Overview

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.



What's New for 2020?

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.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

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.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

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.

View Photos Marc Urbano Car and Driver

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.

View Photos Marc Urbano Car and Driver

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

More Features and Specs