2024 Toyota GR86

The Toyota GR86 is a compact coupe made exclusively to entertain a driving enthusiast. The the 2024 Toyota GR86 starts at $30,395.

Someone at Toyota isn’t always sensible. Although this giant company is best known for SUVs, trucks, cars, and minivans that don’t necessarily excite but will usually get you home, the GR86 takes a twistier, less traveled route. The same reliability is there, sure, but this car isn’t meant for the school run or the humdrum commute. It’s built for fun. There’s an agility to it — with rear-wheel drive, a manual transmission as standard, and an ideal amount of power in what is a light car. Newcomers to this arcane corner of the automotive world and track rats alike will find plenty of appeal in the GR86.

Some people might be wondering how the name originated. The GR bit stands for Gazoo Racing, a division of Toyota involved in motorsport (yes, we know there’s also TRD, or Toyota Racing Development, but we don’t make the rules). The numbers come from AE86, which is enthusiast shorthand for a particular rear-drive Corolla that many drivers loved in the mid-1980s. The GR86 is twinned with the Subaru BRZ, the outcome of a collaboration between the two companies. We’re now in the second generation, which debuted for 2022.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of sports cars, including the Toyota GR86.

Up until now, features like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control were only available in tandem with the optional automatic transmission. This year they become standard with the manual transmission. Toyota also has a new limited edition for 2024, the Trueno, with its own look, along with upgraded suspension and braking systems. These components become available in the regular GR86 as an optional Performance package.

There aren’t many rivals, but the virtually identical Subaru BRZ is an obvious contender, starting in the same financial ballpark. The glorious Mazda MX-5 Miata begins at $29K for a soft-top version. Our other recommendations for small-yet-fun cars involve front-wheel drive: the Volkswagen Golf GTI comes in just below $32K, and a Mini Cooper S Hardtop begins at $29.1K.

Before buying a new GR86 coupe, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are among the best in this sports car class.

The GR86 has 228 horsepower and can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds (manual transmission). Not especially fast, but that’s hardly the point. We found, instead, drivers have an ideal amount of power to enjoy this light and small coupe’s poise and balance without keeping a ferocious engine under control at the same time. As a method for getting to grips with the distinct rhythms and demands of rear-wheel drive, the GR86 is up there alongside the renowned Mazda MX-5 Miata. Incidentally, the MX-5 Miata enjoys 181 horsepower and hits 60 mph in about 6.4 seconds.

The engine in the GR86 reaches its peak horsepower at a screaming 7,000 rpm. However, we found it to be rev-happy and responsive to fine throttle inputs in those upper reaches — which is exactly what’s required when trying to control a rear-end drift out of a corner. On a track, of course. Speaking of which, the traction control system’s Track mode allows the driver to get the tail out before sending the electronic helpers into action. The GR86 also comes standard with a Torsen (torque-sensing) limited-slip differential for optimum traction.

In the transition from highway to race circuit, the GR86 retains its composure. That means a suspension tuned on the firm side, but it’s still bearable if the car is used as a weekday runabout in addition to a weekend track toy. In the pursuit of lightness, though, Toyota has been sparing with the sound insulation. On tight, twisting canyon roads, the GR86 is wonderful. On long freeway stretches, we often wish we were in a Camry.

Fuel Economy

Despite power levels that are more tepid than torrid, the GR86 achieves only so-so fuel economy: 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving when equipped with a manual transmission, or 25 mpg combined if an automatic is installed. Toyota recommends premium gasoline as well. A manual MX-5 Miata manages 30 mpg combined, also on a diet of premium.

Believe it or not, there’s a second seating row in the 2024 GR86 compact coupe. This is more believable — it’s really small. Better for duffle bags than humans. Fold those seats down, though, and there’s enough room for another set of wheels and tires. The idea is for drivers to head to the track with their usual road-going wheel/tire combination in place, swap that for performance rubber and sport rims in the pits, run a few fast laps, then swap back and drive home in time for dinner. We suggest potential buyers who are too tall for the Mazda MX-5 Miata (you’re far from alone) yet still seeking a low-power, ideal-balance, high-fun car might find the 2024 GR86 a better fit.

The silhouette of the GR86 is traditional coupe. No complaints from us. The Premium trim and Trueno versions are both finished off with a pert ducktail spoiler. Hooray to that as well. The Trueno model comes with a two-tone hood, along with contrasting graphics down the flanks. It’s available in black and white, or black and red.

Rear-wheel drive
Sure, front-wheel drive can be fun, as well as safe and predictable. But rear-wheel drive really has to be experienced to appreciate how much more thrilling it is. There’s greater driver involvement. And as we all know — the more you put in, the more you get out.

Manual transmission
A close-ratio gearbox means the engine can be kept in or near its sweet spot even when shifts are necessary. This is standard in the 2024 GR86 and we encourage stick-shift rookies to take the plunge. Once again, it’s all about involvement. Opting for the automatic transmission is no bad thing, though. There’s a Sport mode and paddle shifters to help keep the engine on the boil.

NASA membership
Not the astronaut bunch, but the National Auto Sport Association. A 12-month membership is free with every new GR86. It includes one High Performance Driving Event and discounts on tickets to NASA meets.

Leather-wrapped steering wheel
This seems kind of normal, no big deal. But holding a plastic wheel while zipping from corner to corner is not a pleasant experience. Leather wrapping provides better grip and is standard in the 2024 GR86.

Blind-spot monitoring
This becomes standard at the Premium trim level. In a small coupe cabin with limited outward vision, every bit of helpful technology is good to have.

Trueno edition
This year’s special run, limited to 860 cars in the United States, comes with Sachs shock absorbers and Brembo brakes. Both third-party suppliers are considered top-notch. Trueno was the name of the AE86 in Japan; this edition commemorates that car’s 40th anniversary.

One of the fruits of the collaboration with Subaru is the GR86’s flat-4 or boxer engine. Apologies if you know this already, but a boxer configuration has pairs of cylinders opposed horizontally, instead of the more common all-in-a-line arrangement. It’s a Subaru thing, and a Porsche thing. Benefits include a low center of gravity — a boon in a sporty machine like the GR86 — and the ability to have a low hood for a sleek design. This 2.4-liter 4-cylinder example doesn’t use any turbochargers or superchargers, just natural aspiration. It makes 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, going solely to the rear wheels (no option for all-wheel drive) through a standard 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 6-speed automatic.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Toyota’s new-car warranty lasts 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is all typical for mainstream manufacturers. Scheduled maintenance is also included for the first two years or 25,000 miles, as well as two years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage.

Safety Ratings

This generation of the Toyota GR86 was awarded a spot on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) list. However, it hasn’t been tested using the agency’s new testing protocol.