Best GR86 & BRZ Cold Air Intakes: HKS vs aFe vs Cusco

A cold air intake is the first bolt-on most owners add to the 2022–2025 Toyota GR86 (ZN8) and Subaru BRZ (ZD8), and for good reason: it wakes up the FA24 flat-four's induction note, sharpens throttle response, and clears a genuine airflow restriction at the top of the rev range. But because the FA24 is naturally aspirated, the intake you choose matters more than on a turbo car — there is no boost to amplify the gains, so airflow, filter media, and heat management decide whether you feel the difference. We compared five GR86 and BRZ cold air intakes we stock at NLP Performance in Tampa, FL — from HKS, aFe, and Cusco — head to head.

Why the FA24 Responds Differently to an Intake

The second-generation GR86 and BRZ share the Subaru FA24, a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated boxer four rated at 228 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 3,700 rpm, spinning to roughly a 7,400 rpm redline. That is a meaningful jump over the first-generation FA20 (205 hp, 156 lb-ft), and the bigger engine breathes harder near redline — which is exactly where the compact factory airbox starts to choke.

On a turbocharged car, an intake feeds a compressor and small flow improvements get multiplied by boost. The FA24 has no such multiplier, so an intake's job is narrower and more honest: reduce restriction, keep intake-air temperatures (IAT) low, and preserve the mass-air (MAF) signal the ECU relies on. Get those three right and you unlock a realistic 5–9 wheel horsepower near the top of the rev range on an otherwise stock engine, plus the crisper throttle and induction growl that make the car feel faster everywhere. Get heat management wrong — an exposed filter sucking hot engine-bay air — and you can actually lose power on a hot day.

What Separates a Good GR86 / BRZ Intake From a Loud One

Every intake in this comparison flows more air than stock. The differences that actually matter for your GR86 or BRZ come down to four things:

Sealed airbox vs. open cone

A sealed enclosure (HKS Box and Full Kit) isolates the filter from radiant engine heat and pulls cooler air, protecting power on track and in traffic. An open cone with a heat shield (aFe Takeda) is louder and slightly higher-flowing but relies on the shield and fender vent to stay cool. A pipe-only upgrade (Cusco) keeps the factory sealed box entirely and just improves the tubing between the box and throttle body.

Dry vs. oiled filter media

A dry synthetic filter (aFe Pro Dry S) never needs oiling — you clean it and reinstall, with no risk of over-oiling a sensitive MAF sensor. An oiled multi-layer cotton filter (aFe Pro 5R) flows marginally more and holds more dirt between services but must be re-oiled correctly. On a MAF-based FA24, the maintenance-free dry filter is the safer default for street cars.

MAF calibration and tuning

The FA24 measures airflow with a MAF sensor, so a larger-diameter intake tube changes the air-density reading at that point. Quality intakes are designed to run on the factory tune without a check-engine light, but a supporting tune (from a shop or a handheld flash) is what turns a modest bolt-on gain into a repeatable, dyno-verified one. None of these intakes require a tune to run safely; all of them reward one.

Fitment and finish

All five are direct bolt-on kits for the 2022-and-up ZN8/ZD8 chassis, install in roughly 1 to 1.5 hours with basic hand tools, and reuse factory mounting points. The HKS kits use JDM-grade tubing and hardware; the aFe systems include a molded roto-cast housing and heat shield; the Cusco pipe is lightweight aluminum.

GR86 & BRZ Cold Air Intake Comparison

Here is how the five intakes stack up on design, realistic FA24 gains, and filter maintenance. Estimated peak gains are conservative wheel-horsepower figures for an otherwise stock engine; manufacturer claims vary by rpm point and a tune raises real-world results.

The Intakes, Reviewed

Best Value: aFe Takeda Momentum Pro Dry S

The Pro Dry S is the intake we recommend to the widest range of GR86 and BRZ owners. Its 3-layer dry synthetic filter delivers most of the airflow of an oiled element with zero re-oiling risk to the MAF, and the roto-molded housing plus one-piece heat shield keep intake temps in check without a fully sealed box. At around $375–$390 it lands in the value sweet spot, and aFe's Takeda line is well known for including hardware that fits the first time.

Flagship: HKS ZN8/ZD8 Cold Air Intake Full Kit

The HKS Full Kit is the most complete induction system here — a large sealed housing, HKS suction piping, and a washable cone engineered as a whole system rather than a filter-on-a-tube. It is aimed at owners who are already tuning, adding a header or exhaust, or building toward forced induction and want the induction side sorted with JDM-grade parts. At roughly $1,700 it is a premium buy on a naturally aspirated car, so it makes the most sense as part of a bigger plan rather than a stand-alone mod.

Higher-Flow Filter: HKS Cold Air Intake Box Kit

The Box Kit is the middle ground in HKS's lineup: it keeps the cool-air benefits of a sealed enclosure and the HKS cone filter, without the full suction-pipe system of the flagship. At about $770 it is the pick for owners who want HKS quality and the heat isolation of a sealed box but do not need the complete induction overhaul. It slots neatly between the sub-$400 aFe systems and the flagship Full Kit.

Oiled-Filter Option: aFe Takeda Momentum Pro 5R

Mechanically identical to the Pro Dry S apart from the filter, the Pro 5R uses aFe's oiled 5-layer cotton-gauze element. It flows a hair more and holds more debris between cleanings, which some owners prefer for dusty roads and track days. The trade-off is that it must be re-oiled correctly — over-oiling can foul a MAF sensor over time — so it is best for owners comfortable maintaining an oiled filter. Priced right alongside the Dry S at around $375, the choice between them is purely filter media.

Budget Pick: Cusco Bolt-On Light-Weight Intake Pipe

The Cusco pipe takes a different approach: instead of replacing the airbox, it swaps the restrictive factory intake tubing for a smoother, lighter aluminum pipe while keeping the sealed OE airbox and filter. That means the coolest possible inlet air and a quiet, factory-like sound, with a modest but real bump in flow. It is the cheapest way to address the intake tract, keeps emissions hardware untouched, and is a smart pick for owners who want a subtle upgrade or a foundation before adding a filter box later.

Real-World Gains, Sound, and Tuning

Set expectations honestly: on a stock FA24, any of these intakes is worth a realistic 5–9 wheel horsepower near the top of the rev band, with the pipe-only Cusco toward the lower end and the sealed-box HKS toward the upper end on a hot day. The gains you feel most are sharper throttle response and a noticeably more aggressive induction growl above 4,000 rpm — the FA24's signature boxer honk gets louder and richer. If you want the largest verified numbers, pair the intake with a tune; a proper recalibration lets the ECU take full advantage of the added flow instead of leaving it on the table.

Installation on all five is a driveway-friendly job of roughly 1 to 1.5 hours with metric sockets, a screwdriver, and pliers. You will disconnect the MAF sensor and intake ducting, remove the factory box or tubing, and bolt the new kit to the same mounting points. Take care handling the MAF sensor, torque the clamps evenly, and re-scan for codes after your first drive. If you live in California or a CARB state, verify the intake carries a CARB Executive Order (EO) number for your model year before buying.

Which GR86 / BRZ Intake Should You Buy?

Match the intake to your plan for the car. For most street-driven GR86 and BRZ owners, the aFe Takeda Momentum Pro Dry S is the best balance of gain, price, and hassle-free maintenance. Prefer an oiled filter for dusty or track use? The Pro 5R is the same system with a 5-layer element. Want the coolest inlet air and a stealthy install? The Cusco pipe keeps your OE box. Building toward a tune or forced induction? Step up to the HKS Box Kit or the flagship HKS Full Kit. Whichever you choose, it is a rewarding first bolt-on for the FA24.