Sports cars in 2022 come in all shapes and sizes, from a tiny Kei car with a 1.0-liter inline-3 engine, to a massive American muscle car with a massive 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that can restart dying planets. Somewhere in the middle is one of the best currently on sale – the Toyota Supra.
The Supra is now in its fifth generation and rather than having a Toyota engine, platform or gearbox, it borrows most of its components from BMW. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the engine is the brilliant B58 turbocharged straight-6 – a worthy successor to the legendary 2JZ-GTE. Granted, the engine still doesn’t quite come close to the 2JZ in terms of power, but it works well. Toyota has recently added a manual gearbox to the A90 Supra, finally making it as good as it was supposed to be in the first place. Yes, it still has the issues of a low roof, terrible visibility, and ergonomics which is beneath a company like Toyota, but the model is highly desirable thanks to the styling and the pedigree.
The Supra may be among the best sports cars currently on sale, but it does have a few issues which rivals use to their advantage. Here are ten sports car alternatives to consider instead of the Toyota Supra.
10/10 Alpine A110
The Alpine A110 was a legendary French sports car that raced in classic rally championships in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2017, Alpine was revived, and they launched a modern version that is true to the original in its lightness and handling.
The A110 features a 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-4 borrowed from the Renault Megané RS, producing 280 hp. Like the original, the engine is behind the driver, and power is sent to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. It may have much less power than a Supra, but it is definitely competitive.
9/10 BMW M2
The new BMW M2 was recently shown off, and it is a massive point of controversy. The regular 2-Series already features ‘interesting’ styling and the M2 build on it with the squared-off nature of the widebody kit. What cannot be ignored is the drivetrain.
The M3 will feature the same S58 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 as the M3 and M4 but slightly detuned to 450 hp instead of the full 503 – although the Competition will most likely get closer. The M2 is manual as standard, with an auto as an option.
8/10 Porsche 718 Cayman
The Porsche 718 Cayman is a brilliant piece of German engineering. While it was true that anyone who couldn’t afford a 911 would settle for a Cayman, this is no longer the case. The 718 models are bona-fide sports cars in their own right.
The lower trims of Cayman feature a turbocharged flat-4, but anything above the GTS is fitted with the glorious, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-6, which produces 400 hp. All models come with a 6-speed manual as standard, although an 8-speed PDK is optional.
7/10 Dodge Challenger R/T/Scat Pack
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The Dodge Challenger is the last true American muscle car still on sale, as it is the only one that is terrible when going around corners. It is also the only muscle car on sale which has all-wheel-drive on its lower trims.
The higher-up R/T and Scat Pack models are the ones to go for when looking for a Toyota Supra alternative. The 5.7-liter and 6.4-liter V8s produce 372 and 485 hp respectively – enough to create a burnout that will embarrass any Mustang.
6/10 Ford Mustang GT
Speaking of Mustangs, the current S550 Mustang is being replaced next year by an all-new model. Until then, the engine choices include the 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost inline-4, the 5.0-liter Coyote V8, and the 5.2-liter supercharged Predator V8.
The mid-range Mustang GT produces 440 hp and is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission. It is a fantastic cruiser and getting it in a manual, makes for a brilliantly fun sports car. Just beware of leaving any car meet areas as Mustangs do have a reputation.
5/10 Chevrolet Camaro 3LT/SS
The Chevrolet Camaro is the final car in the American ‘Big Three’ muscle cars. Unlike the Mustang and the Challenger, the Camaro offers 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines. The base 2.0-liter turbo makes 255 hp, the 3.6-liter produces 335 hp and the big 6.2-liter makes 455 hp – not to mention the 650 hp supercharged ZL1.
The mid-range V6 3LT or the V8 SS are both pretty great in terms of power, but what makes the Camaro stand out, is its better-than-necessary handling characteristics. In a test done by Throttle House, the Camaro SS beat the new Nissan Z in terms of driver involvement. Quite impressive.
4/10 BMW M440i
The BMW 4-Series is currently in its second generation and for anyone who doesn’t quite have the budget for the M-model, there is an M-Lite called the M440i. The M440i features the same B58 straight-6 as most of BMW’s 6-cylinder vehicles – and the same one used in the Supra.
Unlike the Supra, the engine produces 382 hp and 369 lb-ft compared to the Supra’s official 335 hp. The M440i is available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive but only comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, as the manual is reserved for the M-model.
3/10 Chevrolet Corvette C8
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 is one of the best sports cars currently on the market as it combines supercar performance with sports car pricing. The C8 starts at just over $60,000 and is fitted with a 490 hp 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8.
The mid-mounted engine sends all of its power to the rear wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The optional Z51 package adds a sports exhaust and bumps power up by 5 hp and 5 lb-ft, as well as adds a larger front splitter and a rear wing.
2/10 Lotus Emira
The Lotus Emira will be the last fossil fuel-powered vehicle the British company makes as there are transitioning to electric vehicles. The Emira follows the typical Lotus strategy of lightness and the mid-engine layout, improving handling and driver fun.
The Emira currently comes with a 3.5-liter supercharged V6 borrowed from Toyota which produces 400 hp, although a 360 hp 2.0-liter turbo from Mercedes-AMG will be available at a later date. A manual transmission is standard, with an automatic as an option – and the AMG engine getting a 9-speed auto as the only option.
1/10 Nissan Z
The Nissan Z made headlines when it was announced, but has since received mixed reviews. Some praise its performance and handling, while others were a bit disappointed by its lack of anything new as well as the numb steering.
The Z features the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 used in the Infiniti Q60 Redline, meaning 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque going to the rear wheels. A 6-speed manual is the standard gearbox, however, a 9-speed automatic from Mercedes-Benz, is available. It is the closest vehicle to the Supra, but thanks to the manual in the Toyota, the Supra wins.