Engine tested: 3.0-liter turbocharged 335-horsepower inline six cylinder
Price as tested: $56,220
Why it's here: The Supra comes from an iconic line of cars that dates to the late '70s. The new model was controversial because it shares many components — including its engine and transmission — with BMW and is made in Austria.
In his review Matt wrote:
For about $57,000, this could be among the best values in road-to-track cars on the market. Not for nothing, but the horsepower level was ideally matched to the car — throttling the Supra is a seamless addictive experience, almost devoid of turbo lag, and the sensation of the rear tires locking in and digging down under acceleration is the stuff of dreams.
A six-speed manual would have made the Supra more tempting, and one is supposedly in the works. The eight-speed automatic was competent, but of course it had three more gears that I wanted to use. So I found myself in auto-manual mode for most of my test time, gleefully paddle-shifting and watching the tachometer dance. Third and fourth gears in this car are dazzling.
The bottom line is that although the Supra and the BMW Z4 are made at the same factory, they're miles apart — and at $10,000 less, the Supra is the superior machine in price and performance.
Was it worth the wait? Good question. I wasn't waiting. But my time with the Supra left me craving more, and it continued a theme in my life of truly digging Japanese sports cars. Even if this one speaks with an Austrian accent.