1993 Nissan Skyline R33 GTR Review and Performance Comparison

Nissan Skyline R33 GTR - [1993]

Nissan

Nissan Skyline Performance Review.

Introduction:

The 1993 Nissan Skyline R33 GTR is a powered by a Petrol Straight 6. This variant of the Nissan Skyline R33 GTR is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out around 1993. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1994 McLaren F1 6.1 V12 and the 1993 Jaguar XJ 220 S 3.5 V6 Turbo.

This particular Nissan Skyline has a 2569cc Twin Turbo Petrol powerplant driven by the Nissan All Wheel Drive system.

Alternative Petrol Straight 6's include the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965

The Skyline shares its Petrol Straight 6 engine configuration with the likes of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S 991.If you're looking for other similar performing cars which share the Skyline's All Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 2024 Aspark Owl AWD or the earlier 2019 Pininfarina Battista 1900.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1530 kgs (3373 lbs) places the Nissan Skyline R33 GTR in a similar weight category as the 2025 Toyota Supra A90 Final Edition and the excellent 2024 Ferrari F80 Twin Turbo, give or take 50kg.

The Nissan Skyline shares the same bhp with the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR (276 bhp)

In terms of pure power the 2569cc 24 valve, Straight 6 engine produces around 276 bhp (205 kW) @ 6800 rpm which is comparable to the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR (276 bhp) and also the 2024 BMW 1 Series M135 xDrive (296 bhp).

The Twin Turbo Straight 6 throws out 289 lb-ft (391.8 Nm) @ 4400 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2025 BYD Han L LiDAR Premium (310 lb-ft) or the 2025 BYD Han L LiDAR Flagship (310 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If you look at both power or torque of the 1993 Nissan Skyline in comparison with its weight you get a much more accurate idea of its real world performance.

The 2009 Ford Focus 2.5 RS (205.1 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Nissan Skyline.

The Nissan Skyline has a power to weight ratio of 180.3 bhp per ton. Bhp per ton figures of the 1993 Skyline R33 GTR means you're competing with the 2009 Ford Focus 2.5 RS (205.1 bhp per ton) and the equally quick 2013 Porsche Macan 3.6 Turbo (205.1 bhp per ton).

Torque to Weight:

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance is Torque!. However, torque isn't the whole story, you also need to compare weight as well for more real world comparisons such as torque per ton.

The Nissan Skyline R33 GTR generates around 188.8 lb-ft per ton. So if you're looking at what cars perform similarly either on the drag strip or at the traffic lights using torque to weight as a benchmark, then look no further than the 1986 Ferrari 208 Turbo 2.0L V8 (213.7 lb-ft per ton) or the similarly performing 2017 Honda Civic Type R 2.0i 16v Turbo - FK8 (213.7 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

The Nissan Skyline R33 GTR can accelerate 0–60mph in 5.00 secs or 0–100km/h (0–62mph) in 5.2 secs. Acceleration rivals to the Nissan Skyline R33 GTR include the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (5.00 secs) or the equally as fast to 60mph 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 1.6 Turbo (5.00 secs).

The Straight 6 engine of the Nissan Skyline R33 GTR ensures that, ‘on paper’ at least, accelerates slightly faster than the 2025 Ford Mustang GT Fastback (5.10 secs) and the 2024 Toyota Yaris GR RC Automatic (5.10 secs).

BMW 3 Series 340i F30 LCI - [2015] image

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Nissan Skyline R33 GTR and the BMW 3 Series 340i F30 LCI

On a longer format for acceleration comparisons the 1993 Nissan Skyline can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.87 secs with a trap speed around 98.2 mph. Similar performances down the quarter mile drag strip can be found with the the BMW 3 Series 340i F30 LCI (13.88 seconds @ 98.1 mph) and a close race between the BMW Z4 sDrive35is (13.88 seconds @ 98.1 mph) too.

Top Speed:

Some modern performance cars are often artificially restricted particularly when it comes to max speed. 155 mph top speed restrictions are often used as part of the German 'Gentleman's Agreement' for example, so be cautious when using maximum speed figures. The 1993 version of the Nissan Skyline R33 GTR has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 1993 Skyline equals the Ford Sierra RS 500 (154 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what has a similar top end performance to the 1993 Nissan Skyline R33 GTR then there's the slightly slower the Ford Sierra RS 500 (154 mph) or how about the impressive Ford Focus 2.0 ST-3 (154 mph).

— AutoSnout