Way back in 2012, Subaru surprised the world with a new sports car. Instead of using the brand's signature and highly successful symmetrical all-wheel drive, the BRZ would be a traditional lightweight rear-wheel drive sports coupe. It was a gamble on an entirely new market for Subaru, and it has paid off handsomely.
The Subaru BRZ was co-developed with Toyota, and essentially the same car has also been sold as a Scion and then as a Toyota. The cars are both produced in the same Subaru factory in Japan, but there are substantial differences in the suspension tuning and interiors.
As a lightweight sports car, the BRZ won't blow anyone away with high horsepower numbers. In the world where 500 horsepower doesn't even get headlines, the BRZ offers 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque from a naturally aspirated flat-opposed "boxer" four-cylinder engine. Honestly, that's less than a lot of boring minivans. But horsepower numbers aren't the whole story. The BRZ is also available with a 6-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential, and its comparatively light weight makes it agile and quick, rather than fast like a muscle car. For a driving enthusiast, it's just about perfect.
The BRZ is technically a four-seat car, but the rear seats are pretty small. For practical purposes, you can consider the BRZ a two-seat car with the ability to carry four in a real pinch. However, the front seats are comfortable and there's plenty of space for the front passengers.
On the dash, the BRZ offers an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system. New for 2024, Subaru’s advanced EyeSight adaptive cruise control and safety system is included with the manual transmission BRZ as well as the automatic. If you're wondering, the automatic does just as well on a race track as the manual, so now there’s no reason not to choose the gearbox you really want.
The best performance comes from the tS package, which was on the BRZ we tested. This is the top trim level, about $2,000 more than the Limited trim with automatic transmission, and $3,000 more than the Limited with a manual. The manual transmission is the only gearbox offered with the tS. You don't get any more horsepower than on the base trim, but if you're a sports car enthusiast there is plenty more to talk about.
The tS comes equipped with STI-tuned front and rear suspension, plus a high-performance Brembo braking system, including gold-painted 4-piston front calipers, gold-painted 2-piston rear calipers and larger pads and rotors. The BRZ tS also comes with 18-inch wheels in dark gray metallic finish mounted with 215/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires for superior grip and steering response.
In addition to the performance goodies, the BRZ tS also includes heated exterior power mirrors; an upgraded audio system that includes a 2-channel amplifier and two additional speakers. Standard safety features on this trim include blind spot detection with lane keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert as well as steering responsive headlights with automatic high beam assistance.
On the road, the new BRZ is a pleasure to drive. The engine provides plenty of power to bring a smile to your face on a hill climb drive, while the suspension is firm, but not too firm. This car is comfortable and rides more smoothly than you would expect for its size. Any BRZ is good, but the BRZ tS is a triumph of engineering and design, and well worth your consideration if you’re interested in a sports car.
But there's another factor to consider, and that's the weather. We live with a long winter and rainy season that often stretches into June. The BRZ handles weather like a champ, and the basic coupe design with a real trunk in the back doesn't leak like some hatchbacks and convertibles. The combination of a lightweight sports coupe with the fixed roof really makes the BRZ the perfect sports car for the Pacific Northwest.
2024 Subaru BRZ tS/RZR
Base price: $30,195
Price as tested: $36,465
Type: Sport coupe
Engine: 2.4-liter four-cylinder (228 hp, 184 lbs-ft)
Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic
EPA estimated mileage: 20/27
Overall length: 167.9 inches
Curb weight: 2,835 pounds
Final assembly: Gunma, Japan
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