Only a year after the Supra was reintroduced,
Toyota is
turning up the heat on the car's turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, dialing up its horsepower from 335 to 382. To help the Supra broaden its reach, the company is also adding a four-cylinder model to the lineup, which is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that makes 255 horsepower. The range-topping A91 special edition comes standard with the six-cylinder engine and adds a host of appearance items to the interior and exterior to differentiate it from regular Supra models. Last year's standard 6.5-inch infotainment screen is gone; the larger 8.8-inch display is now standard across the lineup.
Pay no mind to the fact that the 2021 Toyota Supra shares much of its chassis and powertrains with the
BMW Z4—it offers its own distinct personality and is an utter blast to drive. Two different turbocharged powertrains—an inline-four and an inline-six—are on offer, both of which drive the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. We know, we know: a six-speed manual would be preferable. To be honest, this automatic does an excellent job, changing gears crisply and responding quickly to the Supra's paddle shifters. Want a convertible? Then you'll have to get the Z4; the Supra is available only as a coupe. Its snug cabin, while not the right size for every driver, is nicely finished—but in our opinion, it relies too heavily on BMW-sourced switchgear and materials.
Engine And Transmission:-
All Supra models come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and are offered only with rear-wheel drive. At the test track,
our long-term 2020 Supra laid down some
seriously impressive acceleration numbers: zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and zero to 100 mph in 9.5. That puts it in the big leagues against the
Chevy Camaro, the
Porsche Cayman GTS, and the
BMW M2 Competition. In fact, it's even quicker than the
vaunted fourth-generation Supra that was powered by a sequentially-turbocharged inline-six with 320 horsepower. It's a shame that a manual transmission is not available, but hope isn't completely lost; it's rumored that the Supra will
gain a stick later in its production run. Despite its performance potential, the Supra's suspension is forgiving enough to drive daily. Its steering is accurate, nicely weighted and direct, which enhances its fun-to-drive personality. The lower-priced four-cylinder model is new for 2021, but we haven't had the chance to test it. With the turbo-four under the hood, the Supra's German cousin—the BMW Z4—managed a brisk
5.0-second zero-to-60-mph time.
Supra Engine: Potent and Throaty
The GR Supra has only one powertrain option. Its BMW-built 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine has a twin-scroll turbocharger and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rated at 335 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque, this engine responds quickly when you press the throttle, and its refined transmission expertly progresses through the gears. It's also accompanied by a boisterous exhaust system that snarls and pops in a gratifying way.
Supra Gas Mileage: Very Good
The 2020 Toyota GR Supra gets 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. This above-average fuel economy rating is especially impressive because of the Supra's six-cylinder engine, whereas many of its closest rivals come standard with a four-cylinder engine.
Supra Ride and Handling: Athletic, Responsive, and Stable
Smiles are never in short supply when riding in the rear-wheel-drive GR Supra. This sports car has an even weight balance for composed handling, as well as responsive steering and strong brakes. Switching between Normal and Sport modes noticeably changes the handling tightness, ride quality, and exhaust sound. The result is that the Supra has a split personality as both a comfortable touring car and an aggressive racetrack-ready coupe.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG:-
Now with more horsepower, the
fuel-economy ratings for the 2021 Supra 3.0 take a slight hit but are still good, earning 30 mpg highway, 22 mpg city, and 25 mpg combined. That's more efficient than the Camaro, the Cayman GTS, and the M2. On our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route, the six-cylinder Supra exceeded its highway rating by delivering 34 mpg. The EPA hasn't released estimates for the new four-cylinder model and we haven't tested that powertrain either.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo:-
The driver-focused cockpit is tight, and although the double-bubble roof provides some additional headroom, the tallest drivers will feel pinched. Cargo space is similarly cramped, but the cargo area (accessed via a hatchback) should be roomy enough for a couple of duffle bags, a week's worth of groceries for two, and maybe even a set of golf clubs depending on the bulkiness of the bag. In our testing, we managed to fit four carry-on suitcases behind the rear seats. Much of the Toyota's interior is shared with the Z4, so those familiar with BMW switchgear and infotainment controls will feel right at home.
Infotainment and Connectivity:-
Speaking of infotainment, the Supra's central display is an 8.8-inch unit with a very lightly reskinned version of BMW's latest iDrive interface. A digital gauge display—which is another carry-over piece from the BMW parts bin—is standard across the range. Navigation and Apple CarPlay capability are both available, but Android Auto isn't offered. A 12-speaker JBL audio system is optional but we expect the standard 10-speaker audio system will be enough for most buyers considering the size of the Supra's interior.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features:-
The Supra has not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Toyota offers a host of driver-assistance features as standard across the Supra lineup, including automated emergency braking. Additional features such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring can be added via the Driver Assistance package for $1195. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Standard automatic high-beam headlamps.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage:-
Although it shares much with the Z4, the Supra offers slightly longer powertrain coverage but falls behind the BMW with a shorter limited warranty and complimentary scheduled maintenance plan.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 2 years or 25,000 miles.
Pricing and Which One to Buy:-
- Supra 2.0: $45,000 (est.)
- Supra 3.0: $52,000 (est.)
- Supra 3.0 Premium: $55,000 (est.)
- Supra A91 Edition: $57,000 (est.)
Although there's little driving emotion lost with the new four-cylinder Supra 2.0, we can't speak of its value proposition as pricing has yet to be released. We predict that the inline-six will be worth the cost of the upgrade. We'd skip the Driver Assist package; it adds adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-centering assist that's more annoying than useful. With the purchase of a Supra comes a one-year membership to the National Auto Sport Association and a complimentary day at a high-performance driving event. The money saved by not optioning the Driver's Assist package would be wisely spent on additional track time and spare tires.
Is the Toyota Supra a Good Car?
Yes, the redesigned 2020 Toyota Supra is a great pick in the luxury sports car class. The Supra is a blast to drive, thanks to its powerful turbocharged six-cylinder engine, quick steering, and well-tuned suspension. This is a coupe that’s just as capable on a winding road as it is on a racetrack. It’s also quite practical for a sports car. The Supra has a comfortable two-seat interior, easy-to-use tech features, and a roomy hatchback cargo area. It returns great fuel economy as well.
It takes heavy nitpicking to name shortcomings. Some critics note that the Supra has limited visibility out of the side and rear windows, and that it can be challenging to get in and out of this low-slung coupe. But these are pretty common sports car critiques.
The Final Call:-
The 2020 Toyota GR Supra is more robust and thrilling than its smaller sibling, the Toyota 86. Its starting price also falls far below that of a similarly equipped Porsche Boxster or even the BMW Z4. This lower price comes as a blessing from Toyota's partnership with BMW, and results in no downgrades to engine power or handling. Though the Supra isn't as meaty as some of the higher-ranking luxury sports cars, it is still potent and very satisfying to drive.
Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.
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