The GR Supra has been back for a few years now and some drivers have been waiting for a manual transmission. Now, that wish has been granted for the Supra 3.0 models with a six-cylinder engine only.
This Supra has a German turbocharged engine from BMW that it shares to help keep the cost down. While it is not a pure Toyota power plant, the 382 horsepower really motivates this small car with gusto. The slick shifting manual transmission adds extra driver involvement.
It might not be as quick as versions with the automatic, but still, this is a fast car. Handling limits are high and Toyota Supra is best experienced at a track to fully exploit its talents.
The looks will catch your eye, especially with the Nitro Yellow paint on this shapely sports car. You notice quickly that this is a small car. The body seems to have been poured over the car with extreme curves and body creases.
While BMW and Toyota joined forces to help build sports cars, the Toyota only comes in a coupe. The BMW offers just a convertible version and they don’t really look similar on the outside. The Supra GR shares some styling cues from the past version of Toyota sports car. The bubbled roof over the driver and passenger and a modern take of the rear styling give hints of the past.
The inside of the Supra does not have much Toyota influence. The cockpit, HVAC and audio controls come from BMW. The heated leather bucket seats are good at keeping you planted in the curves but not the most comfortable for long trips. Taller drivers will find it a tight fit and might have trouble getting in and out of this low-slung sports car. Not as many cars come packing a manual anymore so the leather covered shifter and clutch pedal are novelty for those who take a ride.
Cost: $55,650; as tested $58,865
MPG: 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway; I managed 23.8 mpg in 228 miles of mixed driving.
Safety: Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection; dynamic radar cruise control; lane departure alert with steering assist; automatic high beams; blind spot monitor; rear cross traffic alert; parking sensors with alert.
Options: $1,195 driver assist package; $925 carbon fiber mirror caps
Things to know: The GR Supra comes with an available manual transmission to please those purists who want a sports car and be more in control of the experience.
Pros:
- High handling limits are best to be explored on a track.
- An available manual transmission for six-cylinder models.
- You get a lot of sports car for a fair price.
Cons:
- Not easy for larger drivers to fit inside.
- Small car comes with little storage space in the cabin.
- Some purists might not like the BMW/Toyota collaboration.
