Toyota GR Supra vs BMW i5

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Toyota GR Supra in South Africa

Toyota GR Supra

3.0T Manual Petrol 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 1,561,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 285 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 12 km/l
VS
BMW i5 in South Africa

BMW i5

M60 xDrive Sedan Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 2,080,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 442 kW 🔧 795 Nm
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota GR Supra vs BMW i5: the short answer

i5 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over GR Supra.

GR Supra starts ZAR 287,200 cheaper GR Supra from ZAR 1,524,800 · i5 from ZAR 1,812,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification GR Supra i5
Maximum Power GR Supra285 kW i5442 kW
Maximum Torque GR Supra500 Nm i5795 Nm
Engine Size GR Supra2998 cc i5Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy GR Supra12 km/l i5Not Applicable
Ground Clearance GR Supra117 mm i5140 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

GR Supra

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

i5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

GR Supra

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

i5

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec GR Supra i5
Model Introduced Year 2021 2023
Generation A90 fifth generation – co-developed with BMW on the CLAR platform G60 executive electric sedan sharing the 5 Series body architecture with dedicated electric propulsion.
Facelift History Manual gearbox and power upgrade (280 kW→285 kW) in 2023 Current G60-generation battery-electric i5 Sedan in South African specification.
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Sedan
Color Note Matte White, Nitro Yellow, Renaissance Red, Gravure Grey, Tungsten Silver, Black -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Sedan Premium Sedan
Tare Mass Kg 1545 kg -
Vehicle Type Sedan Car
Spec GR Supra i5
Length 4380 mm 5060 mm
Width 1865 mm 1900 mm
Height 1294 mm 1505 mm
Wheelbase 2470 mm 2995 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 117 mm 140 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 290 l 490 l
Kerb Weight 1545 kg 2370 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1870 kg 2895 kg
Payload Capacity 325 kg 600 kg
Towing Capacity 1600 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 1 rows 2 rows
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.3 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 995 mm 985 mm
Rear Headroom Not Applicable 940 mm
Front Legroom 1040 mm 1047 mm
Rear Legroom Not Applicable 890 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This GR Supra and i5 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: GR Supra 94 vs i5 100.

Efficiency index: GR Supra 47 vs i5 90.

Safety-equipment index: GR Supra 98 vs i5 92.

Practicality index: GR Supra 40 vs i5 64.

Ownership-cover index: GR Supra 43 vs i5 not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

i5 leads by 20 points

i5 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over GR Supra.

Evidence leader 87 /100
Lead 20 points
Data 69% source coverage
87
#1 Evidence leader

i5

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 64
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 64
Leads by 20 points
67
#2

GR Supra

90% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Practicality 40
Performance 94
Efficiency 47
Safety 98
Practicality 40
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance i5 +6 Efficiency i5 +43 Safety GR Supra +6 Practicality i5 +24

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

i5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 64/100

GR Supra

Performance 94/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 40/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW i5 leads the specification evidence index with 87 pts vs 67 pts for GR Supra

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, i5 leads. However, GR Supra may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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GR Supra vs i5 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.