I had to check my calendar while writing this Spec Showdown.

That’s because it’s a battle between the all-new Nissan Z and the Toyota GR Supra. I just had to make sure that it wasn’t the 1990s all over again (or else, my laptop should be running on Windows 98)!

Indeed, the Z and the Supra have been at it for decades. And with rear-wheel-drive Japanese sports coupes becoming in vogue again, it’s no surprise that the latest iterations of these iconic nameplates get stout powertrains and eye-catching styling.

Let’s find out which is better.

Z looks sleeker

The Z and the GR Supra follow the same formula – two seats, two doors, engine in front and drive wheels at the back.

The Nissan comes to the table with truly retro styling – the oval headlights, sharply cut rear end and fastback profile all hark back to the Datsun 240Z of the 1960s.

Meanwhile, the Toyota catches eyes with its large LED headlights, pert tail and pronounced rear fenders.

The numbers show that the two coupes are almost identical in dimensions. The Supra is a bit wider, while the Z is a touch taller and has a longer wheelbase.

Looks-wise, I’m more inclined to choose the clean and crisp retro looks of the Z over the rather fussy appearance of the GR Supra.

Plush accommodation for two

Step inside either of these two-doors and you find leather-lined cabins with just enough room for the driver and a very lucky passenger.

The Nissan goes for the traditional sports car design, especially with the analog auxiliary gauges perched at the top of the dashboard.

Meanwhile, the Toyota seems more European with a more minimalist appearance. That’s no surprise because it shares the same platform as the BMW Z4 (you’ll even find the same controls and switches).

Although the GR Supra has a slightly larger cargo area, I’m still more fond of the Z’s more purposeful interior.

Close performance

Both the Z and the GR Supra pack twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter, twin-cam, 24-valve, six-cylinder engines under their long hoods.

The Nissan’s motor is made in-house, using a turbo V6 configuration last seen in the 300ZX of the ‘90s. Rather surprisingly, Nissan decided to use a 9-speed automatic from BMW’s main rival, Mercedes-Benz.

Meanwhile, the Supra uses the venerable BMW B58 straight-6 powerplant. It’s even mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox that is used in other BMWs, with software changes made by Toyota.

Spec for spec, the Z is more powerful and lighter than the GR Supra. Nonetheless, the two have nearly the same level of performance.

In this respect, it’s a tie between the two.

Supra down on safety kit

Cars that go this fast are expected to come with the best safety tech.

The Z comes standard with Nissan Intelligent Mobility, which offers a bevy of active safety and convenience features that can take over in case the driver’s skill runs out.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Supra. Because it shares its platform and electronics with the BMW Z4, it cannot be equipped with the excellent Toyota Safety Sense suite.

A clear win for the Nissan Z here.

₱1.5M price gap

On the whole, it seems that the Nissan Z has stolen quite a bit of the GR Supra’s thunder.

Aside from being a newer model, the Z offers near-identical performance and considerably better safety equipment than the Toyota. And that’s even before we factor in the price.

The 2023 Toyota GR Supra starts at a hefty ₱5,396,000. Meanwhile, the all-new 2024 Nissan Z costs just ₱3,888,000, whether you pick the automatic or manual gearbox.

Nissan Philippines told AutoFun Philippines that it could have jacked up the price, but the company said it wanted more people to be able to buy the Z. As such, the Nissan wins this Spec Showdown clearly and convincingly.

Which of these Japanese sports coupes would you choose?

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