During the 2023 Toyota GR launch, Toyota Malaysia also introduced the Toyota Supra manual for the Malaysian market. Initially, I was supposed to review the manual version, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, I will have to review the updated Automatic version. I will leave the manual version until Toyota lets me review the car. So this time around, I will test out the facelifted Toyota Supra and see how much different it drives from the pre-facelift model.
If you’re looking to spot what’s new visually, I think you’ll be disappointed rather quickly. Apart from the rims, nothing else has changed in the vehicle. Differentiating them is actually really hard. And speaking about the rims, these new rims on the updated Supra do a great job of enhancing the sporty look of the vehicle. The interior also stays pretty similar to the pre-facelift vehicle. But since 2023, Toyota has updated the infotainment system. It now comes with wireless Apple Carplay for iPhone users. As I don’t use an iPhone, I am not able to try out this feature. 
What Toyota really updates is under the skin. Things you can’t see with your eyes, you have to feel. This starts with the powertrain under the hood, where the 3.0L inline-6 turbocharged engine now produces 48PS more than before. This engine has the ability to churn out 388PS, while the torque is maintained at 500 Nm. Other than that, Toyota has also retuned the suspension, upgraded the differential, and retuned the exhaust note to make the Supra a more pleasant vehicle to drive than before. 
On day-to-day drives, the changes barely made an impact on the overall feel, as the previous car is pretty powerful for Malaysian roads. These changes need to be experienced by pushing the vehicle to its upper limit, which requires a safe place like a race track. While the big engine capacity (by Malaysian standards) can be quite intimidating to most people, I find that this engine is quite frugal if you’re just cruising around in it. Then again, I doubt anyone would drive the vehicle efficiently if they ever get their hands on a Supra. 
Even though they’ve refined the exhaust, you will still get those pops and bangs when you go into sports mode. It’s just that it is not as loud as the pre-facelift model anymore. When you’re inside the vehicle, the sound is even more muted compared to the outside. I still like that it has quite a loud engine start-up, which makes the car quite an attention-grabber if you love attention.
When it comes to handling, the Supra is as nice to drive as before. The suspension is firm, yet there’s a sense of sophistication in the suspension tuning. The suspension is adaptive, so you can use it in different situations. In normal mode, the car rides really well over all the uneven roads. While you can still tell the suspension has a short stroke, it’s not uncomfortable at all. When you go into sport mode, the suspension will then stiffen up further to give the car a higher capability in the corners. 
With a price tag of RM 655,000.00, the Supra is a car that you must be an enthusiast to buy. It’s all the car you need for Malaysian roads if you love driving. The only issue for the Supra is that there is a BMW 340i out there, where you can get this powertrain in a more practical form. But if you love attention, the Supra will do it way better than a 340i. Apart from having a slightly older interior, I personally really like the Supra for what it is. 
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