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2025 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross ReviewNissan Z vs Toyota GR Supra
Both the Nissan Z and Toyota GR Supra offer major performance and dapper styling to match, but which is the better sports car?
Mid-Level Sports Cars (Still Exist!)
It’s been tough for enthusiasts over the past decade as the number of affordable sports car offerings have dwindled. As Dodge goes electric and the Camaro takes a hiatus of undetermined length, the Ford Mustang is one of the few cars left in that mid-level price range between spritely four-cylinder sports cars like the Miata and GR86 (roughly $30,000) and high-end models like the Corvette and 911 ($70,000-$110,00 and above).
It’s easy to overlook the Nissan Z and Toyota GR Supra, but they too nicely round out that less than crowded price range of roughly $50,000-$60,000. For reasons good and bad both cars have struggled to live up to the expectations attached to their storied names. That’s too bad because the Nissan Z and Toyota GR Supra are both good sports cars, though one, as we’ll see, is clearly a step ahead.
Below, we’ll compare the Z and the Supra, identifying their strengths and weaknesses and then make our recommendation for which deserves your purchasing consideration.
Specs & Performance
The Nissan Z, successor to the Nissan 370Z, is the most powerful Z-car yet, running the Infiniti Q50’s twin-turbo 3.0L V6. That engine makes an even 400 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque sending power to either a nine-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. The translates to a zero to sixty time of 4.5 seconds for the manual and down to 4.3 seconds for the automatic. The top-end NISMO Z tunes the 3.0L to 420 horsepower and a hefty jump to 384 lb.-ft. of torque. This performance version also adds bigger brakes, an updated suspension, and a stiffer chassis.
Overall, the Nissan Z does all the right sport coupe things, it’s well-balanced and controllable in cornering, but it does so without managing to stand out at anything in particular. The regular suspension is clearly tuned to concede a bit of handling prowess in favor of on-road comfort. Fuel economy is roughly what you’d expect from a segment not especially concerned with efficiency with the manual-equipped car netting 18 city / 24 highway mpg, the automatic at 19/28 mpg and the NISMO Z at 17/24 mpg.
The Toyota GR Supra catches a lot of flak from diehard Toyota fans for being basically a BMW Z4 with some fancy body work. But it turns out those BMW underpinnings are what make the Mk. V Supra a great sports car. After dropping the four-cylinder option for 2025, the basic powerplant in the Supra is a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six making 382 horsepower and 368 lb.-ft. of torque. An eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission is available with the latter netting a zero-to-sixty time of 4.2 seconds while the former can achieve a swift 3.8 seconds.
The GR Supra, despite its Teutonic connections, manages to live up to its name with a combination of raw power and agility. Like the Z, the Supra is well balanced but feels sharper, more dynamic, and fleeter of foot than the Nissan. Fuel economy is comparable to the Nissan Z with the manual equipped Supra getting 19 city / 27 highway mpg and the automatic at 23/31 mpg.
Interior & Tech
The cabins of the Nissan Z and Toyota GR Supra are another area of departure. The Nissan Z is both a major improvement over the prior generation 370Z, in both quality and design, and not on par with the Supra or the Mustang. Material quality is good but not great and the overall layout is highly functional. As is common in sport coupes, the Z’s outward visibility isn’t the best. The large C-pillar is especially vexing. A new nine-inch touchscreen offers crisp graphics and snappy response. The Z’s power leather-wrapped seats were well bolstered without feeling constrictive. Driver assistance features like lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control, while great to have, seem overly sensitive, especially for a car built for spirited driving.
Again, the GR Supra’s BMW connection comes through as its high-quality interior that borrows switchgear and other components from the Z4. Oddly, Toyota decided to not perforate the Supra’s leather seats, that added heat-retention can be good or bad depending on local weather conditions. Like the Z, the Supra has some chunky C-pillars to contend with, so make full use of the backup camera and side mirrors whenever you can. The BMW-ness of the Supra does have one glaring downside, the BMW-sourced infotainment system which is not nearly as straightforward to navigate as the Nissan Z’s. Lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control are tuned to err on the side of caution in the Supra as well (a form of hedging from sports car makers?).
Trims & Best Value
The Nissan Z comes in three trims. The Z Sport, starting at $44,500, offers basics like keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. The Z Performance starts at $54,500. It adds a sport suspension, limited-slip differential, and upgraded brakes among other features. The top-end NISMO Z starts at $67,000 and is by far the best iteration performance-wise (it also costs more than a Supra and nearly as much as an entry-level Corvette). The Z Performance is probably the best value of the trio.
The Toyota GR Supra comes in just two trims: the 3.0 at $57,354 or 3.0 Premium at $60,494. The 3.0 comes well-equipped with items like an adaptive suspension and navigation. The 3.0 Premium gets you upgrades like the premium JBL stereo system, a head-up display, leather upholstery, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Given the smaller price delta between the two, we’d opt for the 3.0 Premium.
Conclusions
The Nissan Z is a good sports car. It looks cool. It drives well. It’s cheaper, too, depending on the trim you choose. It’s also not especially remarkable while the Toyota GR Supra is. Sharper handling, greater straight-line speed, and a nicer interior all help make this BMW in disguise the superior sports car.
