Nissan Z vs Toyota Supra — Compared

// two characters, one road

Z RZ34

The Characterful Companion

The 400-hp VR30 twin-turbo with retro soul — it revs out, steers with more feel, and wraps it in a roomier cabin you can see out of and daily. Less sharp than the Supra, but more car to live with.

Pick it if you want the more characterful, more livable one — the rev-happy V6, the connected steering, the usable cabin — and you'll accept it isn't as sharp or polished as the Supra.

Supra A90

The Sharper Instrument

The B58 and ZF8 do the heavy lifting — the better powertrain-and-gearbox pairing in a sharper, more capable, more serious chassis (and a bargain once modified). You pay in visibility and ride.

Pick it if you want the sharper, faster, better-engineered driver's car with the superior gearbox — and you'll live with the bunker visibility and stiff ride to get it.

№ 00// bottom line

“Same money, two opposite answers: the Supra is the sharper instrument, the Z is the more characterful companion.

The A90 Supra wins on hardware — reviewers call the B58 and its ZF8 auto the better powertrain-and-gearbox pairing, in a sharper, more capable, more serious chassis (and a steal modified). The trade is livability: a 'bunker'-like cockpit you can't see out of and a stiff ride.

The RZ34 Z answers with feel and usability — a 400-hp VR30 twin-turbo V6 that revs out willingly, more connected steering, and a roomier, better-visibility cabin you'd actually commute in. It just isn't as sharp or as polished, and its transmission trails the Toyota's.

Pick the compromise you'd rather live with: the Supra's focus or the Z's character.

// scorecard at a glance

ZSupra

Performance4.0

4.5 Handling4.0

4.5 Fun to drive4.0

4.5 Daily drivability3.5

3.0 Value3.5

3.5

bar = margin of victory

// the five aspects — one at a time

№ 01// the matchup

Performance

Z

4.0/5

Suprawins

4.5/5

Supra WINS— Supra has a superior powertrain and transmission.

ZRZ344.0/5positive2 clips

“400 horsepower now out of this three liter twin turbo v6”

▶4:08TheTopher · 4:08impression

“there's no denying this very broad torque curve and it revs nicely to 7,000 RPM”

▶3:31Zygrene · 3:31impression

SupraA904.5/5positive3 clips

“I think the Supra really does have a leg up in powertrain and transmission over just about every other car in that price range or below”

▶7:13Zygrene · 7:13wins here

“it just looks like a more serious driving machine whereas the z is marketed sort of like more as a gt”

▶14:26Zygrene · 14:26wins here

№ 02// the matchup

Handling

Z

4.0/5

Suprawins

4.5/5

Supra WINS— Nismo Z has more connected steering feel than the Supra.· reviewers split

ZRZ344.0/5positive

“I have a sensation of the fact that the wheels are turning down there somewhere connected to what I do here”

▶18:37EverydayDriver · 18:37wins here

SupraA904.5/5positive2 clips

“obviously the Supra is a much sharper vehicle a more capable vehicle a faster vehicle”

▶7:29Jubbal & Cars · 7:29wins here

“the Supra strikes me as a little bit more of a well-rounded and competent.”

▶9:45Zygrene · 9:45wins here

№ 03// the matchup

Fun to drive

Z

4.0/5

Suprawins

4.5/5

Supra WINS— Supra is superior to the Nissan Z in the reviewer's opinion.

ZRZ344.0/5positive

“I prefer the super shifter by substantial margin”

▶6:13Jubbal & Cars · 6:13trails here

SupraA904.5/5positive3 clips

“I do find the Supra to be superior, even the normal one, especially the manual transmission ones.”

▶2:19ThatDudeinBlue · 2:19wins here

“I would say the Supra transmission is far superior to this.”

▶3:45Zygrene · 3:45wins here

№ 04// the matchup

Daily drivability

Zwins

3.5/5

Supra

3.0/5

Z WINS— Z is more comfortable for daily driving.

ZRZ343.5/5positive2 clips

“the cabin here feels a little bit more spacious it's also more comfortable daily driving”

▶9:33Jubbal & Cars · 9:33wins here

“overall I would say the visibility is better than the Supras that's for sure.”

▶9:02Zygrene · 9:02wins here

SupraA903.0/5positive2 clips

“it's like being in a bunker you can't see out of it”

▶36:55Savagegeese · 36:55impression

“these spring rates are just way too high for this Canyon Road the car is all over the place over the bumps”

▶5:12Zygrene · 5:12impression

№ 05// the matchup

Value

Zeven

3.5/5

Supraeven

3.5/5

EVEN READ— no clear edge

ZRZ343.5/5positive2 clips

“For me at least the combination of performance personality and yes I will say it value in the Nissan Z are what put this at the top of the pack for me”

▶22:02A Auto Buyers Guide · 22:02impression

“65,000 way too far off the plantation”

▶14:32MotoManTV · 14:32impression

SupraA903.5/5positive2 clips

“And for $56,000 for this loaded-up premium version, you can't beat the price.”

▶32:16Redline Reviews · 32:16impression

“This is proof that you don't need a Porsche GT3 RS to go fast. You can modify a $50,000 car to do similar lap time.”

▶24:46Zygrene · 24:46impression

№ 06// the footage