Toyota GR86 review

Overview

The GR86 makes most sense when you want a car that is enjoyable on a good road, not the quickest or most luxurious car for the money. This review covers the UK 2.4-litre six-speed manual from the 2022 launch and subsequent UK allocations, not the old GT86 or an imported specification. Toyota sold it here in one equipment grade with a choice of gearbox. We have not road-tested it ourselves: this buying assessment draws on Toyota's UK material and independent driving reports. The strongest reason to choose it is involvement. The most convincing reason to walk away is discovering that you need the rear seats every day.

Exterior and interior

The GR86 sits low, with two long doors and a driving position better suited to a coupe than a raised crossover. Check that you can open the door comfortably in your usual parking space, and try getting in and out more than once. The front seats offer the support you want in a sports car, but the cabin is more functional than plush. On a used example, look at the outer seat bolsters, door edges and the lower bumper rather than judging by polished paint alone. An uneven panel gap or fresh paint on one corner warrants a proper inspection, not an assumption that it has merely been detailed.

Practicality

There are four seat positions, but the rear pair should be treated as occasional seats, not as places for two adults on a long trip. Put the front seats where you need them before checking the available rear space. Toyota gives a 226-litre VDA boot figure. The boot opening matters as much as the number: take the cases or sports kit you actually carry to the viewing. Folding the rear seatbacks gives you more flexibility when travelling as a pair. If your normal weekend involves rear passengers and large luggage together, a hot hatch or a roomier coupe is a better starting point.

Driving experience

Auto Express and Carwow both identify the car's steering and balance as reasons to choose it. We would put that ahead of the acceleration figure in a buying decision. The combination of a manual gearbox, a naturally aspirated engine and rear-wheel drive asks you to participate in a way a quicker automatic may not. That does not make it the best car for a heavily congested commute. Take a test drive on surfaces you use regularly, including a rough stretch and a faster road. Tyres and alignment make a difference; a car that pulls, tramlines unusually or feels nervous deserves investigation rather than being dismissed as characterful.

Performance

The 2,387 cc flat-four produces 231 bhp, equivalent to 234 PS, with Toyota quoting 250 Nm of torque at 3,700 rpm. The manual is rated at 6.3 seconds from rest to 62 mph; the automatic's figure is different. The point of this engine is not to mimic a turbocharged hot hatch with a large surge at low revs. Consider whether you enjoy choosing gears and working the engine on the occasions you want its full performance. On a viewing, look for a clean start, consistent response once warm and easy selection of every gear. Those checks tell you more about the car for sale than trying to reproduce the brochure sprint.

Fuel economy

Toyota's combined WLTP figure is 32.1 imperial mpg for the manual. Our budget uses 30 mpg as an assumption, not a measured result. Short cold trips and enthusiastic use can take you below it, so run your own annual-mileage calculation before deciding what you can afford. At 8,000 miles, 30 mpg and £1.50 per litre, fuel comes to roughly £1,820 a year. These are example inputs, not a prediction of pump prices. Compare that sum against a more economical daily car if this will be your only vehicle. Check the handbook's fuel requirements and use a fuel price that reflects what you will actually buy.

Reliability

There is not enough model-specific evidence here to turn Toyota's reputation into a confident estimate of failure rates. Treat our limited-confidence reliability score as an editorial judgement. Ask for the dated service history and details of any modifications, accident repairs or track use. A standard, well-documented car is a better starting point than a cheaper example with missing history. Check oil, coolant and the underside with a suitable specialist if you are unsure. A Toyota dealer can confirm whether a particular vehicle has eligible service-activated warranty cover. Do not assume it will cover every fault or that a qualifying service can undo previous misuse.

Safety

No exact Euro NCAP assessment was verified for this UK GR86, so we do not give it an independent crash rating. Toyota's equipment list confirms stability control, airbags and blind-spot monitoring. The UK manual has conventional cruise control and does not get the automatic's forward Pre-Collision System or adaptive cruise. Rear cross-traffic assistance is not the same as forward automatic braking. Test all warning lamps and make sure the tyres are suitable and in good condition. If you need to carry children, check the restraint instructions and fit in the actual car. Check the government recall service and ask Toyota to confirm outstanding work by VIN.

Technology and features

The UK car has an eight-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats and a reversing camera. Conventional cruise is standard on the manual. Check phone projection with your own cable and verify that the camera gives a clear picture, particularly if the head unit has been replaced. The camera is useful, but it does not prove there are parking sensors or an audible distance warning. Test the driver's display, climate settings and both seat heaters while the car is stationary. If you want the automatic's driver assistance, compare that version explicitly; a seller's equipment list may combine features from both gearboxes.

Running costs

Allow £25,000–£32,000 as a broad used buying budget as of 6 November 2026, not a checked range of live stock. Condition, mileage and history can make a bigger difference than the registration year. On the fuel example above, adding £200 as a tax planning allowance and £500–£1,100 for servicing, MOT and wear gives roughly £2,500–£3,150 a year. Check the actual tax and obtain a driver-specific insurance quote. These estimates exclude insurance, depreciation, finance, major repairs and track use. If the tyres and brakes are already due, put their replacement into the purchase budget rather than counting on the annual allowance to cover it later.

Advantages and disadvantages