The latest generation of the Toyota Supra is primarily a BMW vehicle underneath. More and more companies are partnering up to produce vehicles while keeping costs down. However, while the BMW DNA may not be to the purists’ liking, the new 2.0L engine may be a bigger red flag for the Supra fans. Is this car still deserving of the Supra name with a 4-cylinder engine under the hood?
Performance
Engine – The B48 engine that’s under the hood of this Supra is also found under the hood of the BMW 330i and 430i, to name some examples. It is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder that is supposed to produce 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque (190 kW & 400 Nm). I say that because with the 3.0L engine, Toyota claims that it produces 382 hp when independent dyno tests have revealed that it could actually produce upwards of 400 hp. So the same could be true with this engine because it feels strong when you put your foot down. The 0-100 km/h sprint is completed in around the 5 second mark.
This engine is punchy off the line. In everyday city traffic, the 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque (190 kW & 400 Nm) are more than enough to get the 1,442 kg (3,179 lbs) body moving from stop lights. Like many modern turbocharged engines, peak torque is well below 2,000 rpms and there’s hardly any turbo lag with a very small boost threshold.
Fuel Economy – With the smaller engine, the 2022 Toyota Supra is more fuel efficient as one would expect. It is rated for 9.3 L/100km (25.3 MPG) in a city and 7.2 L/100km (32.6 MPG) on a highway. During my time with the car, I averaged an impressive 8.5 L/100km (27.7 MPG) which included mostly city driving along with a bit of hooning around.
Transmission – Just like the inline-6 engine, the 4-cylinder receives the same ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. This is a fantastic transmission with smooth shifts but quick and responsive when it is needed. The steering wheel mounted paddle shifters are also quick to react to a pull from the driver.
Braking – Unlike the 3.0L Supra, this 2.0L Supra has smaller brakes. The front brakes are clamped by a single floating caliper design. That’s not to say however that these brakes aren’t strong because they are. It doesn’t take much pedal actuation in everyday driving situations to stop the car. I have heard from other publications that on race tracks, these brakes have some fade after repeated use. Unfortunately I do not have access to a race track to confirm or deny this.
Handling – With the smaller engine, this Supra is 105 kg (232 lbs) lighter than the Supra with the inline-6. I unfortunately have not yet driven the more powerful version but this 4-cylinder version is agile and a joy to drive around twisting roads. Being based on the BMW Z4 platform, the Toyota Supra 2.0L has direct and responsive steering. Unfortunately this version does not receive the electronic limited slip differential of the 3.0L but you can still get the back end to swing out when exiting a corner. Sadly, you cannot perform long drifts as easily as you would be able to with an electronic limited slip differential. But if you’re gentle with the throttle inputs, this car has a lot of grip from the 255 wide front and 275 wide rear Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires.
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Comfort
Ride Comfort – This being a sports car, the ride is on the firm side. Potholes, manhole covers and even road cracks are transmitted through the suspension and into the seats. However, it doesn’t feel punishing. It’s best to try to avoid the road imperfections but if you can’t, it won’t break your back or shatter your teeth.
Interior Space – For a 2-seat sports car, the Toyota Supra is spacious. At 6’4”, legroom and headroom is plentiful. The seats are manually adjustable in this 2.0L version but they have enough articulation. As well, the bolsters can be adjusted to hold you in more tightly. If you plan on taking the Supra to a race track, a helmet will fit without any issues. The trunk can accommodate 290 L (10.2 cu-ft) of space but the hatch opening is very narrow.
Noise, Vibration & Harshness – The 2.0L Supra does not receive the active exhaust of the 3.0L version. Even so, you can hear faint pops and burbles from the exhaust. However, most of the engine sounds in the cabin are augmented by the stereo system. The biggest noise culprit that intrudes into the cabin is road noise from the tires. It can be deafening on certain roads.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – With the smaller and less powerful engine, the 2022 Toyota Supra 2.0L is less expensive than the 3.0L but it’s still on the expensive side of the spectrum. It starts at $57,170 CAD ($43,540 USD) and in Canada, there are no options or packages for it. In the United States, you can choose to add the Safety & Technology package or the Safety & Technology package with the JBL Audio system. In the United States, you also have two more color choices; Nitro Yellow and Stratosphere (blue). These colors are only available on the 3.0L Supra here in Canada.
Gadgets – Here in Canada, the 2022 Toyota Supra 2.0L has just enough gadgets to keep owners satisfied with their purchase. It has heated seats, backup camera, parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry & push button start, dual zone automatic climate control, LED headlights, and rain sensing wipers.
The infotainment touchscreen is 8.8” diagonally in size and is running the old BMW iDrive 6 infotainment system. As such, it does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration. You can get wireless Apple CarPlay in the 3.0L Supra, however, but not Android Auto. The system is responsive and allows for a little bit of customization of the home screen with different widget tiles.
Interior Design – If you’ve been in a BMW vehicle in the last 7 or so years, the interior of the Toyota Supra will feel familiar. This car uses the same iDrive controls, same gear selector, same headlight switches, same turn signals, same climate controls. It feels very much like a BMW vehicle and there’s nothing “Toyota” about the interior. But at least all of the controls are physical buttons and knobs with every function placed where you’d expect it to be. The carbon fiber trim is a nice touch on this 2.0L Supra.
Getting in and out of the Supra can be a bit difficult for some but I found it to be just like any other low-slung sports car. The low roofline to the side didn’t impede ingress or egress nor did it block visibility. The low roofline in the front, however, can block the stop lights if you’re the first car at an intersection. I found myself ducking to see them. The A-pillar is not too thick but it too can block the left-side stop lights. Rear visibility is good and the left blind zone is also easily visible but the right blind zone is big due to the rear pillar and the passenger seat getting in the way. However in Canada, blind spot sensors are standard.
Exterior Design – There are only two key differences between this 2.0L version and the 3.0L Supra when it comes to exterior styling. This version has smaller 18-inch wheels but with the same width tires; 255 front, 275 back. As well, this car does not have the 4-piston Brembo calipers on the front axle. Apart from those things, the 2.0L Supra is a head-turner. A lot of people were gawking at it wherever I drove it. A minor annoyance are all of the fake vents across the body. The front bumper, front fenders, doors, and rear bumper all have fake vents. It would be nice if they were actually functional from the factory rather than needing to turn to the aftermarket industry to make them functional.
Safety – In addition to the blind spot sensors, in Canada we also get lane departure warning with lane keep, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, rear cross traffic alert, and road sign assist. In the United States, the automatic emergency braking, blind spot sensors, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and a few other convenience features are part of the Safety & Technology package.
Warranty – Although this is essentially a BMW vehicle, the 2022 Toyota Supra 2.0L is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km basic and 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty just like any other Toyota vehicle. For more information on Canadian warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty, click here. (Scroll to bottom of page)
Conclusion – I really like this car. I had more fun in it than I thought I would. It doesn’t seem as intimidating as the more powerful 3.0L but it’s still potent enough to satisfy your needs. Plus, it’s civil enough to drive daily on poorly maintained city streets. However, there are a few things that Toyota can do to make it a bit more appealing. Firstly, offer it with a manual transmission. Secondly, change the name of this 2.0L to the Toyota Celica Supra as the Celica back in the olden days was a 4-cylinder RWD sports car. And finally, try to lower the price a little bit more. Though I don’t think that Toyota can do much about that because if they start to remove more features, more people would complain that it doesn’t have any gadgets on it.
So overall, I really, really like this car. Is it deserving of the Supra name? Perhaps a variation of it. It’s not a Supra thoroughbred and it’ll offend Supra purists but at the end of the day, this is a fantastic sports car.
Thank you to Toyota Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Toyota.ca
2022 Toyota Supra 2.0L Gallery
