Can a 2023 Toyota GR86 Beat an Older Supra In a Drag Race?
It’s no secret that we have a lot of love for the 2023 Toyota GR86. It’s quick, lightweight, and practical enough to drive every day, thanks to its storage space and tech-savvy features. However, being the sports car purists that we are, we have also loved and adored the MkIV Toyota Supra – particularly the manual version with the turbocharger. As fans of both cars, we wondered which car would win in a drag race. Fortunately, the guys at Carwow did the work for us.
2023 Toyota GR86 vs. MkIV Toyota Supra: stats
Before getting onto how both cars did in the drag race, here are the specs of each:
| Specs | 2023 Toyota GR86 | 1995 Toyota Supra |
| Engine | Naturally Aspirated 2.4-liter, four-cylinder | Turbocharged, 3.0-liter six-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 228 | 320 |
| Torque | 184 lb-ft | 315 lb-ft |
| Curb Weight | 2,868 | 3,445 |
Despite its heavier curb weight, we think that the old Supra would eat the GR86 alive in a drag based on its additional power and torque alone. The Supra may weigh more, but that turbocharger is no joke once the RPMs build. According to MotorTrend’s testing, the 1995 Supra Turbo could reach 60 mph from a standstill in 5.4 seconds. In comparison, Toyota says that it will take the 2023 GR86 6.1 seconds to cover that distance when equipped with a manual transmission.
The race results were surprising
The folks at Carwow – a popular automotive YouTube channel – put these two iconic cars to the test. The Toyota GR86 was piloted by the host, Matt, and the Supra was driven by Ben Collins – the former Stig on Top Gear. They ran both cars on a test track during a rainy day, which didn’t help either car get traction off the line, especially the Supra.
The hosts ran both cars against each other three times from a dead stop. Surprisingly, the GR86 stayed ahead of the Supra the whole time. It didn’t win by much, but it was enough to make the Supra look more like a Corolla than the fabled 90s supercar that it is.
The lack of traction may have been to blame, as the Supra’s extra power could have made it harder to launch.
“This has got so much more power. You can get horrific wheel spin. So, I left the traction control on, feathered the power, feathered the clutch, and it just spun its wheels ruthlessly and relentlessly,” Collins reported about the Supra.
The hosts ran the cars several times with the same overall result – the GR86 won. As for the official times, the GR86 finished the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds, while the Supra covered the distance in 15.3 seconds. It was a disheartening realization for any Supra fans, but the standing drag races did show how much new-car technology can beat old-school power.
Even with a rolling start, the Supra lost. However, it did win once when the cars started from 50 mph. That’s not too surprising, considering it must have been able to get traction at that speed. We can’t help but wonder how the drag races would have gone if the track had been dry and the Supra could get traction from a stop.
Is the Toyota GR86 a better car than the old Supra?
Despite the Toyota Supra’s losses in the Car Wow video, we still think it’s an amazing car. If you’re into old-school Japanese tuner cars and have around $75,000 burning a hole in your wallet, the MkIV Supra is a great car to have in your garage. But if you want a newer sports car for half the price and, apparently, a good amount of power, the Toyota GR86 could be a better choice.
