This entry-level Supra provides a sports car driving experience, but it fails to build the emotional connection that it should.
The Toyota Supra is experiencing an identity crisis. Like: – Is it a revived Japanese classic? In a way, but only in name. Is it truly a sports car? It’s undoubtedly lively, but it never entices you to go for a drive in the same way that a Mazda MX-5 Miata does.
Could this two-seater be classified as a grand tourer? No, it is not comfy for lengthy drives and has limited luggage room.
It can be difficult to categorize the Supra, so let’s stick to the facts. The GR Supra 2.0 is powered by a 2.0-liter engine.
This courageous little Bavarian turbocharged dynamo produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
That may not sound like a lot of under hood stallions, but trust me when I say it’s more than enough to get this coupe moving.
Even at highway speeds, the Supra’s enthusiasm wanes significantly, yet it punches strongly off the line and can reach 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.
The Supra’s costlier six-cylinder variants are even more spectacular, but they’re actually not necessary in terms of acceleration, especially when considering fuel economy.
Supras with four cylinders get 25 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the interstate, and 28 mpg combined. In mixed driving, I get 35.5 mpg, which is outstanding.
That rapid – and economical – performance is aided and abetted by the Supra 2.0’s only gearbox, a quick-shifting eight-speed automatic.
It’s difficult to argue with this transmission’s performance, even if its clunkiness detracts from the driving experience.
Gear changes aren’t always smooth, especially when slowing down.
Downshifts create head toss, which rapidly becomes irritating when stalled in traffic. Similarly impolite is the stop-start system, which saves a lot of gasoline yet sends shudders through the automobile every time the engine is restarted.
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