The 1998 Toyota Supra was the last model year sold on American soil—until it was reintroduced for the 2020 model year, that is. Both iterations hold significant spots in the Toyota Supra’s timeline, but the 2020 GR Supra features improved performance, safety, and styling given its 22 years of development.
The Toyota Supra hit the U.S. market in 1993 to compete with the likes of the Nissan 300ZX
and the Lexus SC
. Though an impressive and attractive sports coupe, it was removed from the U.S. market after the 1998 model year due to poor sales. Twenty-two years later in 2020, the sporty GR Supra was reintroduced in the U.S.—but how much has changed in the time that’s passed? Let’s take a look at how the last outgoing 1998 Toyota Supra compares to the first incoming 2020 Toyota GR Supra. See how the value, specs, safety, and styling of the 1998 model have switched up in 2020!
1998 Toyota Supra vs. 2020 Toyota Supra: what’s the difference?
From the end of an era to the beginning of one, the 1998 and 2020 Toyota Supras represent a gap in this model’s North American production. The second-generation 1998 model was supposed to be the last Supra sold on this side of the Atlantic—that is, until the 2020 model brought her back to American soil!
If you’re thinking of buying a sports car
like the Toyota Supra, it’s important to pay attention to factors like price, performance, and safety ratings, but this side-by-side comparison is a little different. Both the 1998 and 2020 Toyota Supra have coveted collector item status given their spots in the model’s history—although a lot has changed in the 22 years between them. Let’s take a look at what sets aside an updated 2020 Toyota GR Supra from its classic 1998 Supra predecessor.
Pricing
The 1998 Toyota Supra has actually grown its value given its status as a somewhat limited edition sports car. Today a used 1998 Toyota Supra tends to sell anywhere from $12,000 less to $500 more than a used 2020 Toyota GR Supra, according to Kelley Blue Book. Let’s take a look at how that used pricing breaks down between the model years.
The 1998 Toyota Supra was only available in one trim level but with two engine options—an inline-six and a turbo inline-six. The standard inline-six 1998 Supra has a typical listing price of around $38,500, while the turbo 1998 Supra tends to sell for $56,500. Original MSRPs for the 1998 Supra ranged from around $31,000 to $40,000—meaning its value has shot up by 24% to 41%.
The 2020 Toyota GR Supra hit the market with only one engine but three trim levels: 3.0, 3.0 Premium, and 3.0 Premium Launch Edition. Starting MSRPs for the 2020 Supra ranged from $50,970 to $56,180, and used models have very much maintained this value with typical listing prices ranging from $51,500 to $56,000.
As you can see, the prices for a 1998 collector’s Supra and a new-and-improved 2020 Supra are neck-and-neck as you climb up the tiers in trim and powertrain configurations. Let’s see how the collector’s item keeps up when it comes to performance.
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General specs
The 1998 Toyota Supra went out with a bang, having introduced variable valve timing to its engine options for enhanced horsepower and torque
. However, the 2020 Toyota GR Supra came in with a bang as well, with a 3.8-second zero-to-60 time that outraces previous Supras from international markets with souped-up engine configurations. The commonalities shared between the 1998 Supra and the 2020 Supra are a base 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine (albeit with different performance specs) and that both are lauded for their driving experiences. Granted, the lack of a manual transmission on the 2020 model is a disappointing loss. Here’s a look at the powertrain specs behind the 1998 and 2020 Supras.
| | |
|---|
| 3.0-liter inline-six engine (225 horsepower, 220 lb-ft of torque) | 3.0-liter inline-six (335 horsepower, 365 lb-ft of torque) |
| 3.0-liter turbo inline-six engine (320 horsepower, 315 lb-ft of torque) | |
| 5-speed manual (base) or 6-speed manual (turbo) | |
| | |
| | |
Fuel economy
Although they share an inline-six engine at the base of their powertrains, the 2020 GR Supra exhibits some clear developments in the 22-year gap since the ‘98 Supra when it comes to power output, launch engagement, and most importantly, fuel economy.
Here are the fuel economy ratings from the EPA for the two engine options on the 1998 Toyota Supra:
Base engine (3.0-liter inline-six): 17 mpg city / 22 mpg highway / 19 mpg combined
Upgrade engine (3.0-liter turbo inline-six): 15 mpg city / 22 mpg highway / 18 mpg combined
Meanwhile, the 2020 Toyota GR Supra has brought a significant increase to those numbers with 24 mpg city / 31 mpg highway / 26 mpg combined across all trims. We expect these numbers would be even greater if the 2020 Supra had offered a manual transmission—but alas, some dreams are worth waiting for.
Safety ratings
The 1998 and 2020 Toyota Supra share a major similarity when it comes to safety ratings—neither has any! This is pretty common for sports cars (especially rare ones) so Toyota’s reputation for producing safe vehicles
will have to speak louder than the IIHS or NHTSA safety ratings
. That said, Toyota had plenty of time to develop its safety technology between 1998 and 2020. The extent of safety and driver assistance features you’d find on a 1998 Toyota Supra includes cruise control and a driver’s airbag. Meanwhile, a 2020 GR Supra includes the following standard driver assistance features:
Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Automatic high-beam headlamps
The ‘20 Supra could also be outfitted with a Driver Assistance upgrade package (original MSRP $1,195) that included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.
MORE: Recommended maintenance schedule for a Toyota
Styling and interior changes
As you can imagine, a lot changed in the field of interior automotive design between 1998 and 2020—especially when it comes to interior technology.
First and foremost, the seating capacity in the Toyota Supra
was reduced from four in 1998 to two in 2020. The hatchback-accessible trunk space has remained relatively cramped—it is a sports car after all—but the hot-wheels exterior has been refined and emboldened for the newer model. Notable updates include the removal of an obnoxious rear wing and a sharpening of the body’s lines for improved aerodynamics. The 1998 Toyota Supra included as many amenities as you’d expect from a pre-2k car—not many. Flash forward to the 2020 Toyota GR Supra and we find a lot more in the luxury and technology departments. Sharing a similar design as the 2020 BMW Z4
, the interior features fine materials with a streamlined instrument cluster and center console. A 6.5-inch infotainment screen comes standard on the new Supra, as does dual-zone climate control. An 8.8-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and navigation was available as an upgrade, as was a 12-speaker JBL sound system, a heads-up display, and heated leather seats—all of which came standard on the Premium trim
Special edition
In addition to the switch from one trim/two engine options for 1998 to one engine/three trim options for 2020, one of the configurations on the latter was a special edition Launch Edition.
The 2020 Toyota GR Supra Premium Launch Edition comprised the first 1,500 Supras released on the market to celebrate the model’s reintroduction in North America. It came with all the same standard features as the Premium trim (including the safety, technology, and seating features previously mentioned) as well as the following design touches:
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1998 Toyota Supra vs. 2020 Toyota Supra: which should you buy?
Both the 1998 and 2020 Toyota Supras are significant model years for collectors in their own right—the 1998 Supra as the end-of-a-millennia farewell tour and the 2020 Supra as the 21st-century comeback kid.
That said, the newer 2020 GR Supra will give you much better overall value across the board if you plan on driving your collector’s Supra—including performance, fuel economy, and style. The only thing you’ll be missing out on compared to a 1998 Supra is the classic car
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