WASHINGTON — The Subaru BRZ is the small and light alternative to the big, powerful muscle car.
Last time we looked at the Toyota 86 and you will think to yourself, “Didn’t we just see this car in a different color?” While they are built together and share many of the same parts, they each have a slightly different look inside and out.
The Subaru BRZ has been around for nearly five years now, and this year it sees a few upgrades. Like the Toyota version, a few extra ponies are under the hood. With five more ponies than before it’s hard to tell if it really improves the performance; some different gearing makes it seem a bit quicker. A six-speed manual is standard and is a quick shifting gearbox; the clutch take up is a very small area so it requires a few miles to get used to.
The BRZ isn’t the quickest RWD coupe when compared to a Mustang or Camaro but the smaller size makes it seem very nimble and you can easily see out of the Subaru.
A new optional performance package adds Brembo brakes, SACHS front struts and rear shocks for an extra $1,195 to the base $27,645 price tag. The brakes are worth the extra money alone. Those brakes haul down the small coupe with authority.
The suspension upgrades help in the bends though the ride is a bit firm. It could have been the different tires but the Subaru BRZ seems a bit more hushed on the highway than the Toyota 86. Fuel economy is strength of the BRZ. I managed 28.1 mpg in a week which is better than the 24 mpg on the sticker. Premium fuel is recommended for this coupe.
Styling of the Subaru BRZ differs from its Toyota cousin. The Subaru is a bit more aggressive with a small rear wing and rear lower fascia. It’s also stylish with the integrated backup lights. The front end is clean and it seems to have shorter overhangs giving the appearance of a smaller car. Now with LED lighting there is a cleaner light cluster up front that adds a nice visual appearance.
Fog lights are small and nicely tucked into the front lower grill area. With the dark gray paint on the Subaru it doesn’t stand out as much as last week’s Toyota version. Still, the Subaru has a more serious look and the red Brembo brake calipers hint at its sporty nature. If the BRZ Limited isn’t flashy enough, Subaru will sell you BRZ tS that add a lot of carbon fiber bits to dress up the exterior.
Subaru has given some attention to the interior of the BRZ. It’s, again, not the largest interior but those sitting upfront have decent space. The vision out of the car is surprisingly good but get used to looking at bumpers of trucks and SUVs. The materials are a nice quality and the leather and Alcantara-trimmed seats are a good look. Those seats are a bit stiff at first but I found them comfortable and they hold you in place. Those seats might feel tight for larger drivers and passengers. Back seats are for smaller children and you still might have to move the front seats forward.
With the Limited trim level I drove, which is under $30,000 and almost the same price as the Toyota version, comes heated seats and mirrors so this can also easily driven in colder weather. The one thing this car doesn’t have is the Eyesight system you can have with other Subaru models. So while it has cruise control it’s not the radar version that keeps a safe speed and distance for you. There is a 6.2-inch touch screen for the rear vision camera and the radio controls are easy to use. Easy climate control knobs and cool toggle switches add to the sporty vibe inside.
The Subaru BRZ is a small coupe that’s main mission is to be a fun-driving car. After a week I found that to be true. With modest power and easy handling limits, the little BRZ is a delight to drive and its novel for the driver to be in charge. Just don’t expect a comfy family car with all the bells and whistles.
Editor’s Note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI ,FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
