Toyota GR86 Review 2024

When the Toyota GT86 was created in 2012, it combined a coupe body with a naturally aspirated engine, rear-wheel-drive chassis and a focus on handling and balance rather than outright performance. It was a big hit. The firm has now developed a successor. It addresses some flaws, but retains a focus on thrills rather than speed. Read our Toyota GR86 review to see why it’s a success.

Although there are coupe rivals such as the Audi TT and its German counterpart, the BMW 2 Series, both of these offer a more upscale experience with more weight, more performance and considerably more cost.

The closest rival in terms of approach is the Mazda MX-5 RF, which has a folding roof.

The Toyota GR86 comes with a single engine option, a 2.4-litre four-cylinder boxer unit, where the cylinders are arranged horizontally rather than vertically.

It does without turbocharging or supercharging, but produces 234PS and 250Nm of torque, a substantial increase over the Toyota GT86, enough to give a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 140mph. There are quicker cars in the class, but performance is strong and usefully improved.

Buyers also have the choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox, although there is a slight performance penalty that comes with the latter option.

The Toyota GR86 benefits from a stronger body structure, which is a plus from a handling perspective, but also offers a potential improvement in crash safety.

The roof, bonnet and front wings are now made from aluminium rather than steel, which as well as saving a little weight, moves the centre of gravity closer to the road to improve handling response.

A further change is a switch in tyre specification – the Toyota GT86 used Michelin Primacy tyres which had low rolling resistance, meaning the level of grip was similar to conventional road cars. But on the Toyota GR86, Michelin Pilot Sport tyres are fitted for even more grip.

Inside, the Toyota GR86 shares much of its cabin with the previous car, but with some useful additions such as a digital instrument display which can show different information depending on the drive mode.

It’s easy to find a good driving position thanks to plenty of seat adjustment and a good view out for a compact sports car. The quality of materials inside is decent, but not exceptional, and trails more prestigious rivals.

However, the Toyota GR86 is really a car for buyers who are most interested in the quality of the driving experience, and that is the area in which it is most successful.

All the controls have a good weight and respond well to inputs, the engine delivers strong performance but without needing to reach especially big speeds to feel exciting, while the handling balance is excellent.

Genuine driving enthusiasts will find few rivals at this price point, but anyone seeking more style than substance may want to consider alternatives.

Just as with its predecessor, Toyota has done its best to avoid anything getting in the way of diminishing the driving experience, and the result is a car that offers a huge amount of entertainment and is comparable with machines costing thousands more.

The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout means the Toyota GR86 is well balanced, and with its relatively light weight, it is agile and quick to respond to the driver’s inputs.

The steering is very accurate and well-weighted, and keeps the driver informed about what the car is doing with generous feedback.

The suspension is slightly stiffer than before, and with the higher specification tyres fitted, it is more grippy than the Toyota GT86.

Where the old car was less powerful and more willing to relinquish its grip on the road, the Toyota GR86 has higher limits, but it is arguably easier to control as a result.

It can be driven at speed along a twisty road with confidence, but should you decide to slide the car, it is as willing and controllable as ever.

The downside is that the Toyota GR86 offers a less composed ride on pockmarked roads, and while the well-sorted suspension means it is controlled over these kinds of surfaces, lumps and bumps are transmitted through to the cabin, which makes it less relaxing than some rivals.

Even so, most keen drivers will be willing to accept this compromise to enjoy the entertaining handling on offer.

The Toyota GR86 is available with a single engine option, a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder unit in a boxer arrangement, where the cylinders are horizontally opposed.

It offers 234PS and 250Nm, which are modest figures compared to many modern hot hatches, but its light weight and revvy nature mean performance is still good – 0-62mph takes 6.3 seconds and the top speed of 140mph should be more than enough for anyone.

In many respects, the choice of engine for the Toyota GR86 is more about how the power and torque are delivered, rather than pure figures.

The fact it is naturally aspirated means that it is much easier for the driver to precisely control the engine’s output, so the car’s balance and attitude through corners can be adjusted with much more finesse.

This ensures cornering is more enjoyable, as well as making it easier to slide the car on the throttle if desired.

The engine can be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual, and while the automatic offers paddle shifters for quick changes on the move, it is the manual that delivers the most engaging driving experience, helped by a slick and quick shift with a genuine mechanical feel.

In addition, the placement of the pedals, gearlever and steering wheel is ideal, creating a sense of racecar-like intimacy. This allows more advanced techniques, such as heeling and toeing, for drivers who want to enjoy a truly immersive experience.

The Toyota GR86 has not been safety tested by Euro NCAP, nor was its Toyota GT86 predecessor. However, as a modern design, the Toyota GR86 should provide at least a competitive level of crash safety.

The standard safety equipment includes features such as blind spot monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while models fitted with the automatic transmission also offer lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking.

The are no official towing capacities for the Toyota GR86.

Although designed from the outset as a sports coupe, the Toyota GR86 is not so compromised that it cannot handle carrying adults and their luggage.

The emphasis is clearly on the front-seat occupants, with enough adjustment in the seating to accommodate those over six foot tall with relative ease.

In the rear there are two seats, and while you could squeeze an average-sized adult in there, it is best suited to short journeys.

The back seats are suitable for children, but given the coupe body shape, fitting child seats in would be a challenge.

The boot area is a modest 226 litres and because it has a bootlid rather than a hatchback, access is slightly more restricted. But there is the option to fold the rear seats to increase the available space.

An area where the Toyota GT86 was previously criticised was interior quality, and while the materials and build quality were robust, there was little in the way of luxury.

The Toyota GR86 addresses this to a degree, but the reality is that this is more of a workmanlike cabin than potential rivals from BMW and Audi.

The layout is clearly designed with driving in mind, and there is little in the way of creature comforts.

The key controls are wrapped in leather which feels good to the touch, and there are some suede-effect panels on the top of the doors and on the dashboard.

However, the remainder of the cabin is finished in mostly hard-feeling plastics, which may disappoint some.

As you would expect from Toyota, though, it all feels well constructed and likely to last. Given the Toyota GR86’s aim to be a genuine sports car rather than a cruiser, it is likely that most buyers will not be too concerned.

The standard infotainment provision in the Toyota GR86 is modest by today’s standards, but in truth is likely to offer the majority of features that buyers will be looking for.

An eight-inch touchscreen is standard and features DAB radio, a USB input, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although it does without sat-nav.

However, the ability to use smartphone navigation apps will negate this issue.

The screen itself is quite simple with its graphics and menus. One upside of the lack of features is that there are fewer pages to scroll through, while the addition of hard keys and control knobs means the most significant features can be accessed easily on the move.

The audio quality from the system is decent but not exceptional, and there is no option to upgrade.

Another welcome feature is the introduction of a digital instrument display, and while it is not fully configurable to the driver’s requirements, it does offer a good deal of information.

It also changes the display when Track mode is engaged, placing the rev counter more prominently in the centre of the screen.

While the Toyota GR86 is priced very competitively at £29,995, the initial allocation for the UK was sold out within a matter of hours, which means it is not possible to walk into your nearest dealer and place an order. 

Even so, this compares favourably with the Mazda MX-5 RF, which starts at £34,000 for a 2.0-litre model in Exclusive-Line trim. The lower Prime-Line trim starts at £30,000, but is only available with the 1.5-litre engine.

In terms of used prices, supply is limited given the restrictions on new models, but there are a handful of examples available.

Expect prices to be close to the new RRP, even with limited mileage.

With a larger capacity naturally aspirated engine, fuel consumption inevitably takes something of a back seat.

The official combined fuel consumption figure of 31.3mpg is modest, and would dip significantly below this figure if the available performance is used.

It’s also somewhat below what other cars of similar performance offer, which for the most part use turbocharged engines for greater efficiency.

Insurance costs are also likely to be high, with the automatic version in group 39 and the manual in group 45.

The Toyota GR86 comes in a single specification, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors, a leather steering wheel and manual air-conditioning.

There’s also a seven-inch digital instrument display, eight-inch infotainment display, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, hill start assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, cruise control and LED headlights.