Used Toyota GR Supra 2019-present review

In 2001, The Fast and the Furious nitro-boosted the careers of stars Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, while also cementing the Toyota Supra in film and car culture history. A fourth-gen model at the time, the Supra went out of production during the following year. Fans then waited 17 years for a new one, only for their prayers to be answered in a controversial fashion.

You see, this fifth-gen Supra (now dubbed the GR Supra) is a coupé, and effectively it's a Toyota-fied version of the BMW Z4 convertible because a lot of parts are shared between the two cars. The reaction was initially very mixed, but opinions seem to have softened in the light of some more drastic reincarnations, the Ford Capri, for example.

Engines & Performance: Upon its 2019 launch, the Supra was solely available with a BMW-sourced 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. Aided by a turbocharger, this unit officially produces 335bhp, but based on the 4.3sec 0-62mph time and the sheer ferocity of its delivery, you wouldn't be crazy in thinking Toyota might've been a tad conservative. For instance, the Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 is 59bhp up (and 60kg down) on the Supra, yet the pair are similarly quick.

Sure, the 4.0-litre engine in the GTS is more satisfying, sounding even sweeter and chasing its redline with even more enthusiasm, but the Supra's engine revs so quickly and so strongly that it's still super exciting. There's a boatload of power available throughout the range and you can easily overwhelm the rear tyres if you're overzealous – fortunately, the traction control system is good at letting through some adrenaline-pumping slip without it becoming a dangerous amount.

A 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine – also taken from the Z4 – became available in 2021. Its 254bhp allows for a 0-62mph of 5.2sec, so it still feels quick (if not slightly sterile next to its bigger-engined sibling). This 2.0-litre engine is solely paired with an automatic gearbox and that was the case with the 3.0-litre model until 2022.

The six-speed manual gearbox is a gift to the Supra and old-school car enthusiasts. The shift is short and snappy, and it brings out a welcomed layer of driver engagement and fun. Just make sure you have a strong left leg, because the clutch has a springy feel to it, meaning a smooth release requires some effort and precision.

Ride & Handling: For a relatively small, two-seat sports car, the Supra is on the heavy side, weighing in at roughly 1500kg – the figure will vary by a few dozen kilograms, depending on whether you choose the lighter 2.0-litre or heavier 3.0-litre engine, auto' or manual.

For reference, all Supra variants weigh in at more than any Cayman or Alpine A110, let alone the sub-tonne Lotus Elise. The Supra does undercut the Ford Mustang and Jaguar F-Type, though.

Show the Supra a tight corner and there's no ignoring its heft. In addition to its weight, its relatively relaxed suspension does dull agility and induces a small dose of body roll. And while we're complaining, the steering, while quick and well-weighted, could do with a touch more feel and accuracy.

All in all, it's not the sharpest, most confidence-inspiring driver's car in recent history – the Cayman is far up the pecking order in that sense – but its rear-wheel-drive playfulness, good composure on country roads and commendable balance through more open, sweeping bends means there's still fun to be had.

And now we come onto the Supra's perhaps unexpected forte: grand touring. You see, a benefit of its somewhat relaxed approach to being a sports car is that it can competently double as a long-distance cruiser – and a fast one at that. Take the (standard-from-new) adaptive suspension out of its firmer 'Sport' setting and the ride is well cushioned and forgiving, more so than that of some family cars.

Couple all of that with quiet cruising manners – bar some typical sports car tyre roar – and you really can cover great distances with ease. It's in this sense that the Supra is superior to the rival Cayman and A110, both of which feel a bit less relaxed.

Interior & Practicality: The Supra has one of the best Toyota interiors we've come across, although that's mostly because of all the BMW bits. There's plush leather everywhere, while every button and dial feels of a good quality and is easy to use.

Even the infotainment system is BMW's own – a good thing in our books, because BMW is responsible for some of the most intuitive infotainment systems ever made. The 8.8in screen is a tad narrow and some of the icons are a bit small, but the system is otherwise a doddle to use (via touch or the handy rotary controller). Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring is present but you can't have Android Auto, unfortunately.

The Supra may be a low-slung sports car, but its distinctive ‘double bubble’ roof allows for decent head room, even if you’re more than six-foot tall. The seats slide back far enough to accommodate lanky legs and the interior is far wide enough to avoid any shoulders scrubbing together. You won't find that in an Elise.

The boot is a good size, too, with a 290-litre capacity – about what you’d get in a Ford Fiesta and much more than what the A110 has available. The Cayman – with its twin boot arrangement – is a little more accommodating but we still managed to get four carry-on suitcases in the Supra, which is good for a sports car.

Trims & Equipment: The Supra must've been well-behaved because Father Christmas brought it a lot of toys – certainly more than the sparsely equipped Cayman received. Even the 2.0 Pro comes with a long list that includes heated Alcantara seats, two-zone climate control, 18in alloy wheels, keyless entry, auto lights and wipers, and power-folding door mirrors.

The 3.0 Pro gets leather seats, a head-up display, ambient lighting, a punchy JBL 12-speaker stereo, adaptive cruise control and some extra safety kit.

Interested in buying a used Toyota GR Supra? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

You can buy a used Toyota GR Supra for around £33,000 and, for the money, expect a 2019/'20 model with the 2.0-litre or 3.0-litre engine. Fancy a manual example? As of writing, you'll need upwards of £42,000 – it'll be a 2022 model, remember.

Supras from 2023 will currently set you back upwards of £44,000 in most cases. It's also worth noting that the Supra was taken off sale in 2023, with no indication of whether it'll return, so nearly new examples are sparse.

In general, Supras aren't exactly commonplace on the used market. Right now, there are 39 for sale via our used car pages.

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MPG: When we tested the 2.0 version it averaged a very healthy 37.1mpg, whole even the 3.0 should average more than 30mpg if you drive it sensibly – on a motorway run, we saw a little more than 35mpg from a manual example, in fact.

Road tax: Like all petrol and diesel cars registered after April 2017, the Supra attracts a flat rate fee of £190 per year in road tax. Due to all Supras costing more than £40,000 when new, you'll also have to pay an additional £410 per year (for years two to six of the car's life) on top of that.

Insurance and servicing: The 2.0 belongs to insurance group 34 (out of 50), which is very reasonable given its performance. The 3.0 sits in group 37, which is also very reasonable. Add to that its Toyota badge (rather than a BMW one) and the Supra should be cheaper to insure than you might think.

You can buy a full service of your GR Supra for £470 via Toyota. An intermediate service will cost you £315. By buying a Supra, you can also make use of Toyota's class leading 10-year/100,000-mile warranty –you just need to make sure the car has been and will continue to be serviced via Toyota.

Money no object, we'd choose a 3.0 manual, but that £9000 premium is pretty steep. If you have the money and are desperate for the added driver involvement, go for it, but we believe most will opt for the 'auto – if anything just to save some money. It's not a bad gearbox, either.

You don't have to settle for the 2.0 at the cheaper end of the spectrum, because the sublime 3.0 is available for similar cash.

Our favourite Toyota GR Supra: 3.0 'auto

As we've touched upon, the Alpine A110 and Porsche Cayman are ultimately sharper machines – and naturally so. As well as being lighter, they have the advantage of their engines being in the optimum position, which is in the middle of the car, right behind the driver. The Supra, meanwhile, positions its engine above the front wheels, creating some front-end grip but also stunting agility somewhat.

Anyway, enough technical talk. Perhaps you've decided you aren't heading for the Welsh highlands or a racetrack and are perhaps set on a sports cars that's a bit more of a blunt instrument but in turn a cushier (but still massively exciting) cruiser. Well, the Supra fits that bill (as we've established) and so does the Jaguar F-Type.

The F-Type, available in coupé or convertible form, is a riot when paired with a supercharged V6 or a V8 engine – and more so than the Supra when it comes to noise. It's also super stylish and luxurious, plus you can pick one up for Supra money. It is likely to cost you more to run, mind you.

A similar proposition, minus some of that luxury, is the Ford Mustang. It's also a good choice if you need a couple of rear seats – the Supra, F-Type, A110 and Cayman all lack that.

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Interested in buying a used Toyota GR Supra? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.