Toyota Supra is a name that gave birth to an entire generation of car enthusiasts. It wasn’t just a movie star! It was faster, sleeker, lighter, better looking, and better handling than most of its competitors at the time. It gave Porsche cars a run for their money back in the day despite being less than half their price.
Nissan Z, on the other hand, was the underdog. It was bought by smart enthusiasts who were looking for a fun RWD car with a V6. It wasn’t a head-turner like the Supra, but then it wasn’t like any other commuter vehicle. It was made for having fun, sliding into corners, and hitting the rev limiter till your neighbors called 999.
The MK5 Toyota Supra was less popular and successful than its predecessor. Apparently, people didn’t like the Supra, which included BMW parts. After fighting a battle for its survival, the Toyota Supra has officially lost to the Nissan Z in terms of sales. The Nissan Z outsold the Toyota Supra in 2024.
Toyota Supra is Toyota’s failed initiative to revive a legacy. It was meant for enthusiasts. Despite being hated for its affiliation with BMW, the Supra was a good sportscar in general. It was reliable, fast, stylish, and practical.
The Nissan Z, on the other hand, was successful from the beginning because it was purely Nissan. Nissan succeeded because of their in-house-built powertrain. If Toyota had done the same, the Supra would not have failed. Despite facing financial difficulties, Nissan is still going for the home run.
Before we dive any deeper, let’s learn a word or two about Toyota and Nissan.
Toyota
Toyota is a leading global automotive manufacturer known for its reliable and fuel-efficient vehicles. It offers a wide range of cars, trucks, and SUVs, including popular models like the Camry, Corolla, RAV4, and Tacoma. Toyota is also a major player in the development of hybrid and electric vehicles.
Nissan
Nissan is a major Japanese automaker known for its diverse lineup of cars, trucks, and SUVs. They are recognized for innovative technologies like the Leaf electric car and the ProPILOT Assist driver-assistance system. Popular models include the Altima, Rogue, and Frontier.
New Supra in the Making?
The previous year, the Nissan Z sold more units than the Toyota Supra and outsold the competition by a wide margin. Is the Nissan Z this affordable? Or is a new Toyota Supra on its way? Let us know in the comments.
The Nissan Z is quite elusive on the streets right now, and the major factor is its pricing. It had a rough start initially. People liked it, but it was somewhat overpriced. The new Nissan Z starts at $42,970, while the Nismo variant costs $65,750. The Toyota Supra came with a starting price tag of $56,250 for the base variant. The top-of-the-line Supra costs around $59,400.
| Make/Model | 2023 sales | 2024 sales | % Difference |
| Toyota Supra | 2652 | 2615 | -1.4% |
| Nissan Z | 1771 | 3164 | +78.7% |
That’s a significant difference between Toyota Supra sales and Nissan Z. Nissan sold 549 more Zs than Toyota sold Supras, despite being an elusive car on the road.
| Make/Model | 2022 sales | 2023 sales | 2024 sales |
| Toyota Supra | 4952 | 2652 | 2615 |
| Nissan Z | 263 | 1771 | 3164 |
Conclusion
2024 marked a significant shift in the sports car market. Nissan Z Outsold the Toyota Supra. The Nissan Z’s sales surge can be attributed to its attractive price point and retro-inspired design. The Toyota Supra, while still a strong contender, faced challenges with its higher price and limited availability. This sales victory for Nissan signifies a potential change of the guard in the sports car segment.