Item: Subaru BRZ
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Subaru BRZ

Toyota GT86

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

<p>The BRZ is priced to compete with coupes such as the Audi TT and Nissan 370Z but it’s unlikely to hold its value as well as the Audi. Claimed fuel consumption of 36.2mpg means the BRZ will cost you more to run than the TT, while higher CO2 emissions mean higher tax bills for company car drivers.</p>

<p>Subaru’s reliability record is the envy of the motor industry, so you should have very few worries on that score. The interior feels very solidly put together too, even if it doesn’t feel very plush.</p>

<p>Unlike Toyota, Subaru only offers one trim level (comparable to the range-topping GT86 Pro), which comes with heated Alcantara seats, a suede dashboard and a new rear spoiler. Alloy wheels, climate control, keyless entry, cruise control, electric front windows and a Bluetooth phone connection also come as standard. For reference, a similarly specced Toyota would cost over £1500 more. That said, sat-nav is still an option, as are parking sensors and metallic paint.</p>

<p>The BRZ comes with an impressive amount of safety equipment. Stability control is standard, and if you still manage to get the car out of shape, there are no less than seven airbags to protect you. Active anti-whiplash headrests are included, too. Security kit is also pretty good, with an electronic engine immobiliser and alarm being provided as standard.</p>

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<p>The BRZ comes with a 2.0-litre horizontally opposed flat-four engine. It produces a modest 197bhp, but because the BRZ is also relatively light, that's more than enough puff to produce speedy 0-62mph times. You'll need to rev it until it's about to explode to produce these kind of figures, though. That's because the engine is very lazy lower down in the rev range – let the engine drop below 4500rpm and you’ll wonder what happened to all the go. Thankfully, there is a six-speed manual gearbox with well-chosen ratios (a six-speed auto is optional).</p>

<p>The BRZ feels slightly less at ease over lumps and bumps at low speeds than the GT86 because of its marginally firmer suspension, but it also feels that little bit sharper as speeds build. The lightweight and classic sports car layout (engine at the front, driven wheels at the back) gives the BRZ real agility, and the fast throttle response and quick, weighty steering help, too. The rear-wheel drive layout is also great fun if you venture onto a track, but on a public road, it can’t quite match an Audi TT for refinement.</p>

<p>The engine sounds pretty good when you thrash it, which is just as well, because you’ll be thrashing it a lot of the time. However, the engine is very audible when cruising on the motorway, plus you have to put up with a cacophony of road and wind noise.</p>

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Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

At the heart of the BRZ is a 2.0-litre flat-four engine that makes 197bhp and 151lb ft. It’s characterful and free revving, with good throttle response and an addictive growl. Paired with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, it’s also available with a six-speed automatic.

http://example.com

2.0i

<p>If you're looking for a compact, low-weight, sensibly priced sports coupe that places driver enjoyment above just about everything else, take a look at the Subaru BRZ. It's the other half of the now iconic joint venture that resulted in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/toyota">Toyota</a> launching the widely popular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/gt86/coupe/review/n17238">GT86</a>.</p>

<p>Like its GT86 sister, the front-engined, rear-wheel drive 2+2 BRZ is powered by a 197bhp 2.0-litre flat four. It’s an engine that needs working hard if you want to make swift progress, but the BRZ is more about handling than straight-line speed. With its classical layout, it’s tremendously engaging to drive on twisty roads, and a rewarding machine on track.</p>

<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5pEM8Tsx2Ng"></iframe></p>

<p>For a sports car it’s well equipped, too. There is only one trim available, which is comparable to the range topping, and significantly more expensive, Toyota GT86 Pro.</p>

<p>Read on over the next few pages to get our in depth impressions of the BRZ, and to see how it compares with rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/coupe/review/n12">Audi TT</a> and its near-identical Toyota sibling.</p>

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<p>The low-slung driving position is spot on, thanks to the chunky sports steering wheel and superbly supportive sports seats. Some taller drivers may find the steering wheel doesn't have quite enough height adjustment, though. Most of the switchgear is simply arranged, but the touch-screen infotainment system is tricky to use due to its small on-screen icons.</p>

<p>As you might expect from Subaru, the interior feels very solidly put together, even if it doesn’t feel very plush. The materials surrounding the driver and the dashboard aren’t very appealing, and you’ll either love or hate the dated interior design.</p>

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Coupe

<p dir="ltr">Once best known for its flame-spitting, rally-bred Imprezas, Subaru’s focus now is on cars that will appeal to a far wider audience, and especially one that values go-anywhere ability and no-nonsense values above all others.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The result is a mixed bag of offerings, none of which rise beyond being average in their class but most of which have facets that make them stand out from their rivals. Core to its range are the Forester and Outback SUVs, while the Levorg is a more conventional estate.</p>

<p dir="ltr">At other extremes, there’s also the BRZ, an entertaining coupé that is let down by its price and resale values, and of course the Impreza, which comes in a variety of forms, including a hot model.</p>


SUBARU

<p>The Subaru BRZ just pips the almost identical Toyota GT86, thanks to its tighter handling. It's great fun on the right roads</p>


<p>There's a good amount of space in the front of the BRZ, with plenty of leg room and decent head room. Longer journeys can be completed in relative comfort, especially when compared to the cramped Mazda MX-5.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, despite the impressive space up front, the back seats are next-to-useless. Head and leg room are far too tight for adults, and foot space is even tighter. You’re better off using these seats as extra luggage space, but you shouldn’t need to very often - the boot is a decent size at 243 litres.</p>

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SE Lux Ltd

se-lux-ltd

The Subaru BRZ just pips the almost identical Toyota GT86, thanks to its tighter handling. It's great fun on the right roads

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

<p>Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.</p>

<p>Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.</p>

<p>For a blend of&nbsp;rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for,&nbsp;the Audi TT is a brilliant option. But the Mercedes CLA offers plenty of style and substance to match, while the Aston Martin DB11 will give you serious performance.</p>

Subaru BRZ review

Introduction

What Car? says...