TOYOTA GR SUPRA VS. TOYOTA GR86: DO YOU REALLY NEED BMW POWER?

• 2024 Toyota GR Supra

• 2024 Toyota GR86

When the legendary Supra name was brought back to the market in its modern incarnation for the 2020 model year, many die-hard Supra fans were somewhat skeptical of the Japanese brand’s collaboration with BMW. The GR Supra, however, quickly proved itself to be a fan favorite and worthy of carrying the historic nameplate, masterfully combining its BMW components with a distinct character all of its own. Its combination of an inline-six engine and a six-speed manual was unique on the market until very recently when BMW decided to introduce a manual option in the Z4 with the new “Handschalter Pack” for the 2025 model year.

But another member of the Toyota lineup also offers driver-focused, rear-wheel-drive fun, in a slightly different package: the second generation of the Toyota 86 sports coupe, dubbed the GR86, made its debut for the 2022 model year and became a very popular model among sports car fans, even outselling the Mazda Miata at the start of this year. Like the Supra, it is also the result of Toyota’s collaboration with another carmaker - this time Subaru rather than BMW. However, the collaboration with Subaru goes beyond providing mechanical underpinnings, as the GR86 and the Subaru BRZ are essentially identical in terms of design and looks as well. There are also some exciting updates in the pipeline for the GR86’s next model year.

While the Supra gets close to the 400-hp mark in its six-cylinder guise, the GR86 produces just over half the power output. But does more horsepower always equal more fun? And is it worth splashing out on the extra cash required to call yourself a Supra owner?

Design: Look Fast, Be Fast

The Supra’s design is striking and became instantly recognizable within weeks of its launch: its uniquely-shaped headlights have an elongated edge on the inside that contributes to the sleek, fast looks of the front end. The new Supra’s lines are sharper than its predecessor’s; there aren’t many design elements that connect the GR Supra to the legendary Supra of old, especially the slightly bug-eyed mk IV model that broke through into popular culture thanks to the Fast and Furious movie franchise. The GR Supra is also 5.2 inches shorter and 1.7 inches wider than its most recent ancestor.

There is a limited-run special edition for 2024, celebrating the Supra’s 45th anniversary. The 45th Anniversary Edition comes with several unique design features, including 19-inch matte-black forged aluminum wheels, an upgraded interior with leather-trimmed sport seats, and a sportier suspension. It’s available in a choice of two colors: Mikan Blast orange or Absolute Zero white.

The GR86 has softer, almost gentler looks with an elegant sloping roofline, in keeping with its 'sports coupe' spirit. Most of its looks are shared with the Subaru BRZ, unlike the Supra which bears no resemblance to the BMW Z4; Toyota took care of the GR86’s design process, while Subaru handled most of the mechanical aspects. The GR86’s sleek body is completed by a rectangular grille with rounded corners, which makes it look a little like the Nissan Z from the front.

One version of the GR86 sets itself apart from the pack in terms of design with its unique look: Toyota has released a one-off “Trueno Edition” of the GR86 for the 2024 model year, which takes styling cues from the legendary AE86 of Initial D fame. This is also where the special edition gets its name: the AE86 was known as the Sprinter Trueno in Japan. The two-tone look of the AE86 is replicated in two available color schemes (white and black, or red and black). Sadly, the Trueno edition is limited to 860 units.

Engine or Powertrain: Choices, Choices Sort Of

The GR Supra’s most controversial feature at the time of its release was its BMW-supplied engine, which many car enthusiasts worried was going to take away from the Supra’s unique character. However, those concerns proved to be misguided, with the BMW power plant complementing the Toyota design beautifully.

The inline-six engine may be the most popular choice, but there is also a four-cylinder option available. Both of them are turbocharged; while the former produces 255 hp, the latter produces 382 hp. The four-cylinder only comes with the eight-speed automatic transmission, while for the six-cylinder the six-speed manual is also available as an option. In the models equipped with the manual, Toyota’s iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) software also includes automatic rev-matching, which removes the need to heel-toe while allowing for maximum driver enjoyment. The four-cylinder engine produces the slowest 0-60 time in the lineup at five seconds. That sprint time increases significantly with the six-cylinder - and the automatic version is just three-tenths of a second quicker than the manual (3.9 seconds vs. 4.2 seconds).

The GR86, meanwhile, is powered by a single engine option: Subaru’s naturally aspirated, horizontally-opposed four-cylinder boxer engine, paired with a six-speed manual as standard, although six-speed automatic is also available as an option. The 0-60 time is half a second quicker with the manual than with the automatic (6.1 vs 6.6 seconds).

Only a few weeks ago, Toyota indicated big changes on the horizon for its products. The company is planning to produce a series of new turbocharged four-cylinder engines, more compact and more efficient with greater potential for hybridization, which could be implemented in a future version of the GR86 and solve some of the existing issues with the Subaru engine. All that’s left to do for GR86 enthusiasts is watch this space over the next few years to see what Toyota’s next move is going to be with regards to the GR86’s future.

Fuel Economy

The most efficient, but less fun, version of the six-cylinder Supra is the one equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission, achieving five miles per gallon more on the combined cycle compared to the manual variant. The four-cylinder fares even better, earning 27 mpg combined. However, it’s reasonable to assume fuel economy won’t be at the front of most people’s minds when considering the purchase of a Supra, and the same goes for its GR86 stablemate, which also offers slightly better fuel economy in automatic guise. The automatic GR86 squeezes out a single additional mile per gallon in the city, four on the highway, and two miles per gallon more combined.

Safety & Driver Assistance: The Quick And The Living

The Supra and the GR86 may be pocket rockets mainly focused on driver enjoyment, but it doesn’t hurt to have a good safety and assistance package on board for when things get hairy. Both models, as is the norm for most modern cars, are well equipped on that front, with a whole bunch of features aimed at keeping you and your passengers safe on every journey. Automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning are standard on both models. Some features are unique to each model: the GR86 comes with adaptive cruise control, as part of the GR86 Active Safety Suite, while the Supra comes with pedestrian detection as part of its pre-collision system.

Interior and Tech: Party In The Front, No Room In The Back

Both cars’ interiors are heavily driver-focused, with the rear seats being just short of ornamental and better suited to carrying children, really petite adults, or an extra bag or two. In the Supra, headroom constraints can cause trouble for taller drivers, although its interior, borrowed from the Z4, offers every bit of quality and comfort you could also find in its German sibling. Despite its compact size and relatively small interior, however, the Supra offers a deceptively large amount of cargo space at 10.2 cubic feet, with the ability to handle enough luggage for a short getaway without any trouble.

The tech and infotainment side of things may not be the main area of focus in a driver-oriented toy like the Supra, but there is still plenty of quality and functionality on offer. An 8.8-inch screen runs the show; BMW’s iDrive software handles all the connectivity and media functions we have come to expect of a modern car (with subtle aesthetic changes creating a distinct interface). While Apple CarPlay and navigation functions are available, Android Auto is not, so if you haven’t been sucked into the Apple ecosystem yet, beware. A four-speaker sound system is standard, with a 10-speaker setup in the 3.0-liter base model; a 12-speaker JBL unit is available on the top trims.

The GR86 faces a similar conundrum with its tiny rear seats, however they are still a nice addition to have to carry passengers in a pinch for a short journey. As is the case with the Supra and the Z4, the GR86 also borrows most of its interior from its Subaru BRZ sibling, with some design features dotted around the cabin to distinguish it such as the stitching, GR badging, and two-tone seats.

An 8.0-inch screen controls the GR86’s infotainment system; like the Supra, the GR86 is also equipped with a digital gauge display (which is configurable in three different modes: Normal, Sport, and Track). Unlike in the Supra, Android Auto is available in the GR86 as well as Apple CarPlay. The sound system is a little more compact, with a six-speaker setup as standard and an eight-speaker unit available in the Premium trim.

Price and Winner: Slow Car Fast, Fast Car Slow?

The 2024 Toyota GR Supra comes with a starting price of $45,540; if you want the cheapest Supra you can get your hands on, you will need to hurry, as the four-cylinder model is being dropped from the lineup for 2025. This will see the starting price of a 2025 GR Supra rise to $56,250 before options and destination. For 2024, the most expensive model is the Anniversary Edition, which comes in just under $65k. The 2024 GR86, meanwhile, starts at $29,900, with the most expensive model being the automatic Premium, at $32,500. The price disparity is significant - but so are the differences between these two cars.

While the GR Supra has an undeniable edge when it comes to raw performance, if all you’re looking for is an entry-level, enjoyable, driver-focused sports car that will put a smile on your face on the way to work, you might want to consider saving nearly $20,000 and opting for the GR86, which will satisfy your requirements without costing the earth. For everyone else- and those who have a passion for Japanese sports cars - there's the GR Supra.

Sources: Toyota, FuelEconomy.gov

2024-08-14T07:36:23Z dg43tfdfdgfd