Toyota Supra RZ Expert Review

Toyota GR Supra RZ looks like somebody told a designer to draw a sports car and then refused to let the accountant interfere. The result is one of the most distinctive modern Toyotas: a long bonnet, tiny cabin, swollen rear haunches, low roof and short overhangs all sitting on a compact 4380 mm body. At just 1295 mm tall, it has the sort of stance that makes ordinary traffic look slightly embarrassed.

The front end is aggressive without becoming cartoonish, while the rear is particularly successful. The wide shoulders and integrated spoiler give it serious road presence. The latest RZ also receives revised aerodynamic detailing and a ducktail-style rear spoiler as part of the final development of the A90 Supra.

In Bangladesh, however, beauty comes with a tax. The approximately 117 mm ground clearance is extremely low for roads containing enthusiastic speed breakers, potholes and parking ramps.

On a good Dhaka road it looks spectacular. On a badly broken road, you will be looking at the ground rather more than you would like.

Overall, the exterior is dramatic, purposeful and unmistakably Supra. It does not look like a normal Toyota, and that is precisely why it works.

Supra's interior follows the same philosophy as its exterior: forget unnecessary space and concentrate on the driver. There are two seats, a compact dashboard and a driving position that makes you feel immediately connected to the car. The latest RZ receives electrically adjustable sports seats with lumbar and side-support adjustment, while the driver seat also has memory functionality.

The digital instrumentation keeps performance information directly in front of you, while the infotainment system provides navigation, connectivity and audio functions without overwhelming the cockpit. The available JBL system uses 12 speakers and 425 watts, which is a rather luxurious way of filling a two-seat cabin with noise.

Space is the obvious compromise. There is no rear seat, and storage is limited compared with a sedan. The 290-litre luggage compartment is actually useful for a sports coupe, but you will still need to think about what you are carrying.

For Bangladesh, the cabin works particularly well for one or two people. It is comfortable enough for longer highway journeys, but getting in and out repeatedly in heavy Dhaka traffic is not as effortless as using a conventional sedan.

The interior could use more storage and practicality, but that would miss the point. The Supra is designed to make the driver feel special, not to transport six bags of groceries and three relatives.

Toyota Supra RZ has a sensible mixture of performance equipment and everyday technology. Automatic climate control, power-adjustable sports seats, navigation, touchscreen infotainment, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, USB connectivity, cruise control, keyless entry and push-button starting make it considerably easier to live with than its aggressive appearance suggests.

The 12-speaker JBL premium sound system is one of the more impressive convenience features. The latest RZ also has a colour head-up display, allowing driving information and navigation information to appear within the driver's forward field of view.

There is also useful performance hardware underneath the technology. The RZ rides on 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/35ZR19 front and 275/35ZR19 rear tyres, while both front and rear brakes use ventilated discs.

For Bangladesh, parking sensors, navigation, smartphone connectivity and automatic climate control are genuinely useful. A 360-degree camera would make tight Dhaka parking easier, while greater ground clearance would be even more welcome.

The Supra does not try to become a rolling luxury lounge. Instead, the technology supports the driving experience. That is the correct approach for this car.

latest Supra RZ has a serious safety package beneath its sports-car personality. ABS, brake assist, EBD, traction control, vehicle stability control, airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and an immobiliser are included in the factory specification.

More importantly, Toyota provides modern driver-assistance technology. The Supra includes pre-collision safety technology, radar cruise control with all-speed following, lane-departure warning/assistance and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive high-beam assistance is also part of the modern safety package.

This is useful on Bangladesh highways, where traffic can change direction with impressive enthusiasm. Blind-spot monitoring and collision-warning systems provide additional assistance when dealing with motorcycles, buses and rapidly changing traffic.

The Supra's chassis also contributes to its safety. The latest version received additional chassis, suspension and braking development, with Toyota specifically focusing on grip, body rigidity, handling and braking performance.

There are nevertheless practical limitations. It is a low two-seat sports coupe, visibility is not as generous as an SUV, and the lack of a 360-degree camera is noticeable in tight parking areas.

The safety equipment is therefore strong, but it should be viewed as assistance rather than a substitute for attentive driving.

This is the bit where the Supra earns its name.

The RZ's 3.0-litre B58 inline-six produces 387 PS and 500 Nm, and the way that power arrives is what makes the car addictive. There is a smoothness to a straight-six that a four-cylinder simply cannot reproduce, followed by an increasingly serious shove when the turbocharger and engine are working hard.

The eight-speed automatic is an excellent match for Bangladesh because it can behave like a normal automatic in traffic and then become very aggressive when the road opens. The rear-wheel-drive layout gives the car a completely different character from ordinary front-wheel-drive Toyotas.

On a good highway, the Supra feels planted and exceptionally stable. Steering is direct, the chassis responds quickly and the car feels much smaller than its performance would suggest.

Dhaka is where reality arrives. Traffic prevents you from using most of the engine's ability, while potholes and large speed breakers demand attention. The low 117 mm clearance means you cannot attack road imperfections with the casual confidence of a Corolla.

But find a clean stretch of road and the Supra becomes a different machine. It is fast, balanced, responsive and genuinely entertaining.

This is not a car designed merely to get you somewhere. It is designed to make the journey the point.