The Sports Coupe That Quietly Holds Its Value Better Than Expected
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Monday, 10 Aug 2026 16:00 0 6 autotech
Americans love SUVs and off-roaders. We also love pickups, and that’s why these vehicles often have the lowest depreciation. Sports coupes? Well, that’s a mixed bag. The Porsche 911 is one of the world’s most sought-after cars, whether brand-new or as a used purchase, and so this is one sports coupe that offers one of the best resale values out there. Some models are even treated as investment cars.
But the 911 is the exception rather than the rule. Take a look at cars like the BMW M2 or Audi RS5, and you’ll see that these cars don’t have the best resale values, according to CarEdge. These two represent some of Germany’s best sports coupes, but that doesn’t make them immune from losing nearly half of their value in five years.
On the other hand, here’s a sports coupe that, despite its mechanical origins, has resale value that is a lot better than anyone expected. In fact, compared to its mechanical German sibling, it will still hold twice the value over five years. Let’s explore why this sports coupe has surprisingly good resale value, and why its mechanical sibling isn’t as highly desired in the used market.
To understand their place in the automotive industry today, we first have to take a look at the history of coupes and why they were created in the first place.
How The Coupe’s Sporting DNA Warrants A Premium
Lexus SC front 3/4 shotLexus
In the early days, coupes were defined by their shorter roofs and sportier designs. It wasn’t until 1977 that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released ISO 3833, defining coupes as having two doors, at least two seats in at least one row, and at least two side windows. Having rear seats wasn’t part of the definition, but that began to blur in the 1980s when automakers started offering coupes with two small rear seats. The line blurred even further when a coupe didn’t just have a traditional trunk lid, but a fully opening liftback tailgate, just like the Toyota Supra.
The idea of a coupe was for it to be a sportier and more desirable alternative to a sedan. Coupes further became even more popular in the 1950s when the term “personal luxury car” was created. This is a North American car classification for vehicles that were somewhat sporty and had two-door coupe body styles.
Think of cars like the Mercury Cougar; modern examples of the personal luxury car idea were embodied in the Lexus SC and the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class. These were large coupes with pure luxury intent and the occasional capacity to take friends along for the ride. Fast-forward to the late-2010s, Toyota and BMW quietly built something that honors the original definition — and the market has rewarded them for it.
When German And Japanese Engineering Meet
During the Second World War, Japan and Germany were close allies. Today, the two nations have once again joined forces in the creation of the Toyota GR Supra. The result is a coupe that may have been controversial when it debuted due to its German mechanical roots, but today, it is one of the best sports cars that money can buy.
Holding Its Value Better Than Most Sports Coupes
2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition side shotToyota
BMW and resale value don’t usually mix well together, but somehow being co-engineered by the folks at Toyota has made the GR Supra one of the slowest depreciating cars in the United States. According to iSeeCars’ list of Top 25 Cars That Hold Their Value Best, the GR Supra is in eighth place, just below the Subaru BRZ. That’s because it is only expected to lose 24 percent of its value in five years, which is a lot less than the overall industry average of 41.8 percent. CarEdge agrees as well, finding that the GR Supra is only expected to lose 24 percent of its value in five years.
Its platform mate, the BMW Z4, will lose 43.5 percent of its value in five years, according to iSeeCars. The BMW M2, meanwhile, fares slightly better in five years, losing 32.2 percent of its value. The GR Supra is even expected to hold its value better than the Lexus RC. Mind you, Lexus is a luxury brand synonymous with strong resale values. Clearly, there’s some Toyota magic that’s been sprinkled on the GR Supra despite being mechanically identical to the Z4.
Why The GR Supra Is More Desirable
2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition engineToyota
The GR Supra is more desirable than the BMW Z4 simply because of one thing—heritage. The Supra name has a lot of weight, and though it was placed in a coupe with German mechanical roots, Toyota still did an excellent job of giving this vehicle its unique personality. More importantly, as a Japanese sports car, one would only expect tons of aftermarket parts and customization support, and the GR Supra delivers in that aspect as well.
The B58 is also a reliable 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine. The straight-six has always been a key Supra ingredient, so for Toyota to partner with BMW for the GR Supra was a match made in heaven. I’ve driven many BMWs and the GR Supra with this engine, and I love the B58. It doesn’t mean it’s a perfect engine, though.
2025 BMW Z4 M40I engineWilliam Clavey | TopSpeed
BMW’s insistence on using plastic for the oil filter housing and oil pump rotor housing means that these can get brittle over time. Post-2021 B58s have addressed this somewhat, but yes, the plastic parts will be the bane of your B58’s existence. Overall, there’s not a lot that can go wrong with the B58, and the plastic parts can be easily replaced with a more durable alternative.
The GR Supra Constantly Evolved
Front 3/4 view of a 2020 Toyota GR SupraIsaac Atienza | TopSpeed
If you want a brand-new Toyota GR Supra, well, you’re out of luck. Production ended in March 2026, and your only hope of finding one is if there’s still dealer stock. Considering how extremely well-planned Toyota inventories are, the chances of finding one are extremely low. Still, here’s what you need to know about the GR Supra across different iterations.
How Toyota Added A Manual Gearbox And 47 More Horsepower Without BMW’s Help
2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition interior shot of the front cabinAmee Reehal | TopSpeed
2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition gear leverAmee Reehal | TopSpeed
Over its seven-year production lifespan, the GR Supra received numerous changes under the skin. In 2021, the GR Supra gained the “A91” designation because its 3.0-liter straight-six improved from 335 to 382 horsepower, while a 2.0-liter four-cylinder entry-level model was introduced. This was also coupled with additional chassis bracing, new front and rear bump stops, as well as revised tuning for the adaptive dampers, stability control, and differential. For the 2022 model year, an A91-CF Edition was released, capped at just 600 units.
But its biggest upgrade would come in 2023 when Toyota answered the demand of enthusiasts for a manual transmission. The shared GR Supra and Z4 platform never came with a manual when they were released, and so Toyota had to work in conjunction with ZF to create the GR Supra’s manual transmission.
2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition front seatsAmee Reehal | TopSpeed
The six-speed manual was equipped with Toyota’s Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) programming, which includes rev matching and makes gear changes smoother. Likewise, Toyota refined the GR Supra’s handling, which included a new Hairpin+ function. This enables the GR Supra to have smoother freewheeling on each of the left and right rear wheels during tight bends on an uphill gradient.
The GR Supra Final Edition: Why The Last One Off The Line May Be Worth The Most
2026 Toyota GR Supra MkV Final Edition rear 3/4 shotAmee Reehal | TopSpeed
But Toyota didn’t stop there. The GR Supra further distanced itself from the Z4 as its production end drew nearer. Toyota dropped the 2.0-liter B48 turbo four-cylinder in the 2025 model year, and the 2026 model year would see the GR Supra reach its absolute peak. Once again, Toyota enhanced the GR Supra’s chassis rigidity, while also fitting it with improved brakes and suspension.
If you splurged for the GR Supra Final Edition, then you practically bought the final boss of this sports car’s rich seven-year history. It was available in both automatic and manual, but clearly, we can all agree that the manual is the far more desirable choice. The GR Supra Final Edition receives unique mapping for the traction control, while larger Brembo brakes have been fitted for improved stopping power.
Front close-up of a 2026 Toyota GR Supra Final Edition wheelToyota
The suspension and chassis have also been tweaked for more direct yet stable handling. The wheel’s camber angle has also been revised for better cornering grip. Perhaps this is the GR Supra in its most desirable form, and one that will likely retain its value the best among all the GR Supra models. We’ve taken this limited-edition model for a spin, so be sure to check it out to see how Toyota managed to make a sensational sports car even better for its final year.
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