The 2021 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 is the car Toyota ought to have launched last year. There, I said it.
If you're one of the well-heeled among us who paid an excessive dealer markup on a 2020 Toyota GR Supra Launch Edition, well, sorry. Patience is a virtue and all that. The 2021 Supra 3.0 is more powerful, yes, but more important, it's more rewarding and just plain better to drive both around town and on a good winding road than the debut model.
Before we get too far into what changes Toyota made to the 2021 Supra and why they make it so much better to drive than the 2020 Supra, it'd be a worthwhile endeavor to look at what was wrong with the first year of fifth-generation Supras. The Supra's 12th-place finish at our 2019 Best Driver's Car competition was largely due to its poor suspension tuning.
So what has Toyota changed on the 2021 Supra? It's retuned the chassis and damper tuning, for starters. Then it changed the electric power steering, adaptive variable suspension, electronic stability control, and active differential programing. And finally, it added new front and rear bumpstops and aluminum braces that increase lateral rigidity. The end goal of these not-insignificant changes, Toyota says, was to increase roll resistance and improve cornering stability.
Making full use of its partnership with BMW, Toyota made some changes under the hood, as well, upping the power on the 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6, to 382 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque, up from 335 hp and 365 lb-ft in the 2020 model. The Supra's standard eight-speed automatic is unchanged.
For the 2020 owners who feel like they missed out on an extra 47 horsepower, fret not—Toyota claims the 2021 Supra 3.0 will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, a figure we matched in the 2020 car. I wouldn't expect more than a tenth of a second improvement for the 2021 model.
Not only is the extra power (likely) to be barely noticeable at the test track, from the seat of the pants the uprated turbocharged I-6 feels like the same Supra as before. There's just a breath of initial turbo lag followed by a steady surge of power as you climb to the six-cylinder's 7,000 rpm fuel shut-off—the engine's glorious, throaty wail accompanying you as speed builds. The Supra's eight-speed is great when left to its own devices in both its default drive mode and Sport. It shifts quickly and intelligently, though I did find myself grabbing the steering wheel-mounted paddles more than a few times so I could let its engine sing.
Where the 2021 changes really make themselves known is on a good winding road. Gone is the tail-wagging-the-dog sensation of the 2020 Supra. In its place is finally a planted, composed sports car. The Supra's chassis now settles nicely into a bend and tracks predictably, its firm but never harsh active suspension helping the Toyota feel planted and balanced.
Since you're now no longer chasing the Toyota's rear end, you can actually focus on your steering inputs. The Supra's steering isn't quite as light and nimble as you'd expect given the Supra's svelte lines and national origin (well, badging). It's accurate and precise, but it has a distinctively Germanic heft to it that's out of character with the sombrero logo on the hood—that's more of an observation than a criticism, to be clear.
Regardless, the Supra's steering is more linear and progressive when in Sport mode, and more eager to rotate with a little throttle application thanks to the active rear differential. The Toyota's default drive setting, in comparison, is like putting a blanket over a hi-fi home stereo system.
So how much does the new and improved Supra cost? Who knows? Toyota isn't talking pricing as of press time, but I can't imagine it'll cost anywhere near as much as what some early Supra buyers paid. Best guess is a minor price increase over the 2020 Supra 3.0's $50,945 starting price, which, while fair, still puts the 2021 GR Supra 3.0 up against tough customers like the Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE, Ford Mustang GT PP2, and BMW M240i.
Back when the 2020 Supra was introduced, Toyota promised that "driving enthusiasts can look forward to an exhilarating blend of power, precision, and agility thanks to a rear-wheel-drive design that honors Toyota sports car heritage." With the 2021 Supra 3.0, Toyota finally delivered on that promise.
| SPECIFICATIONS | 2021 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 (Premium) |
| BASE PRICE | $51,000 (MT est) |
| LAYOUT | Front-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door hatchback |
| ENGINE | 3.0L/382-hp/368-lb-ft turbocharged DOHC 24-valve I-6 |
| TRANSMISSION | 8-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT | 3,400 lb (mfr) |
| WHEELBASE | 97.2 in |
| L x W x H | 172.5 x 73.0 x 50.9 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.9 sec (mfr est) |
| EPA FUEL ECON, CITY/HWY | 22/30 mpg (MT est) |
| ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY | 153/112 kW-hrs/100 miles (est) |
| CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB | 0.78 lb/mile (est) |
| ON SALE | June, 2020 |
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