2023 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium manual transmission test drive review

By now you’ve heard it all about the new GR Supra. “It’s not a Toyota,” they say. “If I wanted a BMW I’d buy a BMW,” they say. “Should have had a manual all along,” they say. Well, naysayers be darned. The manual Supra 3.0 Premium is an excellent — and lightning fast — sports car, Toyota or not.

The week we spent with the manual transmission GR Supra 3.0 Premium revealed some interesting things about it. This is a serious sports car, with over-the-top styling, excitement and more power than you’ll know what to legally do with. Shop all Toyota GR Supras on KSL Cars 

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Price and value

The MSRP range for the 2023 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 is $53,600-$59,445. It is available in three trim levels, with a suite of standard features that include a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine, one year membership in the National Auto Sport Association and Brembo front brakes. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below. 

• 3.0: $53,600 

Active cornering assist 

8.8-inch digital gauge cluster

High-performance Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires

• 3.0 Premium: $56,750

Heated black leather seats

Wireless charging tray

12-speaker JBL surround sound system

• A91-MT: $59,445

Optional matte finish paint 

Brown and black two-tone interior

Manual transmission only  

The GR Supra 3.0 runs in a tough crowd. While it does pack a lot in its near $60,000 price tag, the interior and almost motorcycle-like practicality could make it a harder sell to some customers.

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Toyota’s warranty for the GR Supra 3.0 is decent, offering a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles.

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Performance

New for the 2023 model year is the availability of a manual transmission for 3.0-liter GR Supra models. We’ve driven the automatic before and found it to be excellent, but we can’t deny how much a stick just feels right here. The Supra is a serious, hilarious and extremely eager performer. The powertrain, steering and handling work so well together that it rightfully deserves a place among the industry’s best sports cars.

Engine

Let’s get this out of the way: The BMW B58 turbocharged inline-6-cylinder engine is a modern marvel. We adored the 2022 BMW M240i in our test drive, and spending more time with it here is otherworldly. It’s incredibly smooth and so, so powerful. It produces 382 horsepower and 362 pound-feet of torque, all in a 3,343-pound package. It’s so quick, we wouldn’t be surprised if those numbers are underrated. Check out all GR Supra listings on KSL Cars 

Fuel efficiency

Perhaps the only practical thing about the 2023 GR Supra is its excellent fuel economy. Our tester was rated at 19 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg in combined driving. We found it very easy to exceed those numbers, often achieving 28 mpg or more in our casual commuting.

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Drivetrain

As mentioned, the new, no-extra-cost manual transmission feels right at home in the GR Supra 3.0. It did not feel quite as sharp or rewarding as Toyota’s manual transmission in the Supra’s little brother, the GR86, but it was still fun nonetheless. The Supra is rear-wheel drive only and boy, it can cut loose on you real quick. Even with sticky Michelin Super Sport tires installed, the B58 motor produces way more power than the tires are capable of handling. A beginner’s car this is not.

Acceleration and handling

Here’s where the GR Supra absolutely shines. The acceleration is so rapid that we can’t overstate just how quickly you’ll find yourself — even unintentionally — egregiously breaking the law. Car and Driver clocked the manual transmission Supra from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds — pretty much supercar territory. It’s so easy to go fast in this car, you constantly have to be monitoring your speed.

To truly enjoy the full power band of this glorious motor and 6-speed manual transmission, a track day is a must. Only there will you be able to thoroughly exorcise all of its speed-worshipping demons.

Handling is likewise excellent, even if the steering is a bit numb. The GR Supra is also very small. All that power running through a 97.2-inch wheelbase is a wonderful experience and provides a true sports car feeling even for average drivers. Well done, Toyota, er, BMW, er, Toyota.

Braking

All that power means nothing if you can’t stop the car, and thankfully the Supra has large Brembos in the front to take care of that. They’re excellent, powerful and confidence-inspiring.

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Interior comfort and convenience

If the GR Supra 3.0 is a shining star in its performance, then conversely it is a claustrophobic dud on the inside. Wholly impractical, tight and awkward, your enjoyment of the car’s performance will likely be strongly correlated to your experience with the rest of it. There’s no easy way to get in or out, and once you’re in, visibility is extremely limited — as is anything resembling storage or comfort. Your mileage may vary, but we found it difficult to live with as a daily driver.

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Seats

The seats are fine, but they’re surprisingly light on bolstering, especially on the lower cushion. Taller drivers should have plenty of leg and headroom, even with a helmet on for track days. Strangely, the affixed headrests curve forward, making it difficult to rest your head, ironically. Oh, and the heated functionality? Some of the weakest we’ve felt. See all GR Supra listings on KSL Cars

Climate control

Heating and cooling were no problem, but the buttons certainly were. The climate control system is difficult to use, with simultaneously too many and too few buttons. You’ll eventually figure out what does what, but it definitely takes a lot of practice, trial and error. And there is no sync button for the passenger and driver’s temperature settings; you have to manually set each one, every time you change the temperature. Weird.

Cargo space and cabin storage

As far as cargo and cabin space go, there is hardly any. There are a few small cubbies and storage cutouts, but you’ll likely be putting your things on the floor or the unused passenger seat. The rear hatch is cool, but there’s not a lot of space there for cargo, either. At least it’s accessible from the driver’s seat.

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Infotainment system

We’ve used several BMW infotainment systems in the last year or two, and they’ve worked great. But for some reason this one was different. It was difficult to navigate, including how to turn on simple functions like Apple CarPlay. We found ourselves leaving it alone most of the time out of frustration. Thankfully the engine and exhaust sounds are well worth listening to instead.

Exterior appearance and functionality

The new Supra is bold. Excessive. Over the top. You’ll either love it or hate it. For us, it was a mixed bag. Certain angles looked amazing. Other times, we thought it looked comically ridiculous. Either way, you’ll have no problem garnering attention from, well, everyone. The Supra is a few years old now, but it still captures onlookers' attention like few other sports cars can, for better or worse.

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Wheels

The Supra’s wheels closely resemble the GR wheels found on the GR86 Premium, and that’s a good thing. These 19-inch multispoke beauties look sharp and are the best wheels yet for the GR Supra. They are fitted with the aforementioned Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and run a 255/35 R-19 in the front and 275/35 R-19 in the rear. They’re wide and sticky and do a pretty good job at keeping power to the ground. Shop GR Supras

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Lights and turn signals

LED lights abound and they illuminate the road effectively, something we were especially grateful for given the restricted visibility.

Cameras and side mirrors

The GR Supra only comes with a rearview camera, but we wish it came with more due to the body’s bulging curves and long hood. Ditto on the rearview mirror — it’s pretty much useless. 

Front and rear windshield

Visibility is not great. The front windshield feels like you’re looking out the slat window of a tank, and the rear window is even worse. The side windows are similarly narrow, making it difficult to see out, especially if the driver’s seat is raised at all. And lest you think that rolling down your window will help, unfortunately you’ll be met with so much wind buffeting you’ll realize it must be kept closed forever and always. If you ever experience claustrophobia, you’ll want to stay away from this car. See GR Supras on KSL Cars

Safety

Toyota offers a long list of safety features for the GR Supra 3.0 Premium, but it had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as of this writing. The GR Supra feels solidly built, but given its miniature size proportions, we doubt its ability to hold up well to a full-sized truck or SUV.

Features

Just some of the standard safety and driver assistance features on the 2023 GR Supra 3.0 Premium include:

• Lane departure warning

• Blind spot monitoring

• Automatic high beams

• Adaptive cruise control 

Awards and ratings

The A90 Supra has been awarded several honors. Some of these include:

• 2023 Best Resale Award from Kelley Blue Book

• The Golden Steering Wheel award presented by Bild am Sonntag and Auto Bild 

• 2023 Car and Driver 10 Best

Photo by Toyota Newsroom

Final impression

The 2023 GR Supra 3.0 Premium is a legitimate sports car that can play with the best of ‘em — and maybe even beat ‘em, at least in a straight line. Its performance, especially its glorious B58 engine, is alone worth the price of admission. However, we wonder if some will balk at the interior comfort and practicality given the near $60,000 price tag. Toyota or not, BMW or not, we’re just glad the GR Supra exists, especially with the manual transmission. Give it a try. It might just become your new favorite. 

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FAQs

Is it fun to drive?

Yes. But be warned, it’s almost unwieldy in its power and handling. It’s a lot.

Is it a good daily driver?

Not really. Fuel economy aside, the Supra is a purpose-built play toy. Nothing more. 

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com.