By: Aoun Syed
September 27, 2026
The 2026 Toyota GR86 Yuzu Edition does not try to hide its true sporty character. The aggressive styling, bold yellow colour, several mechanical enhancements and a powertrain that keeps on giving make for a limited-edition vehicle that does not compromise in the name of luxury or comfort.
The 2.4-litre Boxer engine provides a copious amount of power on tap. The throttle is very responsive to inputs and, when you don’t need to go crazy, even a moderate amount of throttle application is more than sufficient to get up to highway speeds. The cat-back exhaust also means that this change in throttle application is very audible and provides very satisfying pops from the exhaust when downshifting that do not require much effort to produce. Toyota rates the engine at 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque.
Our tester also came mated to a six-speed manual transmission that provides an even more engaging driving experience. The GR86 makes you work for it, though, as the clutch has a considerable amount of weight and the gear shifts require a degree of intention and don’t just glide into the gear slot. You also have to give it a considerable amount of gas to get the car moving, as starting with the clutch alone is not sufficient enough to prevent stalling in most situations. The exact tester is equipped with the six-speed manual transmission.
Driving dynamics feel solid and well sorted without any drama or guesswork. The steering has just the right amount of weight to not be a chore, but also not be too light, and provides a very direct response. The Sachs dampers provide a sharp handling experience with very little body roll and only a slight compromise in ride comfort. The Brembo brakes available on our tester provided more than enough stopping power, with the brakes feeling strong as soon as you press the pedal down.
On the outside, the GR86 presents itself as a fun sports car that is full of life. The Yuzu Yellow paint exclusive to the Yuzu Edition, coupled with the black front lip, rear air dam and cat-back exhaust, attracted a lot of attention during our one-week test. Many onlookers came over to compliment the car and ask questions. The low ground clearance does mean you have to be mindful of steep entrances and larger speed bumps, but that is the cost of owning a low-slung sports car. Toyota confirms the Yuzu Edition receives its unique yellow paint, black exterior accents, aerodynamic body kit and cat-back exhaust.
The interior of the GR86 is a blend of yellow-accented leather and Alcantara seating surfaces mixed in with harder textured plastic throughout. While many of the switches are not made of premium-grade materials, the controls are very straightforward and are exactly where you expect them to be. Meanwhile, the climate-control displays are easily readable. Toyota did not try to do anything gimmicky like capacitive buttons and instead went with a more traditional control layout. While not ideal for full-size adults, the rear seats do provide extra storage space and the cargo area is on par with most modern-day compact cars. Given the price point, the quality of the interior is more than reasonable, as this is not meant to be an ultra-luxury sports car. The tester sheet confirms yellow-accented leather/Alcantara seating and yellow interior stitching.
Technology is kept in line with most modern cars, with only a few unique features added in. Within the fully digital gauge cluster is the option to display a G-force meter, a horsepower graph and also a stopwatch. The graphics in the cluster itself are smooth and not overly complicated, which allows the driver to focus more on the information being presented as opposed to fancy animations.
There are also a number of driver-assistance features such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning available, but for a car that is more driver-oriented, these features can feel a bit redundant in most cases. The systems are not very intrusive, however, and the beeps are at a reasonable pitch and volume level, which is a welcome addition for those who don’t like to be constantly nagged. Toyota confirms manual-transmission GR86 models include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Pre-Collision Braking and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.
The infotainment system is fairly straightforward and gets the job done. The eight-inch screen is responsive and, while the graphics are fairly basic, it is easy to use. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also available, but are wired, and the vehicle does not come with any USB-C ports. While the USB ports are capable of delivering up to 2.1 amps of power, the charging speed is slow. The ports themselves are also located in the cupholder area, resulting in one of the cupholders or your front passenger seat being occupied by your phone when plugged in. Audio quality is crystal clear thanks to the eight-speaker sound system and is more than enough to drown out the exhaust drone at highway speeds. The tester sheet confirms the eight-inch touchscreen, two USB input/charging ports and eight-speaker audio system.
Natural Resources Canada lists the fuel economy for the GR86 at 12.0 L/100 km city, 8.9 highway and 10.6 combined. During our week with the GR86 Yuzu Edition, we observed 10.5 L/100 km with a healthy mix of casual city and highway driving mixed in with some more spirited backroad drives. Toyota’s 2026 product summary confirms those official figures for the manual Yuzu Edition.
Pricing for the GR86 starts at $32,695 MSRP, while our Yuzu Edition tester carried a base MSRP of $44,825 and came to $46,828.78 before taxes, licensing and registration.
Limited to just 30 units in Canada, the GR86 Yuzu Edition carries a unique flavour not seen in previous special editions. The extremely bold styling, peppy powertrain and an exhaust that just begs to be heard make it a great choice for those who want a new sports car with a very raw feeling. Toyota confirms only 30 Yuzu Editions were allocated for the Canadian market.
