Toyota GR86 review

Can you even buy one? That’s the question. Only a few hundred were allocated to the UK market and the two-year production run sold out in 90 minutes. Toyota’s hugely keen financing - £5k down with monthly £299 payments - has seen demand outstrip supply with hundreds more fans on the waiting list in case more cars can be pinched from other markets or early slot-holders drop out. 

The GR86 is only on sale until 2024 because it’ll then fall foul of increasingly stringent safety legislation. The bodyshell would need a heavy rework to comply and expensive driver assistance / annoyance tech would also need cramming in. These things will be rare and sought after. It’ll be interesting to see how much this affects the GT86’s vibrant modification scene. 

Of course, in other countries GR86 access might not be as tricky. In America and Japan you can also have the co-developed Subaru BRZ, which isn’t being sold in the UK for this generation. Wonder if Subaru would consider a change of heart having seen the sister car’s popularity. It’s unlikely, but we can dream. 

Kit-wise, there’s only one grade of GR86 in the UK. It comes replete with LED lights, 18-inch rims, cruise control, heated seats, keyless start and a reversing camera. Adding an automatic gearbox (if you must) ups the price to £32,085. Claimed fuel economy is 32.1mpg, with CO2 emissions 200g/km. 

Basically, if you can get hold of one, then do so.