2023 Toyota GR Supra

Overview

Toyota’s halo sports car, the 2023 GR Supra, delivers enough excitement, style, and drama to make up for the brand’s more sedate sedans, hatchbacks, and SUVs. Developed and built alongside the BMW Z4 convertible, the GR Supra offers similar build quality and simpler—but still handsome—interior materials inside. The entry-level 255-hp turbocharged four-cylinder provides ample power, but we can’t help but adore the ferocious, optional 382-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter BMW inline-six that makes this two-seater fly. Rear-wheel drive is the only setup, and the GR Supra’s sure-footed chassis and sharp steering enable it to come alive on twisty roads and race courses. Sure, it may borrow a little too heavily from the BMW parts bin for some Toyota fanboys, and its sweptback exterior design creates some awfully large blind spots but even so, the GR Supra remains one of our favorite sports cars. It’s a driver’s car and an enthusiast’s delight.

What’s New for 2023?

Toyota, surely spurred by the outcries over the GR Supra’s lack of a manual transmission, has added a six-speed stick to the menu for the 2023 model year. The manual will be available as a no-cost option with the more powerful turbocharged 3.0-liter BMW-sourced inline-six and will be standard on a new special edition, called the A91-MT model. The A91-MT will be limited to just 500 examples in the U.S. and will come in either matte white or matte gray paint with a brown-and-black two-tone interior. Other changes to the GR Supra lineup for 2023 include revised tuning for the suspension and steering systems and the introduction of a new driving mode called Hairpin+, which allows additional wheelspin on one of the rear tires to help rotate the GR Supra around ultra-tight, hairpin turns.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Although there’s little driving emotion lost with the four-cylinder GR Supra 2.0, we think the ripping acceleration of the six-cylinder 3.0 is worth the added cost. We’d skip the Driver Assist package, which adds adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a lane-keeping assist system that’s more annoying than useful. The new six-speed manual offered with the 3.0 model costs the same as the automatic and is a no-brainer. Every GR Supra comes with a one-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association sports-car racing sanctioning organization and a complimentary day at a high-performance driving event. And just thing: the money you save by not purchasing the Driver’s Assist package can go towards on additional track time and fresh rubber.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Prior to 2023, all Supra models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive; this year, a six-speed manual is finally available, but only with the optional turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. At the test track, our long-term 2020 GR Supra 3.0 (with the eight-speed automatic) laid down some seriously impressive acceleration numbers: hitting 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and 100 mph in 9.5 ticks. That puts it in the big leagues against the Chevy Camaro SS, the Porsche Cayman GTS, and the BMW M2 Competition. In fact, it’s even quicker than the vaunted fourth-generation Supra that was powered by a sequentially-turbocharged inline-six with 320 horsepower. Despite its performance potential, the GR Supra’s suspension is forgiving enough to drive daily. Its steering is accurate, nicely weighted, and direct, which enhances its fun-to-drive personality. The lower-priced four-cylinder model delivered a brisk 4.7-second 60-mph run at our test track. That’s quicker than the GR Supra’s German cousin—the BMW Z4—which managed a 5.0-second 60-mph time. The one negative we found with the performance of our long-term GR Supra was the ease with which it got stuck in snow.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The most efficient GR Supra is the one with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which earns EPA ratings of 25 mpg city and 32 highway. The more powerful GR Supra 3.0’s ratings are still pretty good at 23 mpg city and 31 highway. That’s more efficient than the Camaro, the Cayman GTS, and the M2. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, the six-cylinder GR Supra exceeded its highway rating by delivering 34 mpg; with the turbo four, the GR Supra delivered a stellar 38 mpg. For more information about the GR Supra’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The driver-focused cockpit is tight, and although the double-bubble roof provides some additional headroom, the tallest drivers will feel pinched. Cargo space is similarly cramped, but the cargo area (accessed via a hatchback) is roomy enough for a couple of carry-on suitcases or about a week’s worth of groceries for two. In our testing, we managed to fit four carry-on suitcases behind the rear seats. Much of the Toyota’s interior is shared with the Z4, so those familiar with BMW switchgear and infotainment controls will feel right at home.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Speaking of infotainment, the GR Supra’s central display is an 8.8-inch unit with a very lightly reskinned version of BMW’s latest iDrive interface. A digital gauge display—which actually boasts a distinct design compared with the Bimmer—is standard across the range. Navigation and Apple CarPlay capability are both available, but Android Auto isn’t offered. A 12-speaker JBL audio system is optional, but we expect the standard 10-speaker audio system will be enough for most buyers considering the size of the GR Supra’s interior.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Toyota offers a host of driver-assistance features as standard across the GR Supra lineup, including automated emergency braking. Additional features such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring can be added via the optional Driver’s. Assist package. For more information about the GR Supra’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning
• Standard automatic high-beams

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Although it shares much with the Z4, the GR Supra offers slightly longer powertrain coverage but falls behind the BMW with a shorter limited warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance plan.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles

More Features and Specs

Source: www.caranddriver.com