Toyota GR86 2024 review

Sometimes, we sound a bit like the boy who cried wolf. When motoring journalists extol: “buy this fantastic car now! It won’t last forever,” it’s sometimes a little exaggerated. In the case of the Toyota GR86, it may be premature. Eventually, it will come true.

Like closing pincers, twin pressures from tightening emissions standards (abroad, and now, at home) – along with restrained demand for two-door sports cars, carmakers aren’t seeing the point in continuing to develop fun machines with petrol fillers and manual transmissions.

If you’re reading this review, it’s because you are part of a group of people that rails against the fattening of motoring, the slide to SUVs, to multiple-tonne EVs, to the need for binging-bonging safety features. Can’t people just drive attentively?

Unfortunately, the clear balance of the public, and the regulators, have all decided differently. And that state of affairs makes the 2024 Toyota GR86 a distinctly endangered species.

This might not be the non-hybrid, non-automatic GR86’s last year on sale. 2025 might not be its last year on sale. But eventually, that year will come. If you’re on the fence, we do think it’s better to jump in some time soon.

If you’ve come far – if you’re reading this review – we think now’s as good a time as any. The Toyota GR86 is an excellent car with superb dynamics and few niggles that will matter to enthusiasts. Frankly, we could call it a day and end the review there.

But we’re in the business of helping people make fully-informed decisions, so we’ll plow on. We also think the GR86, while being fully deserving of its high-distinction score, does have room for improvement.

We tested the GR86 in GTS manual format ($49,474 driveaway in NSW) in optional white liquid premium paint ($500) with no-cost red ultrasuede seats and carpets. On-the-road, our tester was just over $50,000.

The GR86 remains a little difficult to come by. Our tester was about a year old already and there is still a 12 month wait time for new orders for a GR86 with manual transmission.

An upgrade in the form of the GTS dynamic performance pack will become available later in 2024 for about $2500. This adds stronger Brembo brakes front