Overview

In an age where active aerodynamics and four-digit horsepower figures are blazing into the world of supercars, the Toyota GR86 strips the sports-car recipe down to its most essential ingredients. With a svelte, lightweight coupe body; a 228-hp flat-four engine, rear-wheel drive; and a manual transmission, the GR86 has everything it needs—and nothing it doesn’t—to provide one of the most satisfying driving experiences available south of $35,000. The GR86’s cabin gives the distinct impression that everything was designed solely with the driver in mind, from its perfectly placed controls to its tiny, Porsche 911-style rear seats. There are only two other budget-priced sports cars on the market—the lovable Mazda Miata and the Subaru BRZ, the GR86’s twin—that can deliver this type of affordable back-road thrills. That’s why the Toyobaru siblings have both earned a spot on our 2026 10Best list.

What’s New for 2026?

Sticking with the plan of introducing a new limited edition GR86 model each year, the Yuzu Special Edition joins the lineup for 2026. The Yuzu wears vibrant yellow paint reminiscent of its citrus-fruit namesake and comes equipped with the same Performance pack that was standard on last year’s Hakone special edition, which includes Sachs dampers and upgraded Brembo brakes. It also features 18-inch matte-black wheels wearing summer tires and yellow interior stitching. A cat-back exhaust and unique body kit can also be added to the Yuzu for an additional cost. Only 860 Yuzus will be made for the U.S. market, and they will undoubtedly be snapped up quickly.

2026 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray

Overview Chevrolet casts the 2026 E-Ray as the Corvette you can drive in all four seasons, but its all-wheel-drive traction and electrified powertrain have another, more impressive talent: beastly acceleration. With a 6.2-liter V-8 burbling behind the cabin and an electric motor spinning the front axle, the E-Ray boasts a combined 655 horsepower. That’s less…

2026 Aston Martin Vantage

Overview While most manufacturers toil in a perpetual cycle of new-model creation, Aston Martin traditionally moves at a pace befitting a producer of limited-edition, hand-hewn classics. Count us impressed, then, with the arrival of the 2026 Aston Martin Vantage roadster. Appearing hot on the heels—for Aston, anyway—of the revised-for-2025 Vantage coupe, this soft-top convertible ramps…

2026 Toyota GR Supra

Overview There’s no mistaking the GR Supra coupe’s sports car intentions. From its rakish double-bubble roof to its sculptured flanks and posterior, and from its standard 382-horsepower inline six-cylinder engine to its six-speed manual transmission, it’s clear the GR Supra is all about performance and driver involvement. Built alongside the BMW Z4 convertible, the Supra’s swoopy…

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