 | Positives: Looks like no other car on the road, nimble maneuvers, razor-sharp steering, thrusty turbo four. |
 | Negatives: Horrible blind spot, no stick shift, a bit overstyled, interior lacks personality, not as easy to toss as the 3.0. |
 | Bottom Line: The Supra 2.0 is not the lesser of the two brothers. It carves out its own sporty niche like a champ by giving you everything you want and nothing you don't need. It's quick, fun, and ferocious. |
Driving Experience
Just when we thought the 2.0 wouldn't deliver on true driving thrills, we were gravely mistaken. Not only is it fun to drive, it's quicker and more capable than you'd think.
Ride Quality: The ride remains sporty and firm, but it's not upsetting. The 2.0 doesn't get the adaptive dampers, but it's still very manageable as a daily driver.
Acceleration: There's virtually no lag, and throttle response is excellent. 0-60 comes in 4.7 seconds, but it actually feels quicker. The braaap of the exhaust note is sublime.
Braking: The braking isn't as immediate as the 3.0's, but they're still very good. Pedal feel and progression were spot on.
Steering: The steering is near-immediate and very precise. Helming it around corners is a delight.
Handling: You can't kick out the rear tires as readily as the inline-six version, but it still takes a turn like a champ. It feels like the car rotates around the driver, a phenomenal feeling for enthusiasts. Body roll is minimal.
Technology
The tech is pretty much straight from BMW, minus the branding, of course. That means the infotainment system is better than Toyota's in terms of operation and appearance.
Infotainment System: The 8.8" touchscreen isn't huge, but it gets the job done. The layout and operation are crisp and easy.
Controls: The BMW-style rotary controller in the center console actuates well, and the buttons are well-placed. Switchgear is just like a Bimmer, which is to say, very good.
Styling
We give the Supra really high marks here because it copies no one, not even the BMW Z4 on which it's based. Some might see it as overdone, but there's an ugly beauty to all the curves, vents, and contours. The Nitro Yellow paint isn't for everyone, but it gets noticed. The interior isn't as unique, but it gets the job done.
Front: The long hood tapers into a flat and sharp nose punctuated by bold and tapered headlights. The huge air intakes are nicely shaped, and the twin bubble canopy looks great from the front.
Rear: The long hood tapers into a flat and sharp nose punctuated by bold and tapered headlights. The huge air intakes are nicely shaped, and the twin bubble canopy looks great from the front.
Profile: The Supra has a notoriously short wheelbase, but Toyota/BMW was able to pull of good proportions. The fastback style is particularly nice from this angle. The wheels are an inch smaller in diameter compared to the 3.0, but they still look racy.
Cabin: The cabin isn't especially fetching, but it has the right amount of sportiness and comes across as purpose-driven. The multi-color stitching on the optional leather seats is nice, as is the real carbon fiber trim.
Comfort
The Supra is comfortable enough to be a daily driver, minus the horrible side-rear visibility. But it's first and foremost a sports car, so don't look to stretch out or take more than one person with you.
Front Seats: Supportive and on the firm side, they're still quite comfortable. Good adjustability and enough cushion to be good for commutes. We love the thigh bolster.
Rear Seats: Not applicable. The Supra is a two-seater only.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): The build quality is excellent, and you can properly hear the Active exhaust crackle when opening up the engine. It sounds great. Highway speeds don't create intrusive noise, which is good.
Visibility: The long good drops nicely, so you can see where the front end is. Rear and rear side views are seriously compromised by small glass.
Climate: The climate system works well but only needs to accommodate two people, anyway.
Safety
The Supra has not been tested by either the IIHS or the NHTSA, but it does have solid safety features, both standard and optional. It likely won't get tested due to its niche segment.
IIHS Rating: Not tested.
NHTSA Rating: Not tested.
Standard Tech: The Supra 2.0 comes with a Pre-Collision System w/ Pedestrian Detect, Lane Departure Warning w/ Steering Assist
Optional Tech: Our tester came with the Safety & Technology Package that includes adapative cruise control, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Parking Sensors with Emergency Braking.
Storage/Cargo
The Supra won't carry a ton of stuff, naturally, but you can pack light and road trip.
Storage Space: The cupholders are not so surprisingly your best option for small item storage in the front. There's a small cubby in front of the shifter, and the shallow door pockets are also on the small side.
Cargo Room: There's just shy of 10 cubic feet in the back, which is reachable between the seats. The opening in the hatch is narrower than the actual storage area, making it tough to load larger items.
Fuel Economy
While we weren't misers when driving the Supra 2.0, we were still happy with the fuel economy even when we were in Sport mode. The 3.0 did better than we thought, as was the case with the four-cylinder turbo.
Observed: 19.3 mpg.
Distance Driven: 103 miles.
Audio
Our tester was optioned out with the JBL premium sound system thanks to the Safety & Technology Package. The audio quality is great and provided the small cabin with powerful and clear sound. The subwoofer is gorgeous behind the seats, and you can definitely feel the bass pumping.
