The 2021 Toyota Supra is the second year of the fifth-generation A90, the rear-wheel-drive sports coupe Toyota revived after a 17-year gap and sells under its Gazoo Racing banner. It is a production car rather than a concept, although it traces its styling and positioning to a lineage of concept cars: the 2007 FT-HS, the 2014 FT-1 and the GR Supra Racing Concept shown at Geneva in March 2018. For 2021 Toyota raised power on the six-cylinder model and added a four-cylinder entry version, making the lineup a genuine two-tier sports-car range.
What the 2021 Supra Is
The A90 Supra was co-developed with BMW and is built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, on the same line as the BMW Z4 (G29). Toyota markets it as the GR Supra and uses the A90/A91 name for continuity even though the internal codes are J29 and DB. Production began in March 2019; the car was unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January 2019 and reached US dealers on 22 July 2019 with a base price of $49,990. The 2021 model, announced on 17 June 2020, was the first update to that car.
Interior and Cabin
The Supra is a strict two-seater. The cabin is compact and driver-focused, with the seating position set low between a wide transmission tunnel and a high center console. For 2021 Toyota made the 8.8-inch central touchscreen standard on all models, dropping the 6.5-inch unit that had equipped the previous base car. The six-cylinder cars came with fourteen-way power-adjustable seats and a ten-speaker audio system, while the four-cylinder used manual seats and four speakers.
The interior is one area where the Supra shows its BMW parentage, since many switches and much of the electronics hardware are shared with the Z4, even though Toyota designed the seats, steering wheel and overall layout. The A91 Edition added a black Alcantara-trimmed interior with blue contrast stitching, available only on that trim.
Exterior and Design
The fifth-generation Supra is a fastback coupe with a short wheelbase, a wide track and a double-bubble roof. European technical data lists it at 4,379 mm long, 1,854 mm wide and 1,292 mm tall on a 2,470 mm wheelbase. Toyota aimed for a 50:50 front-to-rear weight balance and a low center of gravity, and the exterior vents and ducts were carried over from the racing prototype partly so that aftermarket owners could make them functional. The design is often compared with the FT-1 concept, though the production car is smaller and more compact than that show car.
Engine and Performance
Toyota offers two BMW-sourced engines. For 2021 it increased the output of the six and introduced the four:
- 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six (B58): 382 hp at 5,800–6,500 rpm and 368 lb-ft at 1,800–5,000 rpm
- 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four (B48): 255 hp at 5,000–6,500 rpm and 295 lb-ft at 1,550–4,400 rpm
- Both use an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with paddle shifters and rear-wheel drive
- Top speed: electronically limited to 155 mph on both models
Toyota projected a 0–60 mph time of 3.9 seconds for the 3.0 and 5.0 seconds for the lighter 2.0. Independent testing has been quicker still: Car and Driver recorded 3.7 seconds to 60 mph for the 3.0 in December 2019, and 4.7 seconds for the 2.0 in an August 2020 test. German magazine Sport Auto set a 7:52.17 Nürburgring Nordschleife lap in a 2020 Supra on factory Michelin tires.
Release Date, Price and Trims
The 2021 Supra was announced in June 2020 and arrived at dealers that summer. The 2.0 opened the range at $42,990, while the 3.0 started at $50,990, the 3.0 Premium at $54,490 and the A91 Edition at $55,990. The A91 was limited to 1,000 cars and came in Nocturnal or Refraction paint, the latter exclusive to the edition, with a black carbon-fiber lip spoiler, matte black wheels, carbon-fiber mirror caps and special C-pillar graphics. Toyota also offered a Safety & Technology Package on the 2.0 and 3.0. That package bundled full-speed adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors with emergency braking, navigation and a twelve-speaker JBL audio system.
How It Was Received
The A90 Supra gathered several awards in its early years. Auto Bild gave it the Golden Steering Wheel for Best New Sports Car in 2019, it was named to Car and Driver’s 10Best list for both 2020 and 2021, and Sport Auto named it Best Handling Car of 2020. Its chief criticism from reviewers has centered on the four-cylinder’s price relative to its power rather than on the chassis, which was widely praised for its balance and steering.
Related Toyota reviews on this site: 2021 Toyota Corolla Review, 2021 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Review, and Toyota Review.
Background and the End of Production
The Supra nameplate dates to the Celica Supra of the late 1970s and was last used on the A80, which ended production in 2002. Toyota spent years considering a successor, showing the FT-HS in 2007 and the FT-1 in 2014 before deciding to share development with BMW. The production A90 ran from March 2019 to March 2026, after which Toyota ended the model with no direct replacement announced. That makes any 2021 example part of a completed run, which is useful to know for buyers weighing long-term parts supply and depreciation.
