2026 Toyota GR86 Review: Track Test

The 2026 GR86 outshines its Toyota GR siblings on California's Sonoma Raceway.

James Riswick | 

Oct 14, 2025 | 4 min read

James Riswick

The 2026 Toyota GR86 reminds me of the Porsche 911. Every time I drive one, I fall in love with it. But then time passes, the sensations fade, and newer cars catch my eye. The GR86, like the 911, inevitably drifts out of the pantheon of cars I'd love to own.

Then I drive one again, like I recently did at Sonoma Raceway in California, and the love affair reignites as this little sports coupe full of feedback once again shows itself to be one of the most responsive, rewarding, and just plain fun cars to drive, period.

James Riswick

The GR86 Can Outshine Other GR Models

My main task at Sonoma Raceway was to review the updated 2026 Toyota GR Corolla, the characterful little hot hatch that gets a lot more attention these days than its half-Subaru step sibling, the GR86. As enthusiasts know, the GR86 shares its mechanical bits with the Subaru BRZ.

It makes sense. The GR Corolla boasts far more power (300 horsepower from a turbocharged three-cylinder versus 228 horsepower from a Subaru boxer-type four cylinder), an advanced all-wheel-drive system, and a chassis that engineers have constantly tweaked over the years to make it better on a track. It's the hotter commodity.

And yet, after spending the morning driving that hotter commodity on the track, I sauntered over to the GR86 in the afternoon, fired up that boxer-four, and rekindled the passion. It didn't take many corners for it to outshine the mighty GR Corolla.

How? I'll get to that, but for now, a word about the new-for-2026 Toyota GR86 Yuzu Edition. Recognizable for its vivid yellow paint and interior accents, it also boasts the Brembo brakes and SACHS damper suspension upgrade typically included in the GR86's Performance package. With the optional GR Aero kit installed, the Yuzu Edition's manufacturer's suggested retail price is $40,260, including the $1,195 destination charge.

James Riswick

The Response of the GR86 Beats High Horsepower

There's one word that sums up why I'd be grabbing the key to the GR86 instead of the GR Corolla: response.

Its throttle response is immediate, thanks to a naturally aspirated engine that doesn't lag and is eager to rev to a higher redline. With a beautifully precise turn-in and loads of feedback, the steering also feels more responsive. That says more about how exceptional the GR86's steering is than anything negative about the GR Corolla's.

Together, the responsive steering and throttle allowed me to make ever so slight adjustments mid-corner as I steered with both the wheel and accelerator pedal. The GR86 is a car that makes you feel like you've become one with it.

James Riswick

The Manual Transmission in the GR86 Is a Joy

This GR86 came with a six-speed manual transmission, which I also preferred over the GR Corolla's. Sliding into gear with greater precision and a pleasing mechanical action, it's reminiscent of the Porsche 911, which also has a horizontally opposed, boxer-type engine.

Now, the GR86's manual lacks the automatic rev-matching function included on the GR Corolla and many other row-your-own gearboxes you'll come across these days. Rev-matching automatically blips the throttle when downshifting to bring the engine speed up to match that of the transmission.

That meant I had to do it the old-fashioned way by braking with the left side of my foot while blipping the throttle with the right side. Thankfully, the pedals are nicely placed for this, and the responsive throttle was precisely calibrated, allowing me to nail each heel-and-toe downshift I attempted.

James Riswick

The GR86 Is Slower Than Other GR Models; I Don't Care

I'm not entirely sure, as I was focused on the track rather than the speedometer, but I'm sure I was lapping Sonoma Raceway faster in the GR Corolla than in the GR86. If I were trying to win a race, I'd take the faster car. Otherwise, I'm choosing the GR that's more communicative, fun, and seemingly agile: the GR86.

Part of this is how you sit in the GR86, with its super-low seating position and hoodline (yet another 911-like attribute). Those traits heighten all the sensations because you feel closer to the action. That, combined with the overall lightweight feel, makes the GR86 delightfully old-school.

The engine also sounds terrific, and I was duly impressed by the amount of grip available on the track, both in terms of the tires and the suspension. Tightening the suspension up would improve it further on the track, but there's also something to be said for the compliance it has, especially on bumpy real-world roads.

James Riswick

As my time with the GR86 Yuzu Edition came to a close, I made a point to remember just how much I love driving it and not to be so fickle with my affections as time inevitably passes, the sensations fade, and newer cars once again capture my attention.

Toyota provided the vehicle for this 2026 GR86 review and covered the costs of airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.

James Riswick

James Riswick has been testing cars and writing about them for more than 20 years. He was the senior reviews editor for Autoblog and previously served multiple editor roles at Edmunds. He has also contributed to Autotrader, Car and Driver, Hagerty, J.D. Power, and Autoguide Magazine. He has been interested in cars forever; his mom took him to the Toronto Auto Show when he was 18 months old and he has attended at least one every year since (OK, except in 2020). When he's not testing the latest cars, he has a babied 1998 BMW Z3 in James Bond blue, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Wagon, and a 2023 Kia Niro EV.