The Toyota Supra has always carried an aura of mystique. From its origins in the late 1970s through the cult-classic A80 of the 1990s, the Supra has built a reputation as a performance coupe that balances raw power with everyday drivability. With the reborn GR Supra re-entering the Australian market a few years ago, Toyota revived an icon for a new era.
Now, the 2025 Toyota GR Supra sharpens that formula. It doesn’t simply ride on nostalgia – it evolves the Supra into a modern muscle car tailored for today’s performance-hungry drivers while paying tribute to its rich heritage.
This in-depth review explores its design, performance, features, practicality, and place in Australia’s sports coupe landscape.
Design and Styling – A Fusion of Past and Present
The Supra has always been about curves, proportions, and presence. The 2025 model carries forward the styling language introduced with the fifth-generation GR Supra but with subtle refinements that make it feel fresh without abandoning its DNA.
The low, wide stance remains unmistakable. A long bonnet stretches over a turbocharged powerhouse, while the short rear deck signals classic coupe proportions. Toyota’s design team added sharper lines around the headlights, refined LED lighting, and updated wheel options that enhance its aggressive appearance.
From the side profile, the double-bubble roof continues – a nod to racing heritage designed to reduce drag and increase headroom. At the rear, the ducktail spoiler and sculpted taillights scream performance while staying true to Supra’s sporty identity.
In many ways, it’s a car that turns heads because it respects tradition while looking futuristic.
Engine and Performance – The Heart of the Beast
At the core of the Supra’s legacy is its engine. Australians know the Supra as a tuner’s dream, and Toyota doesn’t disappoint in 2025.
The range continues with two powertrains:
- A 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder producing around 190kW, aimed at enthusiasts who want a lighter, more agile Supra with slightly better efficiency.
- The crown jewel: a 3.0-litre inline-six turbocharged engine, delivering a muscular 285kW and 500Nm. It’s smooth, ferocious, and tuned for exhilarating acceleration.
Zero to 100km/h comes in just over 4 seconds for the six-cylinder, putting it firmly in sports car territory alongside rivals like the BMW Z4 M40i and Nissan Z.
Toyota continues to refine its partnership with BMW, from which the engine is derived, but the Supra team fine-tunes the dynamics to give the car its unique flavour.
Transmission Choices – Manual vs Automatic
Perhaps the biggest talking point in recent years was the introduction of a manual gearbox. In 2025, both the 2.0 and 3.0 Supra variants can be optioned with a six-speed manual, while the eight-speed automatic remains standard.
For purists, the manual transforms the Supra into an old-school sports coupe – engaging, visceral, and rewarding. For everyday drivers, the automatic is seamless, quick to shift, and suited for both daily commutes and spirited drives.
Toyota’s decision to keep the manual alive reflects its commitment to enthusiasts who still crave driver involvement.
Handling and Driving Experience
The Supra is built on Toyota’s GA-L platform, co-developed with BMW. While some critics initially balked at the collaboration, the result is a finely balanced sports coupe that handles exceptionally well.
Key highlights of the 2025 driving experience include:
- 50:50 weight distribution for balance in corners.
- Adaptive variable suspension that allows drivers to switch between comfort and sport settings.
- A low centre of gravity, enhancing grip and stability.
- Precise steering that gives confidence at both high speeds and tight bends.
On Australian roads, whether cruising the Great Ocean Road or carving through the Blue Mountains, the Supra feels planted, controlled, and thrilling. It’s a car that thrives on twisty roads but remains comfortable enough for highway drives.
Interior – Driver Focus Meets Modern Luxury
Inside, the 2025 Supra leans into its driver-focused ethos while offering premium touches. The cockpit wraps around the driver, with a low seating position that enhances the sense of connection to the road.
Highlights of the interior include:
- Sports seats with improved bolstering and available Alcantara/leather combinations.
- A redesigned infotainment screen, now larger and running Toyota’s latest software with wireless smartphone integration.
- Digital driver display with customisable layouts for road or track driving.
- Minimalist yet high-quality materials, striking a balance between sport and comfort.
While space in the Supra remains tight – this is no family car – the cabin feels more refined and intuitive than ever before.
Technology and Features
The 2025 GR Supra isn’t just about raw performance – it integrates modern technology to enhance both convenience and safety.
Key features include:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- Premium 12-speaker JBL audio system in higher trims.
- Advanced driver assistance tech such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
- Connected services with real-time navigation updates and remote access functions via smartphone.
Toyota’s ability to blend old-school performance with new-school tech makes the Supra appealing to both purists and modern buyers.
Heritage and Legacy – Why Supra Still Matters
The Supra is more than just a car – it’s a cultural phenomenon. From dominating drag strips to starring in video games and movies like The Fast and the Furious, it has become a symbol of performance for multiple generations.
The 2025 model carries this torch by staying true to its ethos: delivering accessible performance that’s thrilling yet refined. For Australians, it also represents a rare type of vehicle – a sports coupe that blends Japanese engineering with European influence, creating something uniquely balanced.
Practicality and Ownership
Let’s be clear – no one buys a Supra for cargo space. Yet for a sports coupe, it offers decent practicality. The hatchback design allows for a usable boot, enough for weekend bags or grocery runs.
Fuel efficiency varies: the four-cylinder averages around 7.5L/100km, while the six-cylinder sits closer to 9.5L/100km. For a car in this segment, that’s respectable, though clearly efficiency is secondary to performance.
Toyota backs the Supra with its five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and servicing costs are competitive compared to European sports coupes. This makes ownership more reassuring in the Australian market.
Rivals in Australia – How the Supra Stacks Up
The Supra competes in a niche but fiercely contested market. Its main rivals include:
- BMW Z4 M40i – Shares DNA with the Supra but feels more premium and roadster-oriented.
- Nissan Z – Retro-styled, twin-turbo V6 rival with similar performance.
- Ford Mustang 2.3L/5.0L – Muscle car appeal with more rawness but less refinement.
- Porsche 718 Cayman – More expensive, but offers razor-sharp handling and badge prestige.
Where the Supra shines is in delivering an engaging experience at a relatively accessible price point, without sacrificing Toyota’s reliability reputation.
The Australian Market Outlook
Sports coupes are no longer volume sellers, but they carry brand value. Toyota knows this and keeps the Supra as a halo car – a statement that it still builds cars for enthusiasts, not just hybrids and SUVs.
In Australia, the Supra continues to attract a mix of buyers: older fans who grew up with the A80 legend, and younger enthusiasts drawn to its blend of modern tech and classic heritage.
With limited numbers and strong demand, resale values remain steady. Enthusiasts see it not just as a car to drive but as a collector’s piece in the making.
Verdict – Modern Muscle, Classic Soul
The 2025 Toyota GR Supra is more than a sports coupe. It’s a time capsule that honours its past while embracing the future. From its thrilling turbocharged engine to its finely tuned chassis, from its heritage-inspired design to its modern tech features, it strikes a rare balance.
For Australian buyers seeking a car that excites every time they turn the key, the Supra delivers. It isn’t the most practical or the cheapest, but it was never meant to be. It exists to make driving fun again – and in that mission, it succeeds spectacularly.
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