respectively. Both engines are twin-turbos and come with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission as standard, but Toyota has already announced that a 6-speed manual will be available as an option.
Particularly the smaller engine is perfect for everyday use thanks to its great gas mileage and lower service costs. The four-cylinder option is said to handle better, as it saves 176 lbs over the front axle, making the base Supra more balanced. However, if you are looking for something special, the six-cylinder GR Supra is the one to get. Of course, they are both rear-wheel drive, as every proper sports coupe should be.
Being a BMW under the skin, the Supra has all the comfort amenities you might think of. Particularly the infotainment system works great, as it is identical to modern BMWs. Further contributing to the everyday usability of this Toyota coupe are its adjustable dampers, which allow for a surprisingly comfortable ride. The ZF transmission shifts extremely fast, but it can also be smooth.
The latest Supra features Alcántara seats, a premium JBL sound system with 12 speakers, a head-up display, lane departure warning, emergency braking, and other features as standard. The Supra is simply packed with comfort and safety features, which makes it perfect to live with.
Toyota GR86 (ZN8/ZD8 2021-Present)
The GR86 is the latest addition to the family of Toyota coupes. It stays loyal to the recipe used by its predecessor — the Toyota 86 and Scion FR-S. The GR86 went on sale in late 2021 and at the first glance, it looks really similar to the first generation. However, while cost savings could have been easily spotted on the former model, the new one is much more refined. This can be seen everywhere — on the outside, inside, and under the body panels.
On the outside, the GR86 offers a subtle, yet sporty design. There is a decent ducktail on the rear and two large oval exhaust tips. When you look at it from the side, you will immediately notice the short overhangs which are a premise for great handling. The front is where the GR86 looks perhaps the simplest, yet extremely attractive thanks to the large grille, low hood line, and headlamps with black accents.
The interior uses the same layout as the former 86 but is finally worthy of the 2020s. It is still somewhat utilitarian but a pleasant place to be at. The Alcántara wrapped seats keep the driver tight in the corners, and the sporty 3-spoke steering wheel and short shifter are just perfect for a sporty coupe.
The most important for a Toyota coupe is definitely the drivetrain. The GR86 comes with a single engine option — a naturally aspirated 2.4L inline-4. With 228 hp and 184 lb.-ft of torque, it is a nice upgrade over the previous model. The numbers might seem too low to some, but they are what makes the GR-engineered Toyota an appealing choice. It can be so much fun even at low speeds while keeping the running costs low.
All of the above fits great with the idea of a car that is easy to live with. For purists, the GR86 can be fitted with a 6-speed manual, but that one is only available for the base model. The Premium spec comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The 0-60 time is slightly better with the manual at 6.1 seconds, which is a 0.5-second improvement against the automatic.
What divides good cars from great ones are an LSD (Limited-Slip Differential) and rear-wheel drive. Of course, this Toyota has them both. As already mentioned, it offers so much fun and perfect driving abilities. That said, when you settle in, the car becomes reasonably comfortable. For everyday use, practicality is quite important, and the GR86 even comes with sort-of emergency rear seats. In case they would be too small for your friends or family, they can still be used as extra cargo space. Overall, you should have absolutely no issues with the GR86 for daily use.
Toyota Coupes — Fun and Reliable Daily Drivers
Models such as the GR Supra and GR86 are new Toyota models which are capable of being the perfect compromise between style, performance, and daily usability if you choose the right specs. There are a few interesting options among the older models as well, and the seventh-generation Celica represents this category the best. Yet, the new cars are right up there in terms of utility and smiles-per-miles. At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with Toyota coupes, new or old.
