Which Trim Level of the 2024 Toyota GR86 Should You Buy?

The Toyota GR86 has been catering to a small but dedicated buyer demographic for more than 10 years in various guises. To its fans, the appeal is simple — and, indeed, lies in the car’s own simplicity. There’s not much to the GR86 or its twin, the Subaru BRZ, beyond an engine, a transmission, rear-wheel drive and two seats. (Yes, it’s technically a four-seater, but in the real world, it is not.) You won’t get the latest tech or luxury features in any GR86; instead, you’ll get a rare purity of purpose at an equally rare price. It’s hard to get more fun for less money than the 2024 Toyota GR86, but which one is right for you?

Related: Toyota Unveils New Special Editions for 2024 GR Corolla, GR86, GR Supra

GR86

All GR86s are powered by a 228-horsepower, 2.4-liter flat-four-cylinder engine that makes 184 pounds-feet of torque. That’s not much, but neither is there much GR86 to move; it’ll still weigh less than 3,000 pounds with a petite driver behind the wheel. In keeping with its purity of purpose, the standard transmission is a six-speed manual, but a six-speed automatic is available for an additional $1,100. With the manual, the EPA estimates the GR86’s fuel economy at 20/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined; the automatic bumps those figures to 21/31/25 mpg.

The base GR86 starts at $30,395 (all prices include $1,095 destination). It rides on 17-inch wheels with a limited-slip differential between the rears. Dual-zone climate control and keyless entry and start are the most luxurious features of an interior that otherwise includes cloth seats, a tilt/telescoping steering column, six speakers and an 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Safety features standard across the GR86 line include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and automatic high beams. GR86s equipped with an automatic get rear parking sensors and reverse automatic braking.

GR86 Premium

The mid-level Premium trim adds a lot of content for an upcharge of $2,600. Priced from $32,995, it can be identified by its body-color rear spoiler and 18-inch matte-black wheels wrapped in high-performance summer tires. The Premium also gets blind spot warning. Inside, you’ll find simulated suede seats with leather trim, heated front seats, aluminum pedals and two more speakers, for a total of eight. New for 2024, a Performance Package that includes Brembo brakes, and Sachs dampers is available on the base GR86 and the Premium. It includes matte-black 18s on the base car and costs $2,020; on the Premium, which already has 18-inch wheels, the Performance Package is just $1,500.

GR86 Trueno Edition

Limited to just 860 units in the U.S., the Trueno Edition is a throwback to the famous AE86-generation Toyota Corolla of the 1980s, from which the GR86 derives its name and that was sold as the Trueno in Japan. It includes the Performance Package but is otherwise solely a cosmetic upgrade, with a black hood wrap, side stripes and spoiler. While the Trueno also rides on black 18-inch wheels, they’re metallic black here instead of the matte finish on the other trim levels. Inside, it gets unique red leather accents on the seats, a numbered dash plaque and a special shift knob. At a price of $35,815, the Trueno Edition represents an upcharge of just $1,320 over a Premium equipped with the Performance Package.

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