We are living in a new golden age of sports cars. Modern materials and technology allow automakers to produce cars with staggering amounts of power and performance. Best of all, many of these cars come in at a relatively affordable price. While in the past, the search for a "poor man's" supercar was a difficult one, today's market is rich with high-performance cars at low costs.
A prime example is the Toyota 86, also marketed as the GT86 depending on location, a fantastic entry-level sports car with plenty of horsepower on tap, superb handling, and a price tag of around just $30,000.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Corvette C8 Z06. While Vettes used to be popular choices for the "poor man" market, they have evolved into high-end cars that approach supercar performance and price. However, they still cost considerably less than the Italian supercars, which they attempt to challenge.
Anticipation is high for the new model year offerings from both companies, and big improvements can be expected from each. But how do the 2022 models stack up against each other?
Read on to see how the Corvette justifies its expected $80,000 price tag and how a car that costs less than half that stacks up.
The Toyota 86 Offers Serious Bang For The Buck
The Toyota 86 is designed to be the company's entry-level sports car offering. It was created in collaboration with Subaru, who sells what is essentially the same car as the BRZ. There are some key differences, though, and the new 2022 Toyota 86 is stated to be even more divergent in an effort to individualize both cars.
Alongside styling changes from the BRZ, the Toyota is also lighter, a key component in sports car handling that is increasingly challenging to achieve as technology increases the average car's weight. (The new BMW G80 M3 is about 500 lbs. heavier than the E36 M3 of the '90s, for example.)
Toyota has promised that the 86 will receive extra attention in the handling department, and the low weight, about 2,800 lbs., will certainly help keep the car nimble through the corners. A low center of gravity also helps, although there will be no turbocharged offering because of the changes it would cause to weight distribution.
Although there are no turbos to be found, the Toyota 86 still squeezes a decent amount of power out of the flat-four, 2.4-liter engine, producing 232 hp, according to TopSpeed. This should be enough to propel the car from 0 to 60 in an impressive 6.2 seconds.
The real selling point of the Toyota 86 is that all of this performance can be had in an affordable, practical package. Although the 2022 model has not had its price disclosed officially, it will likely run about $30,000. This is a sports car that is within reach for the average buyer but still has some performance on tap.
The C8 Z06 Is Pricey, But It Performs
The Corvette is a different story. Although in the '50s and '60s, it served as Chevrolet's affordable answer to the pricier and more exotic sports cars of the day, the new C8 Z06 is definitely not an everyman's car.
The car's performance starts to show as soon as you lay eyes on it. Aggressive, angular styling doubles down on previous Vettes. Air intakes are bigger, fender flares are wider, and lines are sharper. The 2022 C8 Z06 will feature active aerodynamic elements that adapt as you drive to maximize downforce and speed on every part of the road (or track).
Of course, the most groundbreaking and buzz-generating part of the new Vette is the mid-engine layout, a first for the model. The mid-engine design was first realized in a production road car in the Lamborghini Miura, named by many as the first supercar. The Z06's adoption of the design marks a similar transition from sports car to an extreme performance machine.
The engine would be impressive no matter where it is mounted, though. A flat-plane crank V8, the new Corvette will have some serious horsepower. Like the Toyota, there will be no turbocharger. Unlike the Toyota, the engine will churn out a rumored 544 hp, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 in the world today.
All that power will cost you, though. Car and Driver estimates that the 2022 Z06 will cost $85,000. Quite a bit cheaper than a Ferrari or McLaren, but over twice the expected price of the Toyota.
Which One Is Right For You Depends
The Toyota 86 and Corvette Z06 are aimed at different markets. Both provide great performance for their price points, but those price points are wildly different.
For the practical, sensible buyer, the Toyota is the clear choice. At a fraction of the price of the Vette, it offers a fun drive in a car that can still carry groceries and won't cost you much at the gas pump.
If you want a serious track-capable car, the Corvette is the clear choice. The Z06 package has always been designed with the track in mind, and you won't be able to push it to its full potential on suburban drives where the Toyota would shine. If you can afford it, though, it'll give you performance that will blow the little 86 out of the water.