2021 Toyota Supra GR: 2.0 vs 3.0: Living the Kart Racing Life
Erica Mueller
|
When the Toyota Supra made a comeback in 2020, fans rejoiced.
And just one year later there’s even more to celebrate as the 2021 Toyota Supra 2.0 makes its debut. The 2.0 has the same sporty exterior and interior we’ve come to expect from the Supra but comes with a smaller engine, a lighter weight and fewer frills, which means you get better fuel economy on the road and a lower price at checkout.
But that doesn’t make it any less fun. As with any good roadster, it’s like a go-kart for every day driving.
Related: This is Why Everyone Is Gaga for the BMW-Inflected 2020 Toyota Supra
The sculpting around the lights, contrasting black bumpers and that spoiler combine to give the Supra one fine rear-end. 😉 ? Erica Mueller
What We Loved About the 2021 Toyota Supra 2.0 and 3.0
I was so excited about the bright red Supra 2.0 when it was delivered and I couldn’t wait to see why so many people love this little car. I fell in love on the first drive. The Supra may be small, but it is a bundle of fun thanks to its low profile, 50-50 weight distribution, and enough get up and go to make you feel like a real-life Mario Kart racer. Grinning ear to ear comes naturally while driving the Supra. My husband loved it too, but the 2.0’s plenty-powerful 255 horsepower engine could not prepare us for the 3.0 whose Nitro yellow exterior and larger engine with 127 more horsepower gave our driving experience a one-up!
The Supra is one good looking car. It turned heads everywhere we went. But I think the real selling point is the way it drives. Until you’ve been behind the wheel, you can not fully appreciate a Supra.
Fantastic Handling and Plenty of Speed
We love the way the Supra hugs the road and I so wish we’d been able to experience it on an autocross course because I know it would have been a blast to weave through some cones! Our country roads have a few nice curves, but like a Mario Kart circuit, you’ve got to watch out for the turtles. ?
The get-up-and-go in this car is probably one of the most delightfully surprising things about it. You don’t expect so much power from such a small car. It doesn’t have the engine of a muscle car or supercar, but it will easily overtake slower traffic and give you a real thrill if you are feeling a need for speed.
Related: If you love zippy little sports cars you need to check out the 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Edition Review: Go Ahead, Put the Top Down and Get Your Hair Messy
Holy smokes that’s a lot of trunk space for a small car! ? Erica Mueller
A Good Sized Trunk, Plus Behind-the-Seat Storage Make the Supra as Practical as It is Fun
Multiple times I used the trunk to get groceries for the family or haul my baby’s big stroller around. For a small sports car, the trunk is really big! One day I even picked up 3 large bags of chicken and dog food at the farm store, then went and got groceries too.
Oh, and it’s comfortable! Even my 6′ 2″ tall husband commented on how comfortable the molded sporty seats are and how he had plenty of room to stretch out. I think this is due to the extra space behind the seats. When I’m driving I can put all kinds of stuff back there… there’s even a little hook to hang a bag or two. This is the perfect spot for a backpack, purse, or some groceries. I put three cases of soda water behind the seat and probably could have put two more.
2021 Supra 2.0: The Supra Lightweight
The 2021 Supra 2.0 offers much more than a lower price point. Thanks to weight reduction across the car, and a smaller engine the 2.0 weighs just 3,181 pounds and maintains a near-perfect weight distribution. Because 2.0 is more than 200 pounds lighter than the Supra 3.0 you’ll also see a better fuel economy while driving. In addition to the engine and weight differences, there are a few technical differences too…
- The Supra 2.0 uses smaller front brake rotors than the Supra 3.0 (330mm x 24mm vs.
348mm x 36mm), and with single-piston calipers vs. four-piston. - The Supra 2.0 does not have the active differential and adaptive suspension used on the
3.0 model. - A four-speaker audio system is standard, vs. the Supra 3.0’s 10-speaker system.
- Supra 2.0 seats are manually adjustable, vs. 14-way power-adjustable in the 3.0
Related: Need a Sedan, but Want a Sports Car? Here’s an Affordable 4-door Sports Car: The 2019 Kia Stinger
When I pulled up to take this photo of the 2021 Toyota Supra 2.0, multiple people stopped to compliment the car. ? Erica Mueller
What You Need to Know About the 2021 Toyota Supra 2.0
- Our model was in Renaissance Red 2.0
- Engine: 2.0 Liter inline 4-cylinder with twin-scroll turbocharger
- 255 hp
- 18-in. cast-aluminum wheels
- 8.8-inch wide-format touchscreen display with Supra Command featuring AM/FM, Digital Audio, SiriusXM, and USB/Bluetooth Connectivity
- Four-speaker sound system
- Weighs 200 lbs less than the 3.0
- Glossy black auto-folding heated outside mirrors
- Dual rear exhaust outlets with polished stainless steel exhaust tips
- 8-way manual seat, 4-way lumbar
- Starting price: $42,990
The Nitro Yellow is my favorite. Seriously, all the heart-eyes for this one. ? Erica Mueller
What You Need to Know About the 2021 Toyota Supra 3.0
With 127 more horsepower than the 2.0 this little lightning bolt is ready to go places! And while some of the technical differences aren’t immediately noticeable, it does have slightly nicer seats and a better sound system.
- Nitro Yellow
- Engine: 3.0 Liter inline 6-cylinder with twin-scroll turbocharger
- 382 hp
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters
- 22/30/25 EPA estimated fuel economy (city/highway/combined MPG)
- 0-60 3.9 seconds
- 19-in. forged aluminum wheels
- Larger brakes
- 10-speaker HiFi sound system
- Matte black auto-folding, heated outside mirrors with memory
- Dual rear exhaust outlets with brushed stainless steel exhaust tips
- 14-way power-adjustable sport seat with driver seat memory with lumbar and bolster adjustment
- Starting price: $50,990
BASIC LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE
- 3-year/36,000-mile Comprehensive
- 5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain
- 5-year/unlimited-mileage Corrosion Perforation
- ToyotaCare – Complimentary maintenance plan with the purchase or lease of every new Toyota. For 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, every new Toyota will be covered for all normal factory scheduled service, as well as 24/7 roadside assistance.
Yes, the 3.0 was more fun to drive than the 2.0, but that doesn’t take away from the charm of the 2.0. It is as much fun as you need on country roads where you’ll meet the occasional turtle.
Disclosure: Toyota provided me with the 2021 Toyota Supra 2.0 and Supra 3.0 for a week each so that I could experience the differences and learn all about this amazing little car. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
