There are cars that make you smile when you see them… and then there are cars that make you grin before you’ve even turned the key. The 2026 Toyota GR86 Yuzu Edition is the latter. Bright, punchy, fun, and possibly the most exciting way to drive under the speed limit without attracting the police.
Performance
Engine – Under the hood is still the 2.4-litre flat-four boxer engine from Subaru. It pumps out 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque (170 kW & 249 Nm). In everyday traffic, you don’t need to rev the engine to 4,000+ rpms like the old generation engine. You can drive the car like a civilized person. On highways if you need to overtake a slower moving vehicle, you can leave it in 6th gear and gently roll on the throttle. The engine will provide enough torque & power to actually speed up the car. The 0-100 km/h time (62 mph) is just under the 6 second mark but off the line acceleration is not what this car is about.
Fuel Economy – With the addition of more power and more displacement, fuel economy is not that bad. The 2026 Toyota GR86 is rated for 12 L/100km (19.6 MPG) in a city and 8.9 L/100km (26.4 MPG) on a highway with the 6-speed manual transmission. The 6-speed automatic transmission improves those numbers to 11.2 & 7.9 L/100km (21 & 29.7 MPG) respectively. During my time with the car, I averaged 9.5 L/100km (24.7 MPG) which included some enthusiastic driving. If you’re more gentle with the throttle, you can get better than advertised fuel economy.
Transmission – The 2026 Toyota GR86 is one of very few cars on sale today that are offered with a manual transmission. A 6-speed automatic is also available for this Yuzu Edition but not here in Canada. The 6-speed manual is in general a good and easy to use transmission. The throws between shifts are short and it’s hard to unintentionally select the wrong gear. But the shifter feels just a tiny bit notchy in the first few gears. The shifter slides in more smoothly in the last few gears. Clutch actuation is smooth with a definitive bite point towards the lower-middle portion of pedal travel.
Braking – Normally, the GR86 comes with regular, run of the mill brake calipers that are adequate for this car. But the Yuzu Edition upgrades them with 4-piston Brembo calipers on the front and Brembo single-piston calipers on the back. These provide a better feel through the brake pedal in addition to a bit more braking force thanks to the larger discs as well.
Handling – The GR86’s steering is telepathic. It’s light yet precise, allowing full confidence when carving through corners. Toyota and Subaru have stiffened the chassis just enough to reduce flex without ruining the ride. On more entertaining mountain roads, the car feels alive under you. You steer with your fingertips and adjust your line with the throttle. It’s the sort of car that’ll make you take the long road home. The Yuzu Edition adds SACHS dampers which do feel a bit stiffer than the standard GR86 dampers but they’re not overly stiff to the point where your vision becomes blurry. The car can be grippy when you want it to be but can also slide the back end out like a graceful ballerina. It is easy to control oversteer in this car thanks to the well tuned chassis and the standard limited slip differential.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – This being a sports car, the ride is as firm as it needs to be. It’s not completely unbearable on city streets but you’ll definitely want to avoid the potholes and manhole covers. The seats take away some of the harshness of driving over a bad bump. They have enough padding and hold you very well around corners.
Interior Space – “Cozy” is probably the best way to describe the interior of the 2026 Toyota GR86. Up here in the front, it’s enough space for my above average height of 6’4”. I can also wear a helmet for a trackday without much fuss. The back seats though are hopefully optimistic. Behind my driving position, it’s best to use that seat as a place to carry small items. The trunk is a bit better at 178 litres (6.25 cu-ft), or just enough for a weekend getaway if you pack light and efficiently.
Noise, Vibration & Harshness – The 2026 Toyota GR86 does not have a whole lot of sound insulating materials built into the cabin. You can hear the engine in any driving condition and the Yuzu Edition adds a quad-exhaust system which is very noisy front inside the cabin. Wind noise is minimal, however, road noise from the tires is particularly bad on highways. But then again, this is not meant to be a comfortable GT car.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – In Canada, the Yuzu Edition will cost you $44,825 CAD. That’s roughly $9,000 CAD more than the Premium trim. It’s limited in numbers, just 30 coming to Canada, and it emphasizes exclusivity without drifting into “collector car” prices.
Gadgets – For that price, you’re not paying for convenience features. You’re paying for driving enjoyment. But the Yuzu Edition does get an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, heated front seats, a dual-zone automatic climate control, a backup camera, and that’s about it. You really don’t need anything else in a sports car such as this.
Interior Design – The design is very simple and straightforward. The climate controls are physical buttons or rotary knobs. The infotainment system has quick access buttons and tuning knobs. The heated seats have their own dedicated buttons. Same goes for the traction and stability control buttons. It’s all very simple and there’s nothing too shiny to distract your eye from looking ahead and enjoying the drive. The Yuzu Edition adds alcantara seat inserts with contrasting yellow stitching.
Exterior Design – The GR86 has an evolved design language from the older GT86. It is instantly recognizable as a modern 86. It has smooth flowing lines from the front to the back where the design is accentuated by the duckbill spoiler. The Yuzu adds a larger front splitter, matching side skirts, forged 18-inch wheels, the quad exhaust pipes I mentioned earlier… and oh yea… the striking yellow paint. It’s impossible to miss this car due to that bright yellow exterior.
Safety – If you opt for the GR86 with the manual transmission, the only safety features that you get are blind spot sensors, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and rear cross traffic alert. Opt for the GR86 with the automatic transmission and it’ll also include automatic emergency braking, lane keep, and adaptive cruise control.
Warranty – Like many other Toyota vehicles, the 2026 Toyota GR86 Yuzu Edition is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km basic and 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty. For more information on Canadian warranty,click here. For information on USA warranty,click here. (Scroll to bottom of page)
Conclusion – The 2026 Toyota GR86 Yuzu Edition isn’t about straight-line speed or luxury bragging rights. It’s about the connection between driver, car, and road. So while the world moves toward self-driving pods and subscription features, Toyota is giving us a manual, rear-wheel-drive sports car that actually fits on roads, and fits into the lives of people who still love driving.
Thank you to Toyota Canada for providing the GR86. www.Toyota.ca
2026 Toyota GR86 Yuzu Edition Gallery
