2021 Toyota Supra GR 3.0 Premium

They hype surrounding the launch of the first new Supra in decades might have seen overblow if the car itself wasn’t so good. But thankfully it is.

By Isaac Bouchard

Toyota appears to have gotten the style just right; the ultra-long hood, sweeping roofline with its “double bubble” shape (inspired by the need for helmet clearance in race cars) and voluptuous fenders all draw massive amounts of positive attention. While there are a few too many cutlines and faux vents, that hasn’t apparently had any impact on desirability. Inside the Supra are high quality materials and supportive seats. Sightlines through the wrap-around windshield and sloping side glass are inspiring, as is the view over that hood. Performance doesn’t disappoint; the inline six, despite having a single turbo, is massively endowed with torque, rocketing the Supra off the line with all the gratuitous wheelspin one could desire; the 3-liter is linear in power delivery and revs with real verve. When this 5^th-generation Supra debuted as a 2020, the engine was rated at 335hp, yet it ripped to 60 in 3.7-3.9 seconds, depending on who was doing the testing—very surprising based on its weight of 3,300 pounds. For ’21, Toyota updates the engine with a new exhaust manifold and pistons that increase compression ratio, raising power to 382 ponies. Torque increases 3lb-ft to 368. The only tranny is a German 8-speed from legendary company ZF, but it’s a peach. There are perfect automatic shifts when one cant be bothered to use the paddles, and it is very responsive in manual mode, if not quite as precise as a twin-clutch gearbox. The new 3.0 doesn’t turn in substantially different test numbers to 60, but the extra power shows up in high quarter mile trap speeds, which increase about 5mph, to 115. Time to that marker is now a smokin’ 12.3 seconds.

As nice as the extra power is, the real changes are to the chassis; reprograming of the limited slip differential, steering and stability control leverage new hardware, including strut tower braces, revised damping (adjustable in the 3.0) and new bump stops. The new Supra is more composed over rough roads, follows the driver’s intended line better and is more predictable once the tail starts to slide. And slide it does, perhaps too much. Toyota obviously intended the Supra to appeal to the Fast and Furious crowd, but its willingness to rotate (like many Jaguars) limits the cornering speeds and lap times it can generate and makes it a real handful for drivers of all skill levels. For many, it might be best to leave the stability control in the Sport setting, just to have a safety net while playing. But since purchase of a Supra gets the lucky owner a membership in one of the country’s best organizations for track day driving (NASA) and a free day of instruction, there is plenty of scope for future skills honing and the chance to turn all the electronics nannies off in a safe environment. The 5^th-generation Supra is a compelling, rewarding driver’s car. It can be fun for those of any level of ability, but rewards those who have swift, sure hands on the wheels and deft feet on the pedals. It is fuel efficient, seems to be reliable, has just enough room inside for a helmet bag and other track day gear and one can get all the modern drivers’ aids and other technology needed for our fraught traffic environment. At its price point it provides excellent value, too.

EPA Ratings: 22/30/25mpg

0-60mph: 3.7sec

Price as tested: $57,185

Here is what Toyota has to say.

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Contact Isaac Bouchard for help saving time, money and hassle when buying or leasing one at [email protected]

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