Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Affordable rear-drive sports cars are a shrinking species, and these two are among the last of them. The Nissan Z revived a nameplate that stretches back to the 1969 Datsun 240Z, while the Toyota GR Supra brought back a legend after a 21-year absence, and for six years they have been each other's most obvious rival.2026 Nissan Z Heritage EditionNissanFor 2026 that rivalry ends, because one of these cars is finishing its run. That fact hangs over every other category here. Here is how the Z and the GR Supra compare, and which one wins for 2026.2026 Toyota Supra Final EditionToyotaSpecs and pricingSpecificationNissan ZToyota GR SupraEngine400-hp twin-turbo V6382-hp turbo inline-sixTop output420 hp (NISMO)382 hpTransmissions6-speed manual or 9-speed auto6-speed manual or 8-speed autoCombined mpg20 to 22 mpg25 mpgStatus for 2026Continues, refreshed for 2027Final model yearStarting priceAbout $44,200About $58,000The end of the line for the SupraThis is the headline and there is no getting around it. Toyota has confirmed that production of the fifth-generation GR Supra ends in March 2026, making this the MkV's final model year. The reason is largely out of Toyota's hands, since the car is built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, alongside the BMW Z4 it shares a platform, engine, and much of its interior with, and the Z4 is ending at roughly the same time.2026 Toyota Supra Final EditionToyotaToyota is sending it off with the GR Supra MkV Final Edition, which adds larger Brembo brake discs, revised camber angles, retuned electronically controlled dampers, stiffer suspension bushings, an extra underbody brace, a carbon-fiber ducktail spoiler, and front wheel-arch flaps. It costs around $69,100. A sixth-generation Supra is considered likely and Toyota has said it wants a shorter gap than the 20 years between the MkIV and MkV, but nothing has been announced. Meanwhile the Nissan Z gets a facelift for 2027 with revised front-end styling and, finally, a manual transmission for the NISMO.Power and performanceThe Z has the bigger numbers. Its twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 makes 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft in Sport and Performance trims, rising to 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft in the NISMO, against the Supra's 382 horsepower and 368 lb-ft from its turbocharged inline-six. Both offer a six-speed manual, though the 2026 NISMO is automatic-only.2026 Nissan Z Heritage EditionNissanAdvertisementAdvertisementOn the stopwatch it is closer than that suggests, because the Supra is the lighter car. Toyota quotes 3.9 seconds to 60 mph, while the Nissan Z manages a mid-four-second run with the manual, a low-four with the automatic, and just under four in NISMO form. Call it a draw on straight-line pace, with the Z holding a small advantage in outright grunt.2026 Toyota GR SupraToyotaDriving and handlingThe GR Supra is the more focused instrument. Its 97.2-inch wheelbase is short even by sports-car standards, more than four inches shorter than the GR86's, which makes it eager to rotate and genuinely playful, though some reviewers find it snappier and less progressive at the limit than they would like on a tight road. It is set up for oversteer rather than outright grip, and drivers who enjoy that will find it addictive.2026 Toyota GR SupraToyotaThe Z is a different animal. Outside NISMO trim, it leans more grand tourer than track weapon, with a notably more comfortable ride than most low-slung coupes and a torquey engine that suits long-distance work. Reviewers consistently note that it lacks the last measure of reflex and visceral sharpness the Supra offers. If your priority is the drive itself, the Toyota is the better tool.2026 Nissan Z Heritage EditionNissanInterior, tech, and practicalityNeither is spacious, but the Z is the friendlier daily companion. It offers 42.9 inches of front legroom to the Supra's 42.2, and its cabin is well laid out around a 12.3-inch digital cluster, with Performance trims adding a 9-inch navigation touchscreen, an eight-speaker Bose system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and heated leather seats. There are hard plastics in places, but it works.2026 Nissan Z Heritage EditionNissanAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Supra's cabin is BMW-derived and feels it, which is mostly a compliment for build quality and mostly a criticism for character. It has a 10.2-cubic-foot trunk, less than a Porsche Cayman or BMW M2, though a pass-through helps with long items. The bigger annoyances are a single USB port and the complete absence of Android Auto. The Supra is also the more efficient car at 25 mpg combined, against 20 to 22 for the Z and 19 for the NISMO.2026 Toyota GR SupraToyotaPrice and valueThis is the rout. A Z Sport starts at $42,970 before its $1,245 destination charge, or about $44,200 out the door, and even the Performance trim at $52,970 undercuts a base Supra. The Supra 3.0 opens around $58,000, the 3.0 Premium runs about $61,200, and the Final Edition sits near $69,100.2026 Nissan Z Heritage EditionNissanThat is roughly a $14,000 gap at the entry point for a car with more horsepower. Nissan's warranty is shorter, at 3 years/36,000 miles basic and 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain, and Toyota's reputation for reliability and resale is stronger. But the Supra's discontinuation cuts both ways here: the Final Edition may hold or gain value as a collectible, while ordinary MkVs enter an orphaned lineup.2026 Toyota GR SupraToyotaSo which one wins for 2026?The Nissan Z wins for 2026. It costs roughly $14,000 less to get into, it makes more power, it offers a manual across two trims, and, crucially, it has a future, with a 2027 facelift bringing new front-end styling and the long-requested NISMO manual. Buying a sports car that is still being developed rather than one whose factory is closing is the sounder decision for most people.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Toyota GR Supra is a genuinely close second and the better car to drive, with sharper responses, a lighter feel, and much better fuel economy at 25 mpg combined. If you want the more engaging machine and the Final Edition's send-off specification appeals, buy it now, because you have until March. One caveat on the Nissan: it is moving to a build-to-order model for 2027, with dealers reportedly allocated only two or three cars each for the year, so "available" is relative. For the 2026 model year, though, the Z takes the win.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Car Buying section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.