Who would’ve expected that the last several years would be a renaissance for interesting cars at Toyota. We were introduced to thoroughly modernized versions of their legendary trucks, a hybrid-boosted wagon, an all-wheel-drive hot hatch, a second generation of their affordable sports coupe, and of course, the return of a legendary nameplate. Sadly, all good things must come to an end; I folded myself into this 2025 Toyota GR Supra for one last hurrah ahead of its final lap next year.

Same Supra, same quirks

Look, no car is perfect, but I need get a few quirks with the Supra out of the way that have been with it since Day One. First and foremost, the 2025 Supra is not a car for tall people. It’s not a problem when you’re seated inside thanks to the double-bubble roof, but rather the problem lies when you’re getting into and out of it. The overhang from the roof over the door curves so low that I hit the top of my head every time if I’m not paying attention. Second, I love driving with the windows down, but within the five seconds, I shut them right away. People weren’t kidding about the infamous and unbearable wind buffeting. I’m not sure why Toyota not only thought this was acceptable, and why they left it unchanged for so long.

But the 2025 Supra makes up for those quirks with its stunning looks. Its low-and-wide footprint holds the Supra’s curves and bulges together perfectly, looking completely different and distinct from the BMW Z4 with which it shares nearly everything else. The Supra sits low, its wide stance gives it incredible presence, and our tester’s Stratosphere paint shows off its curves and signature sports-car proportions perfectly. Its staggered 19-inch wheels fill the fenders perfectly, and I for one love it. I couldn’t go a day without a complement or two from complete strangers.

How has the 2025 Supra’s interior held up?

Inside, the 2025 Supra was a mixed bag for me. With a mix of soft-touch surfaces, black leather, carbon fibre trim, and white stitching, it wasn’t much to really get excited about, especially compared to the Z4. In fact, the BMW influence is very strong here: the infotainment interface and most, if not all buttons and switchgear are all BMW. But it all works well, and though the infotainment is a few generations behind and the 8.8-inch display is small for today’s standards, it’s still quite easy to navigate. The gauge cluster is unique to the Supra; unlike the all-digital display in the Z4, the Supra’s is slightly smaller and laid-out differently.

Once you’re situated, the Supra’s driving position is quite good. The steering wheel and shift knob fall easily to hand, the pedals are spaced-out perfectly, and there’s good headroom thanks to the bubble roof. But visibility can be challenging due to the wide rear pillars and small rear window, the trunk is smaller than the Z4 despite being a coupe with a liftback, and the Z4 has more storage space inside.

Toyota Supra engine: if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em

Despite the Supra being around for half a decade at this point, enthusiasts still take issue with having a BMW engine under the hood. Come on, people. Sure, I would’ve loved to see what Toyota could’ve cooked up on their own as a successor to the legendary 2JZ, but money is money. On such a low-volume seller, it wouldn’t have made sense for Toyota to do it on their own, so why not use the best of the best?

Using the same “B58” turbocharged inline-six as the Z4, this engine is an absolute banger. It offers power everywere, it’s silky smooth, and because Toyota had input in the development process, it’s proven to be fairly reliable in the long run. What’s not to love? Banging through all six gears of the manual transmission wrings out each and every one of its 382 horsepower, and with 367 pound-feet of torque, the Supra briefly fights for traction before launching with gusto. Drop a gear on the highway, and you’ll pass anyone with ease. Look for a zero-to-100 km/h run in about four seconds with the manual; the automatic saves you about two-tenths, but where’s the fun in that? Toyota killed off the four-cylinder Supra a couple of years ago; the equally lovable GR86 now fills that void.

Living with the 2025 Supra

If agile handling over comfort is your cup of tea, the Supra is right up your alley. The chassis and suspension was engineered for fun. This Supra loves to play; with power going only to the rear wheels, how could it not? The chassis is communicative, steering is responsive and tight, and it stays neutral up to, say, eight-tenths. Anything beyond that and the Z4 feels like a more willing dance partner dynamically, but if you do mess up, the Supra’s communicative nature makes it easy to catch and recover. The ZF-sourced six-speed manual is a treat; maybe it’s just me, but rowing through the gears in the Supra feels better than BMW’s typically rubbery shifters.

What surprised me about the Supra was its fuel efficiency during my week with it. I just couldn’t help but wring it out whenever and wherever I could, but I still averaged a rather impressive 11.2 L/100 kilometres combined, beating the official rating of 12.9 L/100 km combined. City and highway numbers come in at 12.7 and 8.8 L/100 km, respectively. The 52-litre fuel tank does seem pretty small for a performance vehicle, but then again, the Supra has a surprisingly small footprint.

Is the 2025 Supra worth it?

Regardless of the transmission you pick, Toyota keeps pricing simple. The 2025 Supra starts at $69,685, and with our tester’s only option being the lovely shade of blue paint for $460, the final price tag comes to a rather reasonable $70,145. While not the cheapest sports car out there, it does feel more refined and engaging than the Nissan Z, though the Mustang GT is an unbeatable value proposition. The Supra also undercuts the Z4 by a significant margin, but that price jump may actually be worth it.

Sadly, after half a decade on the market, the writing is on the wall. Next year will be the Supra’s last; rumours suggest Toyota is cooking up something interesting with a couple of other past nameplates, the 2025 Toyota GR Supra carries a whole different type of appeal and gravitas. It’s sleek styling, low centre of gravity, delicious engine, and overall playfulness just hit different, so you better act fast.