Sweet Spot: The 2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition

The 2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition.

There is a road in Japan called the Hakone Turnpike, a marvelous winding road with magnificent 360-degree views in some places and surrounded in the greens of nature.  A road just made for a car like the 2020 Toyota 86.

The Toyota 86 was, until a couple of years ago, the Scion FR-S and still is the Subaru BRZ.  We've made no secret of our love for it from day one, calling it (and why stop now?) the true spiritual successor to the original Datsun 240Z.

Like the Z, it's not an overpowered pavement-ripper.  It has just enough power in just a light enough body.  In the case of the 86, that's a two-liter four-cylinder Boxer engine made by Subaru.  With a manual transmission, it's 205 horsepower.  With an automatic, like our tester, it's 200.   Zero to 60 happens in 7.6 seconds.  The EPA estimate is 24 city/32 highway.

No, where the 86 shines is on your favorite winding road.  The balance is superb, the response to inputs immediate and satisfying.  This is the car that will have you taking the long way to everywhere you go.

The Hakone Edition is an appearance package---Hakone Green paint---think a metallic British Racing Green---with bronze wheels, a body-colored rear spoiler and a beautiful tan leather and black faux suede interior.

Base price is $30,590 and here's what comes standard:

• Six-speed sequential automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
• Dynamic rev management.
• Front and rear ventilated disc brakes.
• McPherson strut front suspension.
• Torsen limited-slip differential.
• Hill-start assist control.
• Toyota Star Safety System (vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and smart stop technology).
• Heated exterior mirrors.
• Automatic projector beam LED headlamps.
• LED daytime running lights, foglamps and taillights.
• Chrome-tip dual exhaust.
• Underbody aerodynamic panels.
• Eight-speaker audio system with seven-inch touchscreen, USB, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 
• Heated front seats.
• Folding rear seat.
• Analog tachometer with programmable rev indicator.
• Dual-zone climate control.
• Smart key with pushbutton start.
• Two tan key gloves with tan owner's folio.
• Deep pile trunk mat with "86" embossing.
• Carpeted floor mats.

And that's it.  Zero extra-cost options, which means that with $955 delivery processing and handling fee, the bottom line on the window sticker is $31,545.

That is an absolute screaming bargain for the fun you'll have at the wheel.  If I were in the market, I'd find the 2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition very, very hard to resist.