2021 Toyota Supra 2.0

July 1, 2020

Lindsay Brooke

“Is that the new two-liter Supra?” asked my neighbor when he first cast eyes on the screaming yellow test car in my driveway. He already knew that for 2021, Toyota has added a turbocharged 2.0-L 4-cylinder version of its reborn RWD sports coupe. It’s priced nearly $8,000 less than the 3.0-L six-cylinder Supra and also carries 200-lb (91 kg) less weight. Both engines come from Supra development partner BMW and share a ZF 8HP automatic transmission.

Ever since Supra was called ‘Celica Supra’ more than 40 years ago, it’s been both a 4- and 6-cylinder car. My preference in sporty cars tends to favor those with available power that’s slightly overmatched by chassis and braking potential; such is the case with the 255-hp/3,200-lb (190-kW/1,406 kg) Supra 2.0. Pushed hard into my favorite array of on-the gas freeway cloverleafs, the Supra’s a lively partner with easy-to-modulate thrust, impressive lateral grip and precise steering. Even on wet pavement, the car inspires confidence, telegraphing its intentions without surprise.

Drivers of the 2.0 won’t miss the torque-vectoring active differential that’s part of the six-cylinder Supra’s standard spec. Nor will front brake rotors that are just 18-mm (0.7-in) smaller and squeezed by mere single-piston calipers (vs. four-piston) matter in a car with two fewer cylinders and 127 horse-power less. I’ll argue that the Supra 2.0 is better for its simplicity: not having adaptive suspension and 14-way power adjustable seats make it more of a purist’s delight.