Toyota GR Supra 3.0 review: Farewell to a legend

With the Supra, Toyota created a true legend. After many years, the iconic sports coupe returned in its fifth generation at the end of 2019, and the MK5 was born. But it seems that this chapter is also slowly coming to an end: Toyota will no longer produce the current Supra. Reason enough for us to pay this cult car a fitting farewell – as befits a legend.

tl;dr: A true legend

The Toyota GR Supra 3.0 is a sports car that evokes emotions, especially at a time when electric cars with innovative technology and sustainability are shaping the future. With its combination of an inline six-cylinder engine, classic rear-wheel drive, and exciting design, it embodies much of what true enthusiasts love.

Of course, there are points of criticism: the interior is cramped, the technology is a few years old and largely comes from BMW, and real purists might have wanted a moreproA more uncompromising driving machine was desired. But none of this changes the fact that the Supra MK5 is a fascinating car that offers pure driving pleasure.

It's a shame that Toyota is now retiring this legend, but perhaps that's precisely what makes the Supra 3.0 even more desirable. Anyone who has the chance should see and drive this icon in person one more time before it's finally history.

Video report:

Design: Classic sports car proportions, modern details

From the very first glance at the Supra, it's clear: Toyota wanted to capture the DNA of its predecessor without resorting to pure retro looks. The long hood, short rear end, and wide track leave no doubt that this is a classic sports coupe. At the same time, with its aggressively designed headlights, large air intakes, and distinctive double-bubble roofline, the car looks like a race car for the road.

The balance between elegance and sportiness is particularly successful. The Supra isn't a brute, "twerp" sports car, but rather a car that also cuts a fine figure off the racetrack. In our test car, finished in "Midnight Black," the design language comes across particularly well, a real eye-catcher on the road. Even if brighter colors can be a bit more striking.

Interior: Driver-oriented, but compact

Inside, Toyota relies on a blend of purity and BMW technology. It's no secret: The Supra MK5 was developed in cooperation with BMW, and it shares many technical features with the Z4. This is especially noticeable in the infotainment system, which strongly resembles BMW iDrive, as well as in the controls.

The seating position is comfortable, low, and very driver-oriented, as befits a sports car. The sports seats offer excellent lateral support, and comfort remains surprisingly high even on longer journeys. However, the interior is quite compact, and anyone over 1,90 meters tall will quickly reach their limits. The trunk is small at 290 liters, but it's large enough for two weekend bags.

The quality of the materials is solid, even if you can sense cost savings in some places. Particularly praiseworthy: Despite the BMW system, the controls are intuitive, and Apple CarPlay integration works well, even wirelessly, while Android Auto is unfortunately nowhere to be found.

Engine & Performance: BMW power with Japanese fine-tuning

Under the long hood of the Supra 3.0 lies a heart that will immediately delight connoisseurs: a BMW 3,0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with 340 hp. Our test car featured the more powerful version, and the power delivery is impressive. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in around 4,3 seconds, and the Supra easily reaches its top speed of 250 km/h. But far more important is how the performance feels: The engine revs quickly, delivers powerful torque even at low revs, and impresses with a sound that's robust but never intrusive.

The eight-speed automatic transmission shifts lightning-fast and harmonizes perfectly with the engine. Those who prefer to take control can intervene at any time using the paddle shifters, although the Supra was briefly available with a manual transmission in some markets, although this remained very rare in Europe.

Driving behavior: pure agility

On the road, the Supra shows that it's more than just a BMW in a Toyota dress. The Japanese engineers deliberately tuned the suspension for a sportier feel, giving the car its own unique character. The steering is direct, precise, and inspires confidence. In fast corners, the Supra practically glues itself to the road, aided by the active limited-slip differential on the rear axle. While comfort remains acceptable on the highway, the Supra is more of a daily driver for enthusiasts who prioritize driving pleasure. On country roads, the Supra reveals its full potential: crisp corners, quick changes of direction, and tremendous traction make the coupe a true corner hunter. You can tell at every second that Toyota has created a driver's car.

Everyday suitability & consumption: so-so

As much as the Supra is a sports car, it also surprises with a certain practicality in everyday use. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it's surprisingly maneuverable in the city, but rear visibility is limited by the small rear window. Fuel consumption during the test ranged between 9,5 and 12 liters of Super E10, a realistic figure for a sports car in this performance class. If you take it easy, you can get just under 9 liters, but if you push the engine, you'll quickly end up with 12 liters or more.

Availability & Final Edition: Exclusive farewell with limit

To mark the dignified end of the Supra MK5 era, Toyota is launching the strictly limited A90 Final Edition on the market, a true collector's dream. In Germany, the model costs EUR 142.800, which is significantly higher than the regular GR Supra. Only 300 copies, Europe accounts for about half. So, anyone who wants to say goodbye to this icon should hurry, time is running out.