A three-cylinder making 221kW from the factory

An ECU tune is the single biggest gain per dollar - the G16E responds well to more boost and timing on a stock turbo. Pair it with a quality intake and a free-flowing catback to let it breathe and you'll feel it everywhere in the rev range.

A solid Stage 1 tune on the factory hardware typically picks up around 30-50kW at the crank, with a much bigger lift in mid-range torque and throttle response. Bolt-ons (intake, exhaust, intercooler) help the tune hold its numbers but won't add huge figures on their own.

It's plenty quick stock, but Toyota left clear headroom - the engine and AWD system handle more cleanly. A tune is the difference between a fast hatch and one that pulls hard the moment you ask, so it's the mod most owners do first.

The drivetrain is the strong suit, but the front diff and clutch take a beating if you launch hard repeatedly, and heat soak on the intercooler is the usual limiter once you're tuned and driving hard. An upgraded intercooler and sensible launches sort most of it.