When the MKII Toyota MR2 was launched, it not only offered performance on a budget but drawing styling cues from the Ferrari 348 meant that the second-generation MR2 was dubbed the “poor man’s Ferrari”. In 1989, the MR2 went through a big redesign, softening the straight lines of the MKI, and adding a larger and more comfortable interior. This meant the car weighed as much as 400 lbs more than its predecessor in some of the variants, but this was combatted by larger engine sizes and stronger suspension.
The second-generation Toyota MR2 was released as a mid-engined affordable sports car like the first generation, but did its major redesign mean that it would only be seen as a poor man’s Ferrari?
Design
The MKII is larger than the first generation, with a 3.2-inch larger wheelbase and 8.7-inch longer body, but it still remained low slung and looked every bit as sporty as its older sibling. The MR2 would go through numerous design changes over its ten-year production, with later models featuring large adjustable spoilers and a sharper rear.
In 1998, Toyota Racing Development offered an official body kit conversion that would replicate and pay homage to the TRD2000GT racing car, with a wider and more aggressive stance. The interior changed substantially from the MKI, with the dash following the curves of the exterior rather than the “pop-out” dash the first generation had. The MR2 was available as a coupe, T-bar (solely offered in the US after 1993), a rare sunroof version, and an extremely rare Spider version that featured retractable roofs. Base models featured fabric seat and door trim with electric mirror adjustment, whereas options on some models included electric folding mirrors, steering fog lamps, two-stage air conditioning, and Alcantara leather seat and door trim.
Performance
Base models of the MKII were comparable to the first generation, but the turbo variants offered a substantial increase in performance, even over the supercharged MKI. The US domestic market received only two variants: the standard MR2, a naturally aspirated 2.2 L 5S-FE engine with 130 hp that was offered as a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual, and the MR2 Turbo, which featured a turbocharged 2.0 L 3S-GTE engine with 200 hp and at 6,000 rpm and 200 lb-ft at 3,200 rpm of torque.
Neither the US domestic market nor the European market received the highest power MR2 produced, as the JDM turbo model had 218 HP and rose to 242 HP in November 1993. It was this stock Rev 3 GT-S Turbo that could complete the 1/4 mile in 13.1 seconds, faster than the more expensive and higher-powered Honda NSX, Toyota Supra RZ, and even the Ferrari 348. The stock USDM model could launch from 0-60 MPH in 6.1 seconds, but took 14.7 seconds to cross a quarter-mile.
Driving
The MKII MR2 may have been heavier than the MKI, but with models ranging from just over 2,500 lbs to just under 2,900 lbs, they were still quite light compared to their competitors, and the higher-spec turbo models were specially built for performance. With a stronger gearbox with longer ratios, a larger fuel pump and radiator, and twin-piston front brake calipers, it’s no wonder that the Rev 1 Turbo could deliver 0.89g at the skidpad, with later revisions reaching as high as 0.94.
With a short-throw gearbox and nimble handling, the MKII MR2 felt firmly at home on windy roads, but early models were especially prone to snap-oversteer when weight transferred from the rear tires and drivers tried to correct it. It is for this reason that Toyota made changes to the suspension in January 1992 for the sake of “drivers whose reflexes were not those of Formula One drivers."
Verdict
Comparing the MKII Toyota MR2 to a Ferrari is not only an insult to Ferrari, but to Toyota, as well. Anyone who has driven a Ferrari before knows that they are leagues apart, and there is no comparison for the visceral rush you get when accelerating through the rev range of an Italian thoroughbred. That being said, a case can be made that the Toyota MR2 offers something that no Ferrari does: peace of mind. Many MR2 owners are cult fans who adore their cars, but they can enjoy them on a daily basis, without the headaches associated with daily driving a Ferrari.
The MKII MR2 benefits from Toyota’s legendary reliability, coupled with good looks and a drive that will keep you on your toes. It was a car that was made to be enjoyed, it wasn’t designed to be a collector’s car that stayed garaged. The MR2 is in the sweet spot of daily drivability and performance that you can exploit fully to its limit - even if it might scare you every now and then - and it is for this reason that we are big fans.