2021 Toyota GR Supra Review

　　

2021 Toyota GR Supra Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　After more than two decades off the market, Toyota finally released the newest version of its preeminent sports car — now dubbed the GR Supra — for the 2020 model year. After taking the GR Supra to our track and subjecting it to instrument testing, we praised its rapid acceleration, quick steering and sublime handling.

　　Now Toyota is widening the Supra's appeal. For 2021, Toyota is adding an entry-level trim level — the Supra 2.0 — that comes with a 255-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine to join the existing turbocharged inline-six. Buyers set on the six-cylinder Supra 3.0 will be rewarded with an increase of nearly 50 hp. It now thumps out 382 hp and further gains revised suspension tuning to help it be more buttoned-down and confident both on and off the track. There's also a new limited-edition A91 appearance package with racy carbon-fiber bits, special graphics and a unique paint color. Read our Expert Rating below for the full breakdown on all the Supra's hits and misses.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the GR Supra drive? The Supras of the past were more about straight-line speed than nimble handling, but this latest incarnation succeeds at both. In zzdcar testing, our Supra in Premium trim rocketed to 60 mph in a quick 4.4 seconds. A power bump for 2021 makes traction off the line a bit more scarce but improves the Supra's top end by a noticeable margin.

　　Around turns, the steering wheel communicates a fair amount of information from the front tires to your hands, and the revised tuning makes it respond more naturally. The revised suspension is also better at retaining grip but feels no less lively, meaning better cornering and less of an immediate tendency to oversteer. The brakes and sticky tires can haul the Supra to a stop from 60 mph in just 105 feet, though for heavier use, like track driving, it would probably benefit from upgraded brake pads. The Supra isn't strictly a weekend car, however. It's something you can drive with little effort every day.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the GR Supra? The seats provide excellent support, but you might find them a bit confining around your shoulders. It's not too noticeable when driving at speed, but it's apparent when cruising around. The leather upholstery isn't perforated, so its breathability isn't great. The ride quality is firm but not harsh. Because you sit so close to the rear axle, big vertical movements feel more pronounced.

　　We wouldn't call this a quiet cabin since there's a fair amount of road and wind noise, but it's not unpleasantly loud either. It lets in the right amount of induction noise and exhaust burbles when you're driving in Sport mode. As for the climate control system, there's no obvious way to sync its two zones, which is odd. It could stand to be a tick stronger at max fan speed too.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Those familiar with BMW's older iDrive system will feel right at home with the Supra's infotainment. But if you're a first-time user, you'll need to get acquainted with the system's menu layout. All other controls are pretty straightforward.

　　The Supra's doors are a little shorter than average and fairly light. Even if you're of average height, you may need to watch your head, but at least the seat bolsters don't impede access. In general, spaciousness is not this car's greatest strength. The Porsche Cayman and BMW M2, for example, do a better job of making a cockpit feel roomy.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The navigation system is pretty good at understanding natural language commands, and it locates specific points of interest without an address. It's easy to use the voice commands to set up your route. Our test Supra had the 12-speaker premium audio system. The audio quality is fine, but it lacks the fullness we'd expect for an upgrade system. As for integration, there's one USB port, an optional wireless charger and wireless Apple CarPlay. Android Auto is now offered.

　　The Supra's adaptive cruise control is optional, and it works effectively. It's more aggressive than most systems and can keep a small gap between you and the car ahead if you want it to. It also works all the way down to a stop. Lane keeping assist isn't quite as effective. It'll mitigate lane crossing but doesn't really keep you centered.

　　

Storage

5.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Sports cars are usually compromised when it comes to cargo space, and the Supra is no exception. The Supra has less trunk space (10.2 cubic feet) than the Porsche Cayman and the BMW M2. There is a cargo pass-through to the cabin that you can use when hauling longer items. But you'll have to rest those items on the rear-suspension tower brace.

　　The small-item storage space is even more deficient in the cabin. The cupholders are located where an armrest bin would typically be. And if you store drinks in them, they will interfere with operating the infotainment system controls. A wireless device charging pad is standard on Premium models and up, but plus-size phones won't really fit in it. The door pockets and glovebox are also small.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Fuel efficiency is not an area we expected the Supra to shine in, but shine it does. It returns an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined (24 city/31 highway). In our testing, we observed an impressive 29 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation loop. This matches what we observed in 2020 Supra even though this newer model gains 47 additional horsepower. This also trounces the BMW M2 Competition (20 mpg combined) and even outperforms the base-model Porsche Cayman (24 mpg combined).

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the GR Supra a good value? The Supra's cabin looks more BMW than Toyota, but it's still a pleasant space that delivers a luxury-level look and feel. The carbon-fiber trim that's included in all six-cylinder cars is a nice touch, and it helps make the Supra seem a bit more special than your average coupe. Even if you buy the base-level Supra with the four-cylinder, you're getting a heck of a bargain.

　　Toyota's warranty coverage is a trade-off compared to competitors. There's less bumper-to-bumper coverage but better powertrain coverage. Two years of scheduled maintenance is also included.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　The new Supra mostly delivers on its promises. Sure, there is a lot of obvious BMW DNA here, but that doesn't make it any less of a car if you value performance and swoopy styling. The Supra's appeal is undeniable for the price. It's properly quick and lively, yet it's also mostly comfortable enough to be your daily driver so long as you don't need to take much with you or spend a lot of time on bad roads.

　　

Which GR Supra does zzdcar recommend?

While the base 2.0-liter model and the more powerful 3.0-liter Supra are certainly entertaining, we recommend the midlevel 3.0 Premium trim. On top of the standard 3.0 equipment, the Premium adds a center touchscreen, smartphone compatibility, and a number of desirable features such as heated seats and leather upholstery.

　　

2021 Toyota GR Supra models

The 2021 Toyota Supra is a two-seat sport coupe available in four trim levels: base 2.0, 3.0, 3.0 Premium and A91 Edition. The base 2.0 Supra uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque), while all other trims use a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder (382 hp, 368 lb-ft). Both engines come connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and send power to the rear wheels. Highlight features include:

　　2.0

　　Starts you off with:

　　18-inch wheels LED headlights Manually adjustable seats Dual-zone automatic climate control 8.8-inch center screen Four-speaker sound system One USB port (1.5 amps) Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Cruise controlStandard feature highlights for the base 3.0 include:

　　Adaptive suspension dampers 10-speaker stereo A more powerful USB port (2.1 amps) Power-adjustable seats with driver-seat memory functions Brembo four-piston front brakes Front strut tower braceThe 3.0 Premium gets the following upgrades:

　　Larger rear brakes Heated seats and full leather upholstery Touchscreen version of the 8.8-inch infotainment display with navigation Wireless smartphone charging Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility 12-speaker JBL audio system Head-up displayThe A91 Edition trim loses the Premium's head-up display but adds: 

　　Carbon-fiber exterior mirrors Carbon-fiber rear spoiler Leather and faux suede seats with blue stitching Sport pedalsFor 2.0 and 3.0 models, the Safety and Technology package adds:

　　The Premium's touchscreen interface, 12-speaker stereo and smartphone connectivity Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Supra and the car in front) Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse) Parking sensorsThe Driver Assist package adds the aforementioned safety equipment for the Premium and A91 Edition models.

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2021 GR Supra Highlights

Trim: 2.03.03.0 PremiumA91 Edition2.0

　　

Base MSRP	$42,990
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$168/month
Seating	2 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles