2020 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium Yearlong Test Verdict: Compelling But No Keeper
The 2020 Toyota GR Supra's entry into the MotorTrend garage was something we might have anticipated for quite some time. The revived Supra took almost eight years to develop from an idea to a working vehicle, and after that, 14 months of ownership of a Supra 3.0 Premium gave us even more time to think.
Supra Development: Behind The Scenes
For Toyota, everything proceeded quickly even if the Supra's gestation process appeared to be tortuous and lengthy to outsiders. The Supra was expedited because of the attention of the big boss, from the times when Calty Design Research proposed the FT-1 concept sketches to their bosses getting approval up the Toyota chain, and finally to Akio Toyoda himself, who gave Calty the go-ahead to create a concept car for the 2014 Detroit auto show. But there was still the issue of actually creating a production-ready A90 Supra. The Toyota team spent six months working alongside a BMW group stationed in Munich to work out packaging, safety, and manufacturing concerns. Both BMW and Toyota resorted to Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, a low-volume production expert, where the SUpra and its BMW Z4 mechanical twin are still produced today, for that purpose.
It is not a genuine Supra.
We have heard that the Supra coupe sharing mechanical components with the Z4 convertible somehow detracts from its identity as a Supra since the unveiling of the joint BMW/Toyota project. You'd be mistaken. They differ in almost every way that anything can be adjusted, mapped, calibrated, personalized, or altered. German legislation prohibited both development teams from knowing what the other was doing or adjusting, and neither team ever drove the other's car during this period. Answer the following question as well: Which do you prefer, both or neither? The same may be said of the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR 86. That is what it ultimately comes down to.
Finalist for COTY, comparison winner, and celebrity
The 2020 Supra was a contender in our annual Car of the Year competition as soon as we could get our hands on one. Despite the fact that the revolutionary Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray won that year, the Supra and Z4 both advanced to the finalist stage. The Supra was chosen because it is a more pure and fundamental sports vehicle than the BMW. To get the most out of the exciting coupe, the driver must be accurate and employ calm inputs. To be sure, we also conducted a more complete comparison test between the Supra and Z4. The Supra once more prevailed financially. Also, take notice that the Supra has sold around 17,000 units compared to the Z4's 8,000 after nearly 2.5 years on the market.
All of this may help to explain why the Supra maintained a high level of respect and appreciation among the general people up to the very final day of our test car's stay. We've seen how many people, who may have been scared to approach us when we were refueling a Ferrari or Lamborghini, would frequently approach, camera in hand, and ask, "Wow, is that the new Supra?"
GR Supra: What's Not To Like?
Okay, it makes sense because our yellow Supra was a really striking sports vehicle. Thanks to the 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 engine created by BMW, it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.9 seconds and has more than 1 g of cornering grip. What is there to dislike? Sadly, that's enough. Those that drove our long-term automobile had a consistent list of grievances: the lack of a manual transmission at the time, the low roofline that gave people headaches when getting in and out, the lack of an external hatch release or hands-free kick function, the excessive road noise that entered the cabin but was thankfully muffled by a full load of luggage, the extreme wind buffeting with the windows even partially down; The center console and instrument panel have dull screens, and getting to even the simplest options, like the panels' seven tiers of lighting, requires a byzantine journey through screens and menus. Last but not least, the Supra truly detested a specific road flaw that many sports vehicles have bucked on. The front of the car handled it without issue, while the rear axle compressed perfectly well despite the strong rebound damping virtually lifting its tires off the ground. We were told that this propensity was addressed in the 2021 Supra. We agree after driving one, but only partly.
Supra: Where Has It Been and Where Is It Going?
Since we received this automobile close to the onset of the pandemic—severely restricting its use, particularly at the beginning—we are a little late with this final report. We covered just 10,430 miles (almost 10,000 short of our objective) with an average of 25.7 mpg, in accordance with the EPA's combined projection, despite keeping the car for two more months. The EPA also asserts that this Supra has a range of 356 miles, which we have only ventured to surpass twice. We traveled 1,358 miles in total on our biggest road trip, averaging 33.2 mpg. Toyota's warranty only lasts for two years or 25,000 miles, compared to the BMW Z4's three years and 36,000 miles.
Last but not least, the absolutely insane 94 percent retained value after three years is comparable to the costs of the majority of new and even used automobiles. We'll stop there.
The GR Supra 3.0 has increased its horsepower by 14 since it debuted for the 2020 model year, going from 368 in 2020 versions like our car to 382. When we put one to the test, we discovered that it was slower in the sprint to 60 mph but faster in the quarter mile. There are several choices and upgrades for 2022, as well as two special editions with limited production. In 2021, a new 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 was introduced; in 2023, the 3.0-liter engine and manual transmission will also be offered. According to rumors, the manufacture of the Supra will end in 2025 when the contract with BMW expires. If that's the case, the Supra's value will undoubtedly continue to rise due to the model's thriving aftermarket.
Toyota 2020 GR Supra 3.0 Premium: Conclusion
At least one member of the iron-butt team liked the Supra for his roughly 1,500-mile road trip, and we really enjoyed driving it at the track and on the twisty roads around Los Angeles. However, there were far too many little issues with this 2020 GR Supra 3.0 Premium that prevented us from fully adoring it. We weren't sad to see its taillights go, but it is a captivating car with a compelling story—and probably a compelling next few years.