Best BRZ, FR-S, 86, and GR86 Turbo Kits: First-Gen, Second-Gen, Street, and Track Picks

The Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S, Toyota 86, and GR86 are light, balanced cars that feel like they can handle far more power than they came with. A turbo kit is the direct path to that power, but it is also the modification where bad assumptions get expensive quickly.

For a street-driven first-gen 2013-2020 BRZ/FR-S/86, the WORKS Stage 2 kit is the safest recommendation when emissions legality matters because it retains key factory hardware and is 50-state smog legal under CARB Executive Order D-748-1 for listed model years/configurations. For a first-gen car built around power potential and professional tuning, PTuning, Full Blown, HKS, GReddy, and Tomioka are the more relevant tuner-kit paths. For 2022+ BRZ and GR86 owners, use an FA24-specific kit such as JDL, Tomioka G670, or HKS GTIII-RS ZN8/ZD8.

If you want linear response, simpler packaging, and less exhaust-side heat, read our BRZ supercharger guide too. If you want the most headroom for big power, a turbo kit is still the stronger route.

How we chose these BRZ and GR86 turbo kits

We checked current manufacturer and retailer pages, current product availability, old but still-useful manufacturer release notes, and owner discussion patterns around tuning, heat, clutch life, emissions, and engine failures. Because turbo kits can affect emissions equipment and engine reliability, we weighted current support, fitment clarity, tune requirements, and legal status more heavily than peak horsepower claims.

Do not buy any kit based only on a dyno number. The right choice depends on whether your car is first-gen FA20 or second-gen FA24, whether it must pass inspection, whether you already have a tuner, whether you are willing to install an oil cooler and clutch, and how much power you expect from the stock engine.

BRZ/FR-S/86 turbo kit comparison

Turbo kit	Best for	Generation	Tuning/emissions note	Main tradeoff
WORKS Stage 2	Street-legal first-gen	2013-2019/2020 depending listing	CARB EO D-748-1 for listed calibrated kits	Long lead time, conservative power
WORKS Stage 1	Mild street first-gen	2013-2019 broad listing	Calibrated CARB version available	No intercooler
PTuning Competition V2	Track-proven first-gen	2013-2020 FA20	Tuner system with many options	Not emissions-friendly
Full Blown Stage 1	Big-power first-gen	2013-2020-style FA20	Tuner build, fuel/tune options	More build complexity
HKS GTIII-RS FA20	JDM first-gen tuner kit	2017-2020 listing shown by HKS USA	Engine management/fuel parts required	Not plug-and-play street legal
GReddy T518Z	Classic first-gen tuner kit	2012-2016/2013+ legacy listings	Tuning and fuel not included	Older/made-to-order availability
Tomioka TR-TS1053	Current first-gen value/power kit	BRZ/FR-S/86 FT86	Base map/oil-pan options	Needs tuner and supporting mods
JDL Street Turbo System	Current 2022+ pick	2022+ BRZ/GR86	Retailer-listed FA24 system	Needs professional plan
Tomioka G670	Current 2022+ value/power kit	2022+ BRZ/GR86	Optional EcuTek/base map	Newer-platform long-term data thinner
HKS GTIII-RS FA24	HKS 2022+ tuner kit	2022-2025 BRZ/GR86	Overseas-market note on HKS USA	Verify legality/support

Best Street-Legal First-Gen BRZ Turbo Kits

If your first-gen BRZ, FR-S, or Toyota 86 needs to pass California-style emissions inspection, start here. Do not assume a “bolt-on” turbo kit is street legal just because it physically fits.

The WORKS Stage 2 kit is the best first-gen turbo recommendation when the car needs to stay emissions-compliant. WORKS lists it as 50-state smog legal under CARB Executive Order D-748-1 for supported calibrated applications, using a Garrett GT28 ball-bearing turbo, air-to-liquid intercooler, OEM airbox, OEM exhaust manifold, OEM front pipe, and both catalytic converters.

That packaging is the point. The kit is designed around moderate power, factory-like packaging, and smog compliance rather than maximum horsepower. WORKS lists roughly 12 psi peak boost and about 90 hp / 90 lb-ft crank gains on 91 octane for Stage 2, plus a provided ECU calibration required for CARB compliance.

Buy it if you want the most defensible street turbo path for a first-gen car. Skip it if you are chasing 400+ whp or plan to replace the factory emissions hardware anyway.

The WORKS Stage 1 Simple kit is the lower-cost street option. WORKS’ current performance-package page lists calibrated CARB-compliant Stage 1 and tuner versions for first-gen BRZ/FR-S/86 applications. Stage 1 is the less complex kit and is better suited to buyers who want a mild, legal power bump rather than a track-focused setup.

The tradeoff is that Stage 1 is less complete for sustained heat than Stage 2 because Stage 2 adds the air-to-liquid intercooler. For hard driving, Stage 2 is the better street-legal choice.

Best First-Gen BRZ, FR-S, and 86 Tuner Turbo Kits

These kits are for 2013-2020 FA20 cars where emissions legality is not the primary constraint, or where the car is used for track/competition and has a professional tuner involved.

PTuning’s Competition Turbo System V2 is the current first-gen kit to consider when you want a serious, configurable system instead of a smog-focused package. PTuning lists GT28R and GT30R turbo options, intercooler piping options, wastegate dumptube choices, MAP sensor, injectors, boost controller, EcuTek, flex-fuel, oil-cooler, and exhaust-adapter options.

That configurability is useful, but it also means you need a real plan. This is not the kit to buy first and think through later. Work with a tuner before ordering so injectors, MAP sensor, fuel, boost control, clutch, and exhaust connection all match the power target.

Full Blown remains relevant because the kit is current and customizable. The current Stage 1 Base listing shows in-stock status, a base price, and selectable turbo, boost controller, injector, coating, heat-wrap, turbo-blanket, EcuTek cable/license, cast oil pan, and wideband options.

The old article treated Full Blown as the simple best overall answer. That is too broad. It is better described as a high-ceiling tuner kit for buyers who are building a full forced-induction setup around professional calibration, fuel, heat management, and clutch capacity.

The HKS GTIII-RS is the JDM first-gen tuner pick. HKS lists FA20 ZN6/ZC6 GTIII-RS turbo-kit applications, and its 86/BRZ turbo page frames the kit around roughly 340 hp on a stock engine in Step 1, with clutch and oil-cooler recommendations for harder use.

This kit is not a plug-and-play street-legal package. HKS USA notes that reinforced fuel parts, a pressure sensor, engine management, and resetting/tuning are required. Buy it only if your tuner is comfortable with HKS hardware and the parts list around it.

Tomioka’s current first-gen TR-TS1053 kit is a more relevant recommendation than the older TR-TS1025 framing. Tomioka lists a dual ceramic ball-bearing turbo kit for BRZ/FR-S/86 with up-to-500-whp positioning, optional pre-welded oil pan, and optional EcuTek base map/license.

That optional oil-pan detail matters because many turbo installs get harder when oil drain routing is left to the installer. Even with a base map, plan on custom tuning and logging before leaning on the car.

The GReddy T518Z is a classic first-gen option, but it is now better treated as a legacy/made-to-order tuner kit than a default top pick. GReddy’s original release data showed +93.5 whp and +68.7 lb-ft at 7 psi on a 2013 FR-S with EcuTek tuning and a GReddy Evo3 exhaust, but tuning and some fuel-management pieces were not included.

Buy it if you specifically want the GReddy setup and have a source that can supply the kit. Skip it if you need the easiest current US purchasing path.

Best Second-Gen BRZ and GR86 Turbo Kits

Second-gen 2022+ BRZ and GR86 owners need FA24-specific kits. The newer engine has more displacement and torque than FA20, but turbocharging it still requires careful tuning, cooling, and fuel planning.

JDL’s 2022+ BRZ/GR86 Street Turbo System is a current second-gen option listed through 86Speed alongside first-gen JDL kits. It is the cleanest 2022+ shortlist item if you want an 86-platform-focused turbo system and a retailer that actively separates first-gen and second-gen fitment.

The current listing should still be treated as the start of a build plan, not the whole plan. Confirm turbo sizing, fuel, boost control, oil-pan/drain details, clutch needs, and tune strategy before ordering.

Tomioka’s G670 kit is the current FA24 value/power option to watch. Tomioka lists a TR G670 dual ceramic ball-bearing turbo kit for 2022+ Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ, with optional COBB Accessport or base-map pathways shown on current product/category pages depending on market.

Because the 2022+ platform is newer, long-term turbo-kit owner data is thinner than first-gen data. Weight current fitment, tuner support, conservative boost, and fuel quality more heavily than peak dyno examples.

HKS USA lists a GTIII-RS bolt-on turbo kit for 2022-2025 GR86 and BRZ with FA24, product number 11001-KT007. The page also notes this product is for overseas market only, so US buyers should verify ordering path, emissions status, tuning support, and parts availability before treating it as a simple retail purchase.

This is a specialist route, not a default street-car recommendation. It makes sense when you specifically want HKS hardware and have an experienced shop managing the build.

BRZ Turbo Supporting Mods, Tuning, and Reliability Costs

The turbo kit is only part of the cost. Depending on the kit and power target, also budget for engine management, dyno tuning, a wideband, MAP sensor, fuel-system upgrades, an oil cooler, clutch, catch can or AOS, engine mounts, tires, and brakes.

Cooling is a major reliability variable. Turbo kits add exhaust-side heat and often run harder than the stock cooling system was designed for. For track use, an oil cooler is not optional. WORKS recommends an oil cooler and stiffer motor mounts for track use, and HKS also recommends an oil cooler for harder turbocharged use.

The stock engine has limits. A conservative pump-gas tune on a healthy FA20 or FA24 is very different from a high-boost, E85, big-turbo setup. Owner failure stories often involve aggressive torque, heat, poor tuning, weak fuel supply, detonation, or pushing a stock long block beyond a sensible margin.

Emissions status must be read exactly. CARB-compliant calibrated WORKS kits, tuner kits, cat-delete kits, overseas-market kits, and competition products are not interchangeable legally. If the car needs inspection, buy the exact approved configuration and keep the EO paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best BRZ turbo kit overall?

For a street first-gen car, WORKS Stage 2 is the safest answer because it has a CARB-compliant calibrated path and conservative packaging. For a track or high-power first-gen build, PTuning or Full Blown are stronger starting points. For 2022+ BRZ/GR86, start with FA24-specific options like JDL or Tomioka.

Is a turbo better than a supercharger on a BRZ?

A turbo is better for peak-power potential and flexible boost targets. A supercharger is usually better for linear response, simpler heat routing, and OEM-like drivability. For a daily driver, supercharging is often easier to live with; for big power, turbocharging usually wins.

Can a stock FA20 handle a turbo?

Yes, with a conservative tune and good fuel, but there is no guarantee. A healthy stock engine, compression/leakdown test, conservative torque target, oil cooling, and professional tune matter more than the brand name on the kit.

Do BRZ turbo kits come with tuning?

Some do, some do not. WORKS calibrated kits include the required calibration for CARB-compliant configurations. Many tuner kits require EcuTek, COBB, or another tuning path and a professional calibration.

Will a first-gen BRZ turbo kit fit a 2022+ GR86?

No. Do not assume first-gen FA20 kits fit FA24 second-gen cars. Buy a kit explicitly listed for 2022+ BRZ/GR86 fitment.

Are BRZ turbo kits street legal?

Most are not street legal in California. WORKS calibrated kits are the main first-gen street-legal path listed in this guide. Always verify the exact CARB EO, model year, transmission, and tune package before purchase.