Nuts and Bolts: Subaru BRZ
Bottom line: The Subaru BRZ and its co-developed twin, Toyota’s Scion FR-S, are niche cars designed for the young. The idea is to catch consumers as babies and bring them along to adulthood . . . when they will want and need something with more utility.
Ride, acceleration and handling: The BRZ Series Blue is fast, light, agile and a lot of fun to drive.
Head-turning quotient: It seriously reminds me of an elementary school rendering of a sports car — four wheels, pointed nose, sleek body.
Body style/layout: The Subaru BRZ is a subcompact, almost center-engine, rear-wheel-drive, lightweight performance car. It is offered in three trim levels — Premium, Limited and Series Blue.
Engine/transmissions: The Subaru BRZ comes with a 2-liter, horizontally opposed four-cylinder, 16-valve gasoline engine with variable valve timing (200 horsepower, 151 pound-feet of torque). The standard transmission is six-speed manual. A six-speed automatic that can be operated manually is optional.
Capacities: Seating is for four people, with a tight squeeze for the rear two passengers. Cargo capacity is 6.9 cubic feet with all seats in place. The fuel tank holds 13.2 gallons of gasoline. Premium grade is required.
Mileage: I averaged 33 miles per gallon in highway driving.
Safety: Standard equipment includes front and rear solid disc brakes; four-wheel anti-lock brake protection; emergency braking assistance; traction and stability control; xenon high-intensity-discharge headlamps; front fog/driving lights; and side and head air bags.
Pricing: The 2015 Subaru BRZ starts at $26,695, with an estimated dealer’s invoice price of $23,000.
Price as tested for the BRZ Series Blue, including $505 in options and an $800 factory-to-dealer shipment charge, is $28,000. Estimated dealer price as tested is $25,000. Note: Most Subaru dealers seem willing to bargain on this one.
— Warren Brown
