2021 introduced exciting changes for the new Toyota Supra, biggest of all was the debut of a 2.0-liter variant. The same one that’s been available in Europe and Japan since the A90 generation Supra launched a few years back. I guess with all that extra horsepower and engineering refinement in the I6, top-spec Supra, Toyota thought it wise to make accessible a more affordable, lesser-powered option.
That’s not to say it’s a couch potato. Far from it, with almost 300 lb-ft of torque, available early on, thanks to the zippy twin-scroll turbo, this four cylinder Supra can still push you back in your seat. Other changes were made to keep the cost down, and eliminate components less important for a lower powered car. These included: smaller brakes, scaled down 18” wheels, different spring and damper tuning, no adaptive suspension and a mechanical rather than electronic limited-slip differential. Expectedly, these changes also helped lower the curb weight of the Supra by over 200 lbs. Important when trying to squeeze every bit of performance from the 255 hp.
The 2.0L engine is identical to the BMW Z4 30i from which it’s derived. Also like the BMW, the four-cylinder Supra enhances engine noise through the stereo. Sprinkling in some lift-throttle popping in Sport mode to augment the thrill and fantasy even more. Opinions will be split on how successful they were at accomplishing this, but I found the effect to be fairly convincing.
From the outside, the Toyota Supra retains its bulbous proportions. With flared, sensual lines, a long nose and short deck. Striking and menacing as always. On the inside, sporty seats come trimmed with Alcantara leather. They fit snug, keeping you firmly in place with 8-way manual adjustability to help you find that perfect driving position. A large piece of polished carbon fiber adorns the center console. Wrapping around the shift knob, cup holders and various dials and rotary buttons. A generous piece of interior trim for the entry-level Supra. I’m so glad they decided against something cheap and plastic in an effort to save money, as the carbon fiber screams ‘sports car’ and is the definitive statement piece of the whole interior.
As improved as the inline six version of the Supra is, the availability of the 2.0L turbo is sure to entice many buyers who would’ve otherwise felt that the Supra was out of reach. It’s still plenty fast, drives great, feels light on its feet and sounds excellent for a lower displacement engine thanks to the audio tricks mentioned above. Nothing about the base Supra feels very base at all. Instead, with a price under 50K, we’re sure to be seeing many more of those pretty little two-seaters scooting around town.
Price as tested: $47,615.00
