How Does the New Supra Compare to the Old?

The latest version of the Toyota Supra is one of the most anticipated cars in recent years, and it was certainly worth the wait.

This incredible car came to play and is a fitting car to wear the Supra name. If you were to pick out a sports car that was dynamic, aggressive, tossable, and downright nasty, the Supra would be the one you would want to drive every time. Very few cars in this class can outperform this new Toyota, which makes us wonder if the last version of the Supra was better than the new one or not.

We Missed the Supra Name

Toyota left this name out of its lineup for so long that the last version nearly made it to classic status in many states before the new one arrived. We longed for the Supra to be part of the mix again, and year after year, Toyota let us down. While the brand focused on hybrid Prius cars, a variety of SUVs, and an AWD minivan, we waited longingly for the day when the Supra would return. That day has finally arrived, and we have a new version of the Supra to put up against the last model.

Putting the A90 Against the A80

The latest version of the Toyota Supra is the A90 model, and the last version before the new one was the A80. The comparison test performed for these two cars puts a new model against a version from 1993, which was the first year of the fourth generation of the car. Before passing any judgment regarding which one is better, these two cars stack up on paper to show you the power and the performance that you might expect once you step inside for a drive.

1993 Toyota Supra Turbo

The A80 model specs come out to be:

• 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine
• Choice of six-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission
• 320 horsepower
• 315 lb.-ft. of torque
• 4.6 seconds to reach sixty mph
• Top speed of 160 mph
• Redline at 6,800 rpm
• Front tires measure 234/45R17
• Rear tires measure 255/40R17
• Curb weight 3,415 pounds for the manual, 3,485 pounds for the automatic
• Weight distribution 53 front/47 rear
• Wheelbase 100.4 inches
• Car length 177.7 inches
• Car width 71.3 inches
• Car height 50.2 inches

2020 Toyota Supra

The A90 version brings you these specs for the drive:

• 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine
• Eight-speed automatic transmission
• 335 horsepower
• 365 lb.-ft. of torque
• 4.1 seconds to reach sixty mph
• Top speed of 155 mph
• Redline at 6,500 rpm
• Front tire size 255/35R19
• Rear tire size 275/35R19
• Curb weight 3,397 pounds
• Weight distribution 50 front/50 rear
• Wheelbase 97.2 inches
• Car length 172.5 inches
• Car width 73 inches
• Car height 50.9 inches

From these numbers, we see the new model is a bit quicker, smaller, and should be more nimble with the wider track. The top speed of each car is electronically limited, which is kind of a bummer, but the newer version should reach a greater top speed if it wasn’t limited.

How Do These Two Perform Together?

The Mark IV Supra, which is the older model, the car is made to hit sixty mph in 4.6 seconds on a straight line, which it does easily. This car is also capable of reaching the finish of a quarter-mile run in 13.1 seconds at 109 mph. These numbers are what gave this car its win in a six-car comparison test in 1993. Even today, a properly maintained and tuned Mark IV is an amazing car and one that any driver would be more than happy to have in their driveway.

When you see the new version of the Toyota Supra on the track, it can actually do better than the numbers stated. This car has been known to hit sixty mph in 3.8 seconds, which is lightning fast. The quarter-mile is over with in 12.3 seconds at 113 mph, making the new version the faster o the two models in a straight line test.

Continuing the Speed Tests

If you’re not interested in hitting highway speeds but instead have a thing for triple digits, the time at the track is extremely important to your drive. The A80 version is capable of reaching 100 mph from a standstill in 11.1 seconds and 130 mph in 19.9 seconds. This car is fast, but it does feel heavy, which it did at the time when it was new.

As you might expect, the 2020 version of the Toyota Supra performed these same runs in less time. The A90 model reached 100 mph in only 9.5 seconds, which is impressively quick. Heading to 130 mph from a standstill took 17.4 seconds, besting the older model by more than two seconds.

Handling and Braking

There truly isn’t much of a comparison between these two Toyota Supra models when it comes to the handling on the track. The new model is shorter, wider, lighter, and has larger brakes to give it better stopping power. The A90 also benefits from many years of performance tuning and steering development to make it a car that handles perfectly when you toss it through the corners, enjoy the twists and turns of a track, and take it for a wild ride.

Even though the A90 is faster around the track than the A80, it does not make the Mark IV any slouch when out for a spin. In 1993 this car was an advanced model that could outperform just about anything that came up against it. While it’s no match for its successor, the A80 certainly can handle the turns and curves of a track with the right set of brakes and deft steering that you’ll admire.

The Mark IV should be faster than the A90 model of the Toyota Supra, but when taken to the track, the latest version blows past its supposed limited top speed to reach 162 mph. That number is only a little more than the Mark IV, but it’s still more than the limited 160 mph that the 1993 Supra is able to reach.