The Toyota Supra 2.0 or the Toyota Supra 3.0 : Which is better ?. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the Toyota Supra. If you’re over 50, chances are one of your neighbours had a Mark II or Mark III back in the 1980s. If you’re under the age of 50, the Mark IV has most likely left an impression on you due to the numerous references and appearances it has made since its release in 1993. The Supra demonstrated that Toyota knew how to build a sports car.
The latest model A90 Supra has been on the market for four years, and with it have come new trim levels, engine options, and transmission options. One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make when acquiring a new Supra is which engine option is appropriate for you. Surprisingly, both engine options are from BMW. The 3.0L BMW B58 twin-scroll turbo inline-6 was the only option available in the United States at first. However, the 2.0L BMW B48 twin-scroll turbo inline-4 will be available for US consumers in 2020.
BMW & Toyota Partnership
Flash forward to 2019, 26 years after the release of the MkIV, and the Toyota Supra has returned from retirement. With the previous generation Supra, no one questioned Toyota’s sportscar’s dependability, but many questioned its quality. The tables were turned slightly with the latest A90 Supra.
That option comes with a great degree of annoyance. Both BMW engines are capable of competing, as seen by their outstanding performance and dependability (so far at least). We’ll compare and contrast the 2.0L and 3.0L A90/J29/MkV Supra models in this tutorial to see if the 3.0L Supra is truly worth having.
If you haven’t heard, the Toyota Supra Mark V is a collaboration between Toyota and BMW. From the outside, that appears to be an odd partnership. The distance between Aichi and Munich is considerable. But, the Supra is not the company’s first venture. Toyota, in fact, supported BMW with their hydrogen-powered iX5 project a few years ago. Toyota and BMW get along well.
Tetsuya Tada, the MkV Supra’s principal engineer and Toyota’s performance leader, was originally tasked with developing the MkIV Supra in the 1990s. Unlike the MkIV project, which he oversaw, the A90 Supra is Tada’s creation. He chose to bring on BMW for several reasons. Several of these are directly related to the engines supplied by BMW for the project. Creating, testing, and improving a new engine design is an expensive process.
Because Toyota did not want to construct a gas-powered straight-6 from the ground up at a time when firms are shifting to hybrid and electric power, Toyota chose to obtain one from the company that is perhaps the greatest at straight-6s. BMW provided a number of straight-6 engine options for the Supra chassis.
Toyota Supra 2.0 BMW B48 Performance and Statistics
For the first time, the 2.0L BMW B48-powered Toyota Supra was available in the United States for the 2021 model year. Despite being the entry model MkV Supra, the 2.0L Supra is no slouch. In truth, it still produces 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, rivalling the Porsche 718 Cayman. For good reason, the BMW B48 4-cylinder engine is a fan favourite in the BMW community. The B48 engine is a very adaptable unit that has been utilised in a wide range of BMW cars, from 3-Series models to bigger crossover SAV X3 variants.
Since the start of B48 production in 2014, the 2.0L BMW 4-cylinder has been available in 12 different models, each with a different power output. The 2.0 Supra’s 255 horsepower B48 engine variation is shared with the BMW G20 3-Series, BMW G29 Z4, BMW G22 430i, and a few others. All BMWs that have used the B48 engine have been recognised for their quick-spooling nature and dependability, thanks to the single BMW twin-scroll turbo.
The fact that the B48 has forged internals is one of the best grounds for its dependability. The connecting rods and crank on the BMW B48 are comprised of forged steel, making them extremely strong and capable of withstanding significantly more power than the engine can output from the factory. Because the B48 engine has forged internals and is relatively easy to tune, you can get significantly more performance out of your 2.0L Supra than the factory-rated 255 horsepower.
Toyota Supra 2.0 vs. BMW B48 Specifications
BMW B58 Stats and Performance Toyota Supra 3.0
The 3.0L turbo straight-6 engine, as the initial engine option offered in the MkV Supra in the United States, is likely the simpler option to find at this point while also being the more powerful engine option. The 3.0L straight-6 engine, like the 2.0L straight-4 engine featured in the 2.0 Supra, is taken from BMW.
3.0L engine is known as the BMW B58 engine, which is typical of BMW’s complicated engine code naming technique. The B58 is quite similar to the B48 in many ways. The B58 engine is essentially a B48 engine with two more cylinders. As a result, the BMW B58 in the 3.0L Supra produces much more horsepower. With 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque, it’s clear that the 3.0 Supra is the superior machine in terms of high-performance. The additional 127 horsepower and 73 pound-feet of torque certainly transform the 3.0L Supra into an entirely different beast.
3.0L B58, like the 2.0L straight-4 seen in the Supra 2.0, is a well-proven and celebrated engine in the BMW series. While the 2.0L B48 engine is used in many of BMW’s entry-level vehicles, the 3.0L B58 engine is found in many of the company’s performance models. The BMW G20 M340i, BMW G22 M440i, BMW G29 Z4 M40i, and several additional cars all use the B58.
The B58 is widely regarded as one of the most dependable turbocharged engines of the modern age. Despite the fact that it has only been operating for 7 years, that claim has yet to be confirmed. BMW, on the other hand, developed the B58 to last, with a forged crank and connecting rods. The B58, perhaps even more than the B48, is an exceedingly adaptable engine capable of handling significantly more horsepower than it comes with from the factory.
Transmission Choices for the Toyota Supra 3.0
One of the most common complaints from enthusiasts about the MkV Supra was its absence of a manual transmission. While the BMW Z4M40i, the Supra’s sibling car, has had a manual option in Europe since its debut in 2018, the Supra has lacked a 6-speed option until this year. The Supra 3.0 will finally have a standard transmission option in 2023. Purists unite!
Toyota went to the bother of inventing and producing a manual transmission, just for the MkV Supra, because BMW does not have any B58-powered cars with manual transmissions. The 6-speed clever manual transmission has a slew of cool features. One of the key features is automated rev-matching, which blips the throttle when a downshift is done. The manual Supra 3.0 will also have a shorter final drive of 3.46 seconds compared to the automatic car’s 3.15 seconds. To fit the gear stick, the centre console had to be somewhat rebuilt. The number of Supra 3.0 manual-equipped models has yet to be announced. Toyota will, however, release a manual-only special edition named the A91-MT, which will be limited to 500 units.
Toyota Supra 3.0 vs. BMW B58 Specifications
Changes in Performance/Drivability Between the Toyota Supra 2.0 and 3.0
While the Supra 2.0 and 3.0 have more similarities than differences, there are a few performance variations that help explain the $12,000 difference between the two editions of the same car. Evidently, the difference in engines accounts for a substantial percentage of the price difference.
Supra 2.0 versus Supra 3.0 Suspension Comparison
Another distinction between the 2.0 Supra and the 3.0 Supra is the standard suspension. Unlike the 2.0 Supra, the 3.0 Supra comes standard with adaptive variable suspension. Adaptive active suspension is a regular feature of BMW cars, and there is apparent BMW-DNA in the active suspension system used by Toyota in the Supra.
In fact, the Supra 3.0 2023 shares the majority of its suspension components with its BMW Z4 sibling. While the control arm lengths and anti-roll bars differ, practically all of the other suspension components are shared by the 2023 Supra 3.0 and the 2023 BMW Z4M40i. Having said that, the suspension is set differently by the two companies. The idea was to have each of the automobiles handle differently.
Finally, the 2023 Supra 3.0 outperforms the 2023 Supra 2.0 in terms of ride quality. While some may object to the incorporation of German technology into a Japanese classic, the adaptive suspension makes bumpy roads much more bearable. The Supra’s electronically controlled dampers allow it to have varied suspension stiffnesses depending on the driving environment.
In contrast to the 3.0 Supra, the 4-cylinder 2.0 Supra has fixed dampers, which means they cannot be actively modified in the same way as the 3.0. That shouldn’t be a deal killer, either, as several reviewers report that the 2.0 Supra has improved suspension characteristics. Also, the fixed dampers reduce some of the unsprung weight present in the 3.0 Supra.
Supra 2.0 vs. 3.0 – Handling
The handling characteristics of the Supra 2.0 and Supra 3.0 are one of the most noticeable differences. The fact that the Supra 3.0 has an extra two cylinders under the hood has a considerable impact on chassis dynamics. When it comes to weight distribution, the MkV Supra 2.0 comes out on top. The 2.0 Supra outperforms the 3.0 Supra, which depends on the weight of the driver and passenger to distribute weight evenly between the front and back, with a flawless 50/50 weight distribution when empty. This has a significant impact on handling characteristics, particularly on tight and twisty roadways.
It’s not only about weight distribution. The 2.0 Supra is approximately 220 pounds lighter than the 3.0 Supra due to its more barebones mentality. While that may not appear to be a significant amount, it is a noticeable weight difference. To be sure, many of the weight savings are due to the fact that the 2.0 Supra is less expensive. The 2.0, for example, has less power, smaller brakes, and no E-LSD. Yet, while the 2.0 Supra has fewer features than the 3.0 Supra, the consequence is a somewhat better handling car, which I prefer.
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Supra 2.0 versus Supra 3.0 – Differences in Wheels and Brakes
Another significant pricing difference between the 2.0 and 3.0 Supras is the 3.0’s significantly beefed-up brakes. It goes without saying that if you plan on doing any performance driving, good brakes are a must. At the front, 13-inch discs with single-piston callipers are standard on the 2023 2.0 Supra. For most people, there is more than enough stopping power for weekend duty. Single-piston callipers, on the other hand, are liable to fail under extensive track use.
The 2023 Supra 3.0 has a far more complicated configuration than the 2.0 Supra. The 3.0 gets 13.7-inch rotors and Brembo four-piston callipers for superhuman braking performance. Obviously, when Brembo is involved, there are few better options. While you may need to consider a brake upgrade if you intend to abuse your 2.0 Supra, the 3.0 is ready to go straight out of the box.
The difference in brake size also affects the size of standard wheels on both Supras. The 2023 2.0 Supra comes standard with 18″ forged aluminium wheels. Because the big Brembos require more clearance, the 3.0 comes with 19″ forged aluminium wheels. Regardless of wheel size, both models have the same tyre size. It means the 2.0 Supra has a touch more sidewall, which translates to a slightly plusher ride.
Supra 2.0 vs. Supra 3.0: Interior, Drivability, and Fuel Economy
Both the 2.0 and 3.0 Supras look practically identical from the outside. The sole differences are the 3.0’s brushed stainless steel exhaust tips and bigger wheels. Surprisingly, the 2023 3.0 Supra has a lot more basic features than the 2.0. The majority of the interior features on the 3.0 Supra are powered by electricity. On the other hand, the majority of the same functions, such as seat controls, are manual on the 2.0 Supra.
The 3.0 Supra also includes a variety of creature amenities that the 2.0 Supra does not. Heated seats, wireless device charging, a 10-speaker HiFi sound system, and an 8.8″ touchscreen display are all new features for the 3.0. The 3.0 Premium ups the ante even more, with a 12-speaker JBL sound system, full-color heads-up display, Apple Car Play, and Brembo brakes as standard.
While some may not mind the 2.0 Supra’s stripped-down nature as a track/weekend toy, that opinion may alter if you want to use your Supra on a daily basis for an extended amount of time. If you fall into such category, the extra power combined with the enhanced features may be worth the extra money.
In terms of fuel consumption, both Supra models are among the most efficient vehicles in their class. Because the 2023 2.0 Supra has two fewer cylinders, it is obvious that it is the most fuel-efficient choice. The 2.0 Supra offers a city/highway/combined fuel economy of 25/31/27, which is quite remarkable for a sports car. The 3.0 Supra, on the other hand, is rated at 19/27/21 city/highway/combined. Still impressive for a turbo 6-cylinder with 382 horsepower.
Toyota 2.0 Supra 2023 vs Toyota 3.0 Supra 2023 Comparison
While the 2023 2.0 Supra and 2023 3.0 Supra appear almost identical on the surface, there are a significant number of variations between the two. It is to be expected, given the $10,000 price difference between the two. While these changes are significant in terms of how the two cars handle and behave, both the 2.0 Supra and 3.0 Supra have their own strengths.
The engine in each Supra model is obviously the most noticeable and significant difference between the two. Both 2023 Supras have BMW-sourced powerplants that produce enough horsepower and have shown to be reliable in the number of BMW vehicles that have used both the B48 and B58 engines so far. While the B48 engine is significantly less powerful, the BMW B48 is recognised for being highly adaptable and sturdy. The same can be said for the BMW B58.
While comparing the two, it is evident that each MkV Supra is designed for a different consumer. The 2.0, albeit slightly slower in terms of performance, is the ideal weekend toy with a chuckable nature due to its substantially less weight than the 3.0. The 3.0 Supra, on the other hand, is ready for hard track action right out of the box. Finally, the 3.0 performs better in most areas and is the preferable pick for a daily driver. The 2.0, on the other hand, unquestionably has a place in the Supra portfolio and is a decent alternative for those searching for a capable sports vehicle.
