Toyota GR Supra 2019 Review

The sports car market in Malaysia has long been dominated by European brands, but the return of the Toyota GR Supra in 2019 has provided many performance car enthusiasts with a new choice for an "affordable sports car." This two-door sports car, built on the BMW CLAR platform, retains Toyota's driving tuning DNA while being equipped with BMW's 3.0T inline six-cylinder engine. Its core selling points focus on "3-second level acceleration + balanced handling + mainstream intelligent configurations." This time, we got our hands on the actual car to verify whether it can truly balance track excitement and daily practicality under Malaysian road conditions.

From a distance, the GR Supra’s short front overhang, long hood, and fastback-style rear create the typical proportions of a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car, making its performance orientation recognizable at a glance. The front features a large trapezoidal lower grille paired with ventilation inlets on both sides, complemented by sharp lines outlined by LED daytime running lights, which give it a fierce appearance. On the side, the waistline extends from the hood to the rear, complemented by 19-inch double five-spoke wheels, resulting in a compact and streamlined side profile. At the rear, the fixed spoiler and dual exhaust outlets on both sides further enhance the sporty feel. The full LED taillights feature a surround design, offering high recognition when illuminated at night.

Sitting inside, the GR Supra’s interior is driver-focused, with the center console tilted 12 degrees towards the driver, placing all buttons within easy reach. The center display is an 8.8-inch touchscreen equipped with a simplified version of BMW’s iDrive system. While the operation is smooth, it does not support touch-slide functionality and requires control through a rotary knob. The instrument panel adopts a semi-digital design, with analog dials for the tachometer and speedometer on the left, and a digital information display on the right. Combined with the HUD head-up display, crucial data can be viewed without looking down while driving. In terms of materials, the center console and door panels are wrapped in soft leather. Although the seats are manually adjustable, they provide good support and are comfortable for long drives. For features, the 12-speaker JBL sound system offers clear audio quality, and daily functionalities like dual-zone automatic air conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera are all present. Safety features are also well-equipped, with seven airbags, lane change assist, active braking, lane departure warning, and more included as standard.

As a two-door sports car, the GR Supra has a wheelbase of only 2470mm. While the front-row space is relatively sufficient, allowing a 180cm passenger to have around a fist’s clearance for both headroom and legroom, the rear seats are mostly suitable for storing bags rather than accommodating passengers. The trunk has a capacity of 290L, enough to fit two carry-on suitcases, making it sufficient for daily commuting or short trips. In terms of storage, the central armrest and door storage compartments are relatively small, but there is a small storage slot under the center console, suitable for placing mobile phones and charging cables, with the added convenience of a 220V power socket.

The GR Supra is equipped with a 3.0T inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 388PS and a peak torque of 500N·m, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. When pressing the accelerator at start-up, the power response is quick, achieving official 0-100km/h acceleration in 4.1 seconds; actual testing in Malaysia’s hot weather conditions still records a time within approximately 4.3 seconds. In Sport mode, the transmission’s gear-shifting delay is shortened, and it automatically rev-matches during downshifts. The paddle shifters also respond quickly, so when overtaking, simply pressing the gas pedal deeply allows the power to burst out instantly.

In terms of handling, the front MacPherson and rear multi-link suspension are tuned to be firm, with precise steering and no dead zone in the steering wheel. Body roll is minimal when cornering, and the vehicle stability control system intervenes in time to correct the trajectory. When driving on mountain roads, GR Supra’s chassis performs solidly with excellent tracking during consecutive turns, giving the driver sufficient confidence. However, on bumpy city roads, the suspension's filtering of fine vibrations is average, making rear passengers feel a bit bumpy, but for a sports car, this is considered normal.

As for fuel consumption, it’s about 12-13L/100km under urban congested conditions, while highway cruising can bring it down to 7-8L/100km with an overall fuel consumption of 10.3L/100km, which is consistent with official data. The braking performance is excellent, with a 100-0km/h braking distance of around 35 meters. The feedback of the brake pedal is linear and not abrupt at all.

Regarding driving comfort, GR Supra offers decent sound insulation with wind and tire noise at highway speeds kept to a minimum. The 12-speaker audio system can mask most of the noise. Although the seats are manually adjusted, they provide good wrapping and support, making long drives less tiring. The engine start-stop system saves fuel while waiting at traffic lights, and the hill-start assist function is very practical when starting in underground garages.

Overall, the 2019 Toyota GR Supra 3.0L's core advantage lies in its "balanced performance": the 3.0T inline-six engine provides ample power reserves, precise handling suitable for mountain roads or tracks, and its standard intelligent safety features and practical functionalities meet daily commuting needs. Compared to rivals like the Porsche 718, the GR Supra is more affordable in Malaysia (priced at RM 589,987, about RM 100,000 cheaper than the 718) with stronger power; compared to the BMW Z4, the GR Supra offers more aggressive handling calibration and a sportier appearance.

This car is suitable for two types of people: First, performance car enthusiasts who enjoy driving and occasionally hitting the track. Second, younger individuals who need a car that can handle daily commuting while offering weekend thrills. For families, the rear seat space and storage capacity might fall short, but as a personal or young couple’s car, the GR Supra is more than sufficient.

In summary, the 2019 Toyota GR Supra 3.0L is a "well-rounded" sports car. It delivers enough performance to satisfy driving enthusiasts while offering practical features and space for daily use, making it a highly cost-effective choice in Malaysia's sports car market.