2026 Toyota GR Supra Track Edition vs Nissan Z Nismo Review

The Toyota Supra and Nissan Z, two of Japan’s most iconic performance nameplates, are no strangers to each other. They have been on a collision course on numerous occasions before and they are here once again, going head-to-head.

This time though, it’s a little different. The temperature is dialled up a notch as the hardcore versions are out to play. The GR Supra Track Edition is the sharpest and most focused version yet of Toyota’s reborn sports coupe, and there’s not a better matching rival than the Z Nismo, a track-honed interpretation of Nissan’s long-running Z sports car.

Both are turbocharged, have six-cylinder engines and drive the rear wheels. It’s been the recipe for driving thrills ever since the inception of the Japanese sports car concept. Better still, both are strictly two-seater and with none of the electrified, hybridised gizmos. Only pure, undistorted driving is on offer here. Brilliant.

What’s not so equal is the price. The Supra Track Edition is priced at $105,295, while the Z Nismo asks for $94,065, both stickers exclude on-road costs. That’s a ten-grand difference between the two. But that’s the least of your worries because you can no longer buy the Supra Track Edition brand-new as order books have closed. The used car market is your best bet. Chances are, you’d be able to pick one up with low mileage for around the same price as a brand-new Z Nismo.

If you’re lucky enough to have to decide between the two cars, it’s going to be a tough decision, just as it was hard for us to pick the winner of this comparison review at the end. Nevertheless, let’s dive into the details.

To the untrained eye, the Supra Track Edition may look the same as the regular Supra GTS, but look closer and you’ll find aero flaps around the front wheel arches, a front underlip tyre spat and a carbon-fibre ducktail rear spoiler. The 19-inch alloy wheels are the same size and feature the same 10-spoke design as the GTS wheels but are finished in matte black. The full palette of exterior colours offered across the regular Supra range is available for the Track Edition, but the matte black option seen here on our test car is exclusive to the performance flagship.

In contrast to the Supra, the Z Nismo is much more distinct from the standard Z. It boasts beefed up front and rear bumpers, lower side skirts, wheel arch flares and a rear spoiler. These are matched with wider, gloss black 19-inch forged RAYS wheels and the Nismo trademark red accent strip around the car’s underbody and side mirrors. The Slate Grey exterior paintwork as seen in one of our Z Nismo test cars is exclusive to the Nismo version. Unlike the Supra, there’s no factory matte colour option.

Which car looks better? Which car turns more heads? While looks are subjective, we believe the Supra is still the racier, sportier of the two coupes, but Z Nismo certainly looks more special and was the car that drew more attention during our weeklong evaluation period. Both cars have huge aftermarket support and to make one of these truly your own is only a tuner shop visit away.

On the inside, it’s again the Supra Track Edition that feels less distinguished from the standard version, with just the GR logos on the headrests and red seatbelts providing the additional visual flair. On the other hand, the Z Nismo ditches the standard seats altogether in favour of a pair of red hot Recaro sport buckets. Not only that, the Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel with a red centre line is also bespoke and boy, does it pair beautifully with the Recaros.

Both interiors aren’t the most up-to-date in terms of tech and features, with the Supra recycling an old BMW iDrive infotainment system that looks quite last generation and the Z also running a previous version of Nissan’s touchscreen interface. Both systems could compete for the title of smallest screen fitted to any modern car, with the Supra’s touchscreen measuring just 8.8 inches and the Z faring only slightly better with a 9.0-inch display.

The BMW iDrive-based system in the Supra does remain one of the more intuitive systems to use, however, and is far better than that in the Z which doesn’t even come with built-in navigation. Both systems support Apple CarPlay, wireless in the Supra and wired only in the Z, but Android Auto is only supported in the Z.

The Supra’s 8.8-inch driving instrument display is not only small but also looks bland and bare. Save for a sporty rev counter, there isn’t really much else on display here that is performance focused, not to mention specific to the Track Edition. And no, switching to Sport mode doesn’t do much to improve the display at all.

Quite the opposite, the Z Nismo’s much larger 12.3-inch instrument display is red, vibrant and angry, exactly how it should be in a sports car. There’s no shortage of performance gauges, too, with a G-force meter and various driveline temperature dials on display. A prominent Nismo label within the tachometer serves as a reminder that you’re driving something a bit more special than a standard Z.

While the trio of analogue gauges atop the dashboard has always been a Z trademark, they feel somewhat at odds with the digital instrument display. Perhaps a set of customisable digital gauges would be more appropriate.

What both coupes have equally executed well is the driving position. They are just spot on. You sit low and tight with the steering wheel at chest level. It’s even sportier in the Supra Track Edition as it sits 23mm lower than the Z Nismo. The Supra seats are also closer to the rear axle which allows you to feel more of the car’s rotation as you corner. While you’d feel snug and supported in the sports seat of either cars, the comfort level of the Z Nismo’s Recaro buckets is a true surprise. Despite not looking like they have thick padding, they’re just as comfortable as those cushier seats in the Supra.

Onto the oily bits, the Supra Track Edition shares the same BMW-sourced 3.0-litre twin-scroll turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine with the standard Supra. It pushes out 285kW from 5800rpm to 6500rpm and 500Nm from 1800rpm to 5000rpm. While potent, there’s no extra power over the regular engine which is a missed opportunity for a track-focused model. Drive is sent to the rear axle where a limited slip differential sits and manages traction.

The Z Nismo also shares the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine as the regular Z but gains improved cooling, a higher turbo boost and an independent ignition spark timing strategy similar to that used by the GT-R Nismo. These lift engine output to 313kW and 520Nm, a hike of 11kW and 45Nm from the standard engine’s 298kW and 475Nm. Peak power is produced at 6400rpm while peak torque is now on tap from 2000rpm through to 5200rpm, slightly narrower than the standard car’s 1600-5600rpm spread. Like the Supra, drive is sent to an LSD-equipped rear axle.

Our test vehicles were both fitted with automatic transmissions, eight-speed in the Supra Track Edition and nine-speed in the Z Nismo. A six-speed manual gearbox option is available in both coupes for those who fancy a bit more engagement. But the auto versions are quicker.

Indeed, both cars serve up explosive acceleration the moment you put your foot down. The sprint to 100km/h takes just 4.1 seconds in the Supra Track Edition, with the Z Nismo right on its heels at 4.2 seconds. That’s some serious straight-line pace.

Despite being down on power and torque, the Supra manages to edge slightly ahead of the Z thanks to a cleaner get-away from standstill and lighter weight (1,525kg vs 1,633kg). The Z Nismo can be a bit of a handful to launch neatly, with it struggling to get the power down to the road on take off. Both cars have launch control which, in the Nissan’s case, will tidy things up considerably but the Supra still has better traction rolling off the line, using launch control or not.

Neither cars have very aggressive engine or exhaust notes. The Supra Track Edition’s exhaust is carried over intact from the regular Supra, which is disappointing. The Z Nismo has a revised exhaust which gives it a bit more noise, glad it does as the standard Z is as quiet as a Qashqai. Both cars pump synthesised engine sound into the cabin to heighten the driving experience, but the overall soundtrack is quite distinctive between the cars. The Supra’s occasional pops and crackles from the exhaust are appropriately enthusiastic but the BMW B58 engine feels a bit too refined for its own good, lacking in character. The Z Nismo’s exhaust has none of such theatrics but its V6 is louder and throatier.

Where the Supra Track Edition differs from the standard car is in the chassis, where revised suspension tuning, larger front brakes, increased front negative camber and retuned steering combine to further tighten the already very capable dynamics of the regular Supra. From behind the wheel, the most obvious is the quicker, sharper turn-in. Coupled with tauter composure from the firmer suspension, the Supra Track Edition glues to the asphalt like it’s on rails. Such is the level of grip and body control, you can truly carry ridiculous pace through corners. Unleash that glorious B58 on corner exit and you’ll be back doing three-digit speeds in no time. We can see why this thing is a no-nonsense track weapon, befitting its name. And on the streets, you’ll be losing your license quick if you’re not paying attention to the speedo.

The Z Nismo also has quite a fair bit going on underneath that is different to the regular Z. There’re stiffer suspension with retuned dampers, revised anti roll bars, additional front and rear underfloor bracing, larger front brakes with heavy duty brake pads, stiffer steering rack mounting bush and wider rear tyres. Like the Supra, the Z Nismo is ultra flat and direct around corners. Those Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600 tyres are highly temperature sensitive but once warm they’re stickier than the Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubbers on the Supra. Just when you thought you’ve run out of lateral grip on the Sport Maxx, you’d be surprised how much more you could still lean on them. There’s also more heft through the Z’s steering but not necessarily more feedback.

The Supra is still the nimbler, more light-footed of the two. A tighter course would suit the Supra more than the Z, but the firmer, grippier Z would feel more planted through fast, sweeping corners. While the Supra starts pulling hard from low in the rev range, the Z needs to be worked. This makes the Supra the easier car to drive fast, which is a real advantage on the road. On the track, however, the harder revving Z delivers more involvement for the driver. Both cars have one thing in common though: they’re massively fun to drive.

Both cars ride firmer than their respective standard counterparts, but while the Supra Track Edition remains well suited to daily driving, the Z Nismo borders on being too harsh for everyday use. Around town, the Z’s ride is jittery over most road imperfections, whereas the Supra feels noticeably more compliant and forgiving.

The Z is also a lot thirstier than the Supra, averaging around 11.0L/100km against a rated 10.4L/100km. Driven sportily, expect an average of at least 20.0L/100km. In contrast, the Supra is one of the more efficient sports cars with a claimed fuel economy of 7.7L/100km and a tested averaged of 9.1L/100km.

Verdict

Two Japanese sports cars, two different personalities. Choosing between these two performance icons ultimately comes down to what you value most. The Toyota GR Supra Track Edition is the more polished all-rounder, blending explosive performance, razor-sharp handling and surprising everyday usability into a package that’s easy to live with. The Nissan Z Nismo, meanwhile, is more focused, with a more aggressive chassis and a more characterful engine delivering a more involved driving experience when pushed hard.

If your sports car needs to tackle the daily commute as comfortably as it attacks your favourite back road or race track, the Supra Track Edition is the one to have. But if weekend drives and track days are your priority, the Z Nismo’s rawer, more hard-edged attitude is difficult to ignore.

For us, though, it’s the Supra we’d be reaching for just a little more often. Whichever you choose, both prove there’s still plenty of life left in the classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe, and that’s something every driving enthusiast can celebrate.

	2026 Toyota GR Supra Track Edition	2026 Nissan Z Nismo
Design and Comfort	8.5	8.0
Performance and Handling	9.0	8.5
Quality	8.5	8.5
Economy	7.5	7.0
Equipment and Features	7.5	8.0
Overall	41/50	40/50

 Pricing and Specification

	2026 Toyota GR Supra Track Edition	2026 Nissan Z Nismo
Price (excluding on-road costs):	From: $105,295	From: $94,000
Warranty:	5 years, unlimited km	5 years, unlimited km
Service Intervals:	12 months, 15,000km	12 months, 10,000km
Country of Origin:	Japan	Japan
Engine:	Turbo 3.0-litre in-line 6-cylinder petrol: 285kW @ 5800-6500rpm, 500Nm @ 1800-5000rpm	Twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 petrol: 313kW @ 6400rpm, 520Nm @ 2000-5200rpm
Transmission:	8-speed automatic (tested) or 6-speed manual	9-speed automatic (tested) or 6-speed manual
Drivetrain:	Rear-wheel drive	Rear-wheel drive
Combined Fuel Consumption (L/100km):	Claimed: 7.7 /Tested: 9.1 (auto)	Claimed: 10.4 /Tested: 11.5 (auto)
Fuel Capacity (L):	52	62
Body:	2-door coupe, 2 seats	2-door coupe, 2 seats
Dimensions (L/W/H/W-B):	4,379/1,854/1,292/2,470	4,410/1,870/1,315/2,550
Kerb Weight (kg):	1,525	1,633