When Subaru was handing out AWD systems somehow the BRZ was left out of the mix. Whether this car wasn’t invited to that party because it’s the ugly duckling of the bunch or Subaru simply ran out of AWD systems and said “tough luck” is hard to understand, but the result is actually magnificent. Like the ugly duckling, as the BRZ was formed and grew up it became a beautiful swan of a car, that is if a swan were an affordable and seriously impressive sports car that offers the 2 + 2 seating that’s desires in the sports car world.
When you look for the fun you can have from behind the wheel the Subaru BRZ should make the top of your list nearly every time you shop. This is a car that offers you the looks, the feel, the drive, the energy and the price you want to pay. This is one way you can easily see that you don’t need to have a high tech V8 in order to have a party in a car. Moving into this new model year the BRZ has been upgraded with some front and rear style improvements, a new steering wheel, a reinforced chassis, and a new limited edition Series.Yellow model that will be offered in only 500 units.
When was the last time you saw a sports car that started out with a price under $30,000? The BRZ comes at you with a price that starts at $26,315 for the base Premium model and moves up to the Limited trim for $28,465. Adding the automatic transmission to the package will bring the price to $29,565 and the Performance Package adds $1,195 but is only for the manual models. Even the Series.Yellow, which is a limited edition model, is fairly inexpensive at only $30,515 making the BRZ an affordable sports car for you.
It’s a sports car so we have to talk about the engine, but this one might surprise you. The power fir the BRZ comes from a 2.0-liter flat four-cylinder engine. That’s it, no turbocharging, no direct injection, just a naturally aspirated small four with the only trick being the “boxer” layout which brings the center of gravity lower on the car to keep it firmly on the road. This engine allows you to have 200 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque with the automatic transmission and 205 horsepower and 156 lb.-ft. of torque for the manual. The fuel numbers are 21 city/29 hwy mpg for the manual and 24 city/33 hwy mpg for the automatic, making this a sports car you can drive on a daily basis.
Starting at the Premium model you will have the benefit of a Starlink 6.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an eight-speaker audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and auxiliary ports, a rearview camera, a Torsen limited slip differential, 17-inch wheels, cruise control and a leather wrapped shift handle and steering wheel. The Limited model adds Alcantara and leather to the seats, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate controls, LED fog lights, a security system, push button starting and a 4.2-inch color display for the gauges along with red interior trim.
There isn’t much in the way of options for the BRZ; there is the automatic transmission that can be had on the Limited model only. The Performance Package adds black alloy wheels, Brembo brakes and Sachs front and rear shocks for the manual transmission models. Of course the new Series.Yellow is a car you’ll want to get your hands on, but you have to be quick with this limited number being built.
This car is one of the most fun for you to drive, especially considering the price. This is a car that will tear up the corners and is perfect if you live near an area with some serious curves in the road. The performance of this car is meant to show up others in this area and will show you the stiffness of the suspension and how dynamic the steering can be to give you the drive you’ve been looking for. With the BRZ you won’t feel like you can’t push it, this car wants you to challenge it and let you enjoy what it gives you in return.
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