MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen
Editor, MotorwayAmerica.com

(March 31, 2024) Slip into the 2024 Toyota GR Supra, crank up the healthy 382-horsepower turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, and get ready for a true sports car experience. Because that's exactly what you are going to get — an outstanding sports car experience. The great thing about the current-generation Supra — which has been around since 2020 — is that its road-carving, off-the-line goodness can be had in GR guise for an affordable price starting under $57,000.

Since I first drove the first fifth-generation Supra in 2020, 47 horsepower has been added and perhaps best of all for sports car purists a six-speed manual transmission is now available. And a stick-shift attached to a big engine is a magical combo for serious drivers. I didn't have the pleasure of driving it, but I discovered the standard eight-speed automatic is also a darn good fit for the inline six.

The biggest change to the fifth-generation Supra came in 2021 with the addition of a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 255 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque at 1,550 rpm mated to the same eight-speed automatic transmission found in the six-cylinder edition. It too is a fun-to-drive machine, but at an entry price about 10 grand less, giving more people the opportunity to own this curvaceous machine.


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Changes for 2024 are few, but Toyota has added a 45th Anniversary Edition to the lineup, and only 900 will be produced. Available only with the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, the Anniversary model sports either white or orange paint, matte-black wheels, a black body-side graphic, and a manually adjustable rear spoiler.

Toyota says the GR Supra continues offering performance-focused standard equipment across all models, like a double joint-type MacPherson front and multi-link independent rear suspension, sport calibrated electronic power steering, and dual rear exhaust outlets. All models wear high performance Michelin Super Sport tires for maximum grip of the Supra’s Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) platform.
 
The Supra GR shares its components with the BMW Z4 convertible, and both sports cars are built in the same assembly plant in Graz, Austria. Early on some complained about BMW's contribution to a Toyota vehicle. But no complaints from this corner because the  two share most everything outside of styling, including BMW engines.

The interior borrows heavily from the BMW parts bin —either a good or bad thing depending on who you ask. We especially like BMW's rather old fashioned row of physical pre-set buttons for the radio — so much better and less distracting than the typical embedded-in-the-center-screen pre-sets.



The Supra's BMW-like sharp handling and responsive powertrains mean its happier on a winding mountain road than a long highway trip. Locate a deserted winding road or a race track and you will find this Toyota is a hoot to drive hard and fast. It's a well-balanced machine easily controllable making it a great weekend companion for even the most novice driver. It has muscle car acceleration and a willingness to take corners at speeds that would be unsafe in many sports cars.

How good is the acceleration? Here are the numbers from Car and Driver magazine — 0-to-60 in 3.9 seconds and a quarter mile in 12.4 seconds at 114 mph with the six cylinder, and not surprisingly also good with the four banger measured at just under 5 seconds.

On another positive note, the 3.0-liter engine is relatively fuel efficient with gas mileage measured at 23 mpg city, 31 highway and 26 combined. Both engines require the more expensive premium gaThe one aspect of the two-seater that's all Toyota is styling. It's a bit off-putting, but somehow it seems to work — especially when seen in person where the proportions with its long hood and short rear deck are eye-catching.

I found the Supra comfortable for a  100-mile trip and I think that will translate into a comfortable cross-country journey. The front seats offer excellent support, the ride quality is firm, but not harsh. And the cabin is relatively quiet — you can have normal-voice conversations with your driving mate or listen to the good-sounding audio at a totable level while at interstate speed.

Like most sports cars cargo space is at a premium, but the 10.2 cubic feet in the trunk will handle the needs of two people on a long trip — and there is a center pass-through for longer items.

My test car carried a base price of $57,650 and an as-tested price of $60,365. That included the Driver Assist Package that we think is a necessity. Included are dynamic cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alerts, parking sensors and emergency braking.

There’s a lot to like about the 5th-gen Supra, from its brazen in-your-face-styling to its heart-pounding driving excitement. It’s a car that begs to be driven, and you won’t be disappointed when you do.

2024 Toyota GR Supra

Essentials
Base price: $56,495; as driven, $60,365
Engine: 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder
Horsepower: 382 @ 5,800 rpm
Torque: 358 pound-feet @ 1,800 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
Drive: rear wheel
Seating: 2
Wheelbase: 97.2 inches
Length: 172.5 inches
Curb weight: 3,400 pounds
Turning circle: 34.1 feet
Luggage capacity: 10.2 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 13.7 gallons (premium)
EPA rating: 23 city, 31 highway, 26 combined
0-60: 3.9 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: BMW Z4, Porsche Cayman GTS, BMW M2 Competition

The Good
• Excellent power befitting sports car
• Nimble, lively handling
• Manual transmission available
• High quality interior

The Bad
• Lack of storage space

The Ugly
• Blind spots are a nuisance