2020 Toyota GR Supra Review

　　

2020 Toyota GR Supra Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　Twenty-one years after the last Supra vacated American dealerships, Toyota has unveiled an all-new model. The 2020 Toyota GR Supra is a two-seater sports car designed to take on such luminaries as the Audi TT and Porsche Cayman, and it's engineered with more than a little help from BMW. Peel back the bespoke bodywork, and you'll discover the guts of the new 2019 BMW Z4, including its engine and gearbox. The new Supra is thus a curious mix of German and Japanese parentage.

　　The GR stands for Gazoo Racing, a motorsports-influenced signature for specialty vehicles that Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has had personal involvement in developing. Its addition to the Supra moniker means this car is important not just to fans but to the company as well.

　　Get out on a racetrack or a deserted road and you'll find the Supra is a riot to drive. It is deftly balanced and easily controllable, and its lively yet forgiving demeanor welcomes various driving styles and skills. On paper, the Supra's 335 horsepower seems low when compared against a V8-powered Chevrolet Camaro (455 hp) or a Ford Mustang (460 hp). Yet the turbocharged engine is surprisingly muscular and provides similar acceleration as those muscle cars.

　　The view from the driver's seat serves as a reminder that the Supra shares the majority of its underpinnings with the BMW Z4 convertible. The parts and layout aren't identical, but you'll recognize the shifter, climate controls, infotainment screen and ignition chime. The Supra's interior even smells like a new BMW. The only obvious Toyota bits include the digital gauge cluster and the large steering wheel badge.

　　Toyota might have taken an unconventional route to revive its iconic sports car, but the result is nonetheless impressive. Offering an invigorating mix of performance, style and fun, the 2020 GR Supra brings just the right amount of heritage and 21st-century technology.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.5

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the GR Supra drive? The Supras of the past were more about straight-line speed than nimble handling, but this latest incarnation succeeds at both. In zzdcar testing, our Supra Launch Edition rocketed to 60 mph in a quick 4.2 seconds. Around turns, the steering wheel communicates a fair amount of information from the front tires to your hands. It's also quick and responsive and a good match for the lively suspension. If you don't know what oversteer is, you'll soon be acquainted with it after driving this car.

　　The powerful brakes and sticky tires can haul the Supra to a stop from 60 mph in just 105 feet. Yet the Supra isn't strictly a weekend car. Rather, it's something you could drive with little effort every day.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the GR Supra? The seats provide excellent support, but you might find them a bit confining around your shoulders. It's not too noticeable when driving at speed, but it's apparent when cruising around. The leather upholstery isn't perforated, so its breathability isn't great. The ride quality is firm but not harsh. Because you sit so close to the rear axle, big vertical movements feel more pronounced.

　　We wouldn't call this a quiet cabin since there's a fair amount of road and wind noise, but it's not unpleasantly loud either. It lets in the right amount of induction noise and exhaust burbles when driving in Sport mode. As for the climate control system, there's no obvious way to sync its two zones, which is odd. It could stand to be a tick stronger at max fan speed too.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Those familiar with BMW's older iDrive system will feel right at home with the Supra infotainment. But if you're a first-time user, you'll need to get acquainted with the system's menu layout. All other controls are pretty straightforward.

　　The Supra's doors are a little shorter than average and fairly light. If you're taller, you may need to watch your head, but at least the seat bolsters don't impede access. In general, spaciousness is not this car's greatest strength. The Porsche Cayman and BMW M2 do a better job of making a cockpit feel roomy, for instance.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The navigation system is pretty good at understanding natural language commands, and it locates specific points of interest without an address. It's easy to use the voice commands to set up your route. Our test Supra had the 12-speaker premium audio system. The audio quality is fine, but it lacks the fullness we'd expect for an upgrade system. As for integration, there's one USB port, an optional wireless charger and wireless Apple CarPlay (without the BMW subscription cost). Android Auto isn't offered.

　　The Supra's adaptive cruise control is optional, and it works effectively. It's more aggressive than most and can keep a small gap between you and the car ahead if you want it to. It also works all the way down to a stop. Lane keeping assist isn't quite as effective. It'll mitigate lane crossing but doesn't really keep you centered.

　　

Storage

5.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Sports cars are usually compromised when it comes to cargo space, and the Supra is no exception. The Supra has less trunk space (10.2 cubic feet) than the Porsche Cayman and the BMW M2. There is a cargo pass-through to the cabin that you can use when hauling longer items. But you'll have to rest those items on the rear-suspension tower brace.

　　The small-item storage space is even more deficient in the cabin. The cupholders are located where an armrest bin would typically be. And if you store drinks in them, they will interfere with operating the infotainment system controls. A wireless device charging pad is optional, but plus-size phones won't really fit in it. The door pockets and glovebox are also small.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Fuel efficiency is not an area we expected the Supra to shine in, but shine it does. It returns an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined (24 city/31 highway). In our testing, we observed an impressive 29 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation loop. This result trounces the BMW M2 Competition (20 mpg combined) and even outperforms the base-model Porsche Cayman (24 mpg combined).

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the GR Supra a good value? The Supra's cabin looks more BMW than Toyota, but it's still a pleasant space that delivers a luxury-level look and feel. The Launch Edition's carbon-fiber trim is a nice touch and helps make the Supra seem a bit more special than your average coupe. Even if you buy the base-level Supra, you're getting a heck of a bargain.

　　Toyota's warranty coverage is a trade-off compared to competitors. There's less bumper-to-bumper coverage but better powertrain coverage. Two years of scheduled maintenance is also included.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　The new Supra mostly delivers on its promises. Sure, there is a lot of obvious BMW DNA here, but that doesn't make it any less of a car if what you value are performance and swoopy styling. The Supra's appeal is undeniable for the price. It's properly quick and lively, yet it's also comfortable enough to be your daily driver so long as you don't need to take much with you.

　　

Which GR Supra does zzdcar recommend?

The midrange 3.0 Premium trim gets our recommendation. The upgraded rear brakes along with additional tech and convenience items easily justify the cost increase over the base model.

　　

2020 Toyota GR Supra models

The 2020 Toyota Supra is a two-seat sport coupe with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder (335 horsepower, 365 lb-ft of torque). An eight-speed automatic is the only available transmission, and it sends power to the rear wheels. There are three trims to choose from: base 3.0, 3.0 Premium and Launch Edition.

　　Standard feature highlights for the base 3.0 include 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, remote ignition, auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirror, adaptive suspension dampers, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather and simulated suede upholstery, and power front seats with driver-seat memory functions. It also comes with a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10-speaker audio system, frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams.

　　Optional for the 3.0 is the Navigation + JBL package that adds an 8.8-inch touchscreen, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, a 12-speaker premium JBL audio system, and Toyota remote services.

　　The 3.0 Premium gains this package as standard. It also comes with upgraded rear brakes, full leather upholstery, a head-up display, a wireless charging pad, and heated seats. The Launch Edition trim is limited to the first 1,500 Supras to arrive in the U.S. and gets dark wheels, a commemorative plaque set in carbon-fiber trim, and available red leather upholstery.

　　Optional on all Supra models is the Driver Assist package that adds full-range adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors.

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2020 GR Supra Highlights

Trim: 3.03.0 PremiumLaunch Edition3.0

　　

Base MSRP	$49,990
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	26 MPG
Cost to Drive	$174/month
Seating	2 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles