Toyota Supra Review 2024

The Toyota Supra name was resurrected for the Japanese firm’s latest sports coupe, then it decided to jump into bed with BMW to create it jointly with the latest BMW Z4. It has a unique Toyota design on the outside, but inside it’s all premium BMW. That means good quality and tech, plus the option of BMW’s excellent in-line-six petrol engine. It makes the Toyota GR Supra a compelling choice – unless you prefer the BMW Z4, of course.

There’s no shortage of great sports cars on offer at the moment, but this collaboration between two of the industry’s biggest names has produced something particularly interesting.

As our Toyota GR Supra review will show, the Japanese company has done a superb job of distracting from the heavy BMW influence by making the exterior look completely different to that of the BMW Z4.

The Toyota GR Supra has the appearance of a menacing ‘fighter jet’, with a narrow front end, bulbous cockpit and muscular curves in all the right places.

The integrated rear spoiler is distinctive, flanked by curved lights and air vents, and beneath them sits a dramatic diffuser that hints that this car will not be overtaken easily. It looks nothing like the BMW Z4 that sits beneath, but open the door and its roots become more apparent.

Inside it’s all very BMW, with the exception of the badge in the steering wheel. The three-tier dashboard is split by neatly integrated air vents and quality trim. Sitting below this are audio system buttons and climate controls in the centre console, while up top is the infotainment screen.

This comes from BMW as well, right down to the operating system and the iDrive rotary controller in the console between the seats. Again, this is a good thing, as Toyota is not exactly a leader in infotainment.

The high centre tunnel helps to cocoon the driver, contributing to a sports car feeling that is enhanced by a great driving position. Space for the passenger is good as well, but that’s as far as it goes in terms of accommodation, as the Supra has no back seats, and is strictly for two.

Even the boot space leaves a bit to be desired, but it’ll take the daily stuff and perhaps a couple of holdalls for a weekend away.

Under the long bonnet are a choice of 2.0- or 3.0-litre petrol engines, the latter being BMW’s popular in-line-six TwinPower turbo. Both are strong options, but the 3.0-litre is the one to go for if you want to get the most from the Toyota GR Supra’s sporty character.

The engines are linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission, but for a short time there was also the option of a manual gearbox for 3.0-litre models. Toyota has stopped this for now and won’t confirm if it plans to bring it back. Purists will be hoping that it returns.

With BMW only making the Z4 as a soft-top convertible, you could see the Toyota GR Supra as the hard-top coupe of ‘the range’, although we suspect neither BMW or Toyota would look at it like that.

The Toyota GR Supra’s design is very different to the BMW’s and in many ways that’s a bonus, because you’ll see many more BMW Z4s on the road than the Japanese car.

You’ll also see more of its rivals, including the exhilarating Alpine A110, stylish Audi TT and class-leading Porsche 718 Cayman, especially given the Toyota GR Supra’s lofty £50,545 starting price.

The Toyota GR Supra does a fine job of delivering everyday comfort, with suspension that soaks up bumps well, steering that is light enough in town and an excellent driving position.

None of this is really why you buy a sports car, though, so you’ll be pleased to hear that it’s also great fun when you switch things into Sport mode and head for the good roads.

The steering isn’t as communicative or precise as that in the Porsche 718 Cayman or Alpine A110, but the chassis has been really well engineered and delivers great handling in the corners.

The electronics allow for some fun and there’s an active differential on the rear axle, so you can make the most of the great spread of torque.

There are two engine choices in the Toyota GR Supra, 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre petrol, the latter being BMW’s popular in-line six-cylinder unit.

The 2.0 develops 262PS between 5,000-6,500rpm, with 400Nm of torque at 1,550-4,400rpm. It demands to be revved to reach that peak power band, but the torque spread allows for some great fun in corners and a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds.

The BMW six is a 3.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged engine producing 345PS and 500Nm of torque. It, too, is matched to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Peak power comes in between 5,000-6,500rpm, with a lovely spread of torque from 1,600-4,500rpm. The 0-62mph time is 4.3 seconds, or 4.6 seconds if you can still find a manual version. The top speed on all models is limited to 155mph.

The Toyota GR Supra has loads of safety kit, including the basics such as seven airbags, traction control, vehicle stability control and a tyre pressure warning system.

The 3.0-litre models get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, a system that automatically applies the brakes if you reverse while traffic is approaching from either side.

All models get Toyota Supra Safety+, a package that encompasses a pre-collision system, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning and road sign recognition.

The 3.0 Pro adds adaptive cruise control that maintains speed and distance to the car in front, although standard cruise control is fitted to other models.

You're not going to tow with the Toyota GR Supra, mainly because there’s a big fog light smack in the middle of the rear diffuser. Leave the caravan at home and book a hotel.

Strictly a two-seat sports coupe, the Toyota GR Supra isn’t the first word in practicality if you want to do much more than enjoy the drive. Yes, you can commute to the office in it, perhaps even get away for a weekend with your other half, but you aren’t going to be packing in kids and the dog.

Boot space isn’t that generous, either. The 290 litres of capacity in a shallow boot means you’ll only get a couple of bags in there, so you aren’t going to be taking your Toyota GR Supra to the airport ahead of a two-week holiday.

There are lots of storage spaces in the comfortable interior, though. And while visibility isn’t the best, especially to the rear, it’s easy enough to live with.

There’s a real premium feel to the materials inside the Toyota GR Supra, which is not surprising, given that it basically all comes from BMW. Expects lots of sumptuous soft-touch surfaces and a solidity to all the controls.

From the upholstery on the seats to the plastics in the centre console, it combines comfort with practicality – and the quality is superb.

Toyota has been lagging behind on infotainment for years, but the system used in the Toyota GR Supra is BMW’s much more impressive iDrive.

There’s a high-definition screen on top of the dashboard, operated via touch, buttons on the steering wheel, voice control or – the best option – the rotary controller in the centre console.

Quick function buttons take you to the home screen, your favourite radio station, settings and more, so you don’t always have to stab at icons on the screen while you are driving.

The system itself is packed with functionality, from weather and news apps to the stuff we all use regularly, such as phone connectivity, audio streaming and navigation. The menus are clear and easy to use, and the icons and text simple to understand and read.

You also have the option of using Apple CarPlay and making the screen look like your phone display, with access to your favourite apps. It’s a great system that not only provides all you need, but does so without distracting you during an enthusiastic drive.

At the time of writing, prices for the Toyota GR Supra start at £50,545 for the 2.0 Pro automatic. It’s more expensive than the entry-level BMW Z4, but you get a coupe with more power and more equipment.

The biggest problem is the Porsche 718 Cayman, which costs from £51,800, although you will have to add quite a bit from the options list to match the Toyota GR Supra’s equipment. If you want more exclusivity, the Alpine A110, with its 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds, starts at £52,490.

The Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Pro starts at £58,580, which is firmly into BMW Z4 M40i territory and getting close to the Porsche 718 Cayman S. But again you do get a lot of standard equipment in the Japanese car, with only a couple of options available.

The Toyota GR Supra won’t be expensive to run on a daily basis, with average fuel consumption figures of 32-38 mpg. However, expect this to end up quite a bit lower if you make the most of its performance potential.

Insurance groups are 34E-37E (out of 50 groups in total).

CO2 emissions are 167g/km for the 2.0-litre model, which means vehicle excise duty (VED, or road tax) of £645 in the first year. And because it will be liable for the luxury car tax, it will be £570 per year for years two to five. The 3.0-litre engine emits 188g/km of CO2, so you’re looking at £1,040 VED in year one, then £570 for the next four years.

Toyota maintenance costs are generally affordable, but this is a sports car, so it won't be as cheap to run as a Toyota Corolla.

The  Toyota GR Supra 2.0 is the entry version, available solely with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and offering 262PS and 400Nm of torque.

Output is the same for both Toyota GR Supra 3.0 models, at 345PS and 500Nm of torque.

Both the 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre models get 18-inch double-spoke alloy wheels, but the Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Pro comes with 19-inch forged alloys. All have sporty-looking red brake callipers.

BMW is well known for having an extensive options list, so there are advantages to choosing the Toyota GR Supra, which has plenty of standard kit across all models.

This includes automatic dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, automatic headlights, a reversing camera and park distance control. All cars have LED headlights, daytime running lights and loads of safety kit, too.

You can also enjoy several driving modes, paddle shifters on the steering wheel for when you want to immerse yourself in the driving experience, and a gear shift indicator telling you the best time to shift ratios. A digital speedometer is standard, but only the 3.0 Pro gets a head-up display.

Comfort features include manually adjustable Alcantara sports seats, while those on the 3.0 Pro are electrically operated and trimmed in leather. If you’re into your audio, there’s a basic four-speaker system in the entry-level car, while the 3.0-litre gets a 10-speaker setup and the Pro has a 12-speaker JBL system.

All use BMW’s iDrive 8.8-inch touchscreen operating system with DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone pairing and audio streaming. Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility is standard across the range.