Subaru BRZ Review: The Analog Sports Car Everyone’s Been Secretly Waiting For

Traffic crawls, the lane?keep beeps again, and your car’s giant touchscreen nags you about a software update. Somewhere between driver aids, drive modes, and digital dashboards, you stopped feeling like you were actually driving. You’re just… supervising a computer on wheels.

If you’ve ever caught yourself missing the days when steering was alive, throttle response was instant, and weight actually transferred when you turned the wheel, you’re not alone. Modern cars are safer and faster than ever—but they’re also heavier, taller, busier. The fun has been engineered out in favor of comfort and convenience.

That’s the itch the Subaru BRZ is built to scratch.

This is a low, compact, rear?wheel?drive coupe that’s obsessed with one idea: making you feel connected again. No fake engine sounds, no overcomplicated drive modes, no towering ride height—just a light chassis, a naturally aspirated engine, and a driving position that makes you want to take the long way home, every single time.

Meet the Subaru BRZ: A Modern Classic Sports Car

The Subaru BRZ is Subaru’s purist-friendly 2+2 sports coupe, co-developed with Toyota’s GR86. Where Subaru usually leans into all-wheel drive and rugged practicality, the BRZ goes in a completely different direction: low weight, rear?wheel drive, and sharp handling that rewards skill rather than horsepower bragging rights.

On Subaru’s official German site, the current BRZ is positioned as a driver’s car first and foremost: compact dimensions, a low center of gravity, rear?wheel drive, and a 2.4?liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine paired with either a 6?speed manual or 6?speed automatic transmission (depending on market). Its design is low and wide, with a long hood, short rear deck, pronounced rear haunches, and aero?inspired sculpting that’s more functional than flashy.

Online reviews and owner forums tell a consistent story: the Subaru BRZ isn’t about straight?line dominance; it’s about precision, feedback, and fun at realistic speeds. It solves a simple but surprisingly rare problem in today’s market—how do you build a modern car that still feels analog, communicative, and playful?

Why this specific model?

The sports?car segment is crowded with turbocharged hot hatches, muscle cars, and tech?heavy performance sedans. So why choose the Subaru BRZ specifically?

1. It’s built around balance, not brute force.
The BRZ’s 2.4?liter Subaru Boxer engine (as listed on Subaru’s site) isn’t about headline?grabbing power numbers. Instead, it’s mounted low and set back to create a very low center of gravity and near?ideal weight distribution. In the real world, that means the car feels eager to turn, stable mid?corner, and genuinely confidence?inspiring—whether you’re threading an on?ramp or carving a back road.

2. Rear?wheel drive the way it’s supposed to be.
Subaru is famous for all?wheel drive, but the BRZ intentionally goes rear?wheel drive only. That layout, combined with a limited?slip differential (check your local market spec), gives you the classic sports?car feel: you steer with the front, adjust your line with the throttle, and learn to trust what the chassis is telling you. It’s playful, predictable, and teaches you to be a better driver.

3. Light weight in a heavy world.
Most modern performance cars tip the scales with big batteries, large bodies, and layer upon layer of tech. The BRZ keeps things lean. Owners and reviewers consistently praise how light and tossable it feels. That lightness pays off everywhere: better feedback, less brake fade on spirited drives, and a car that feels alive even at legal speeds.

4. An interior that supports driving, not just screen time.
Inside, the Subaru BRZ keeps its priorities straight. The driving position is low and snug, with well?bolstered front seats, a small steering wheel, and intuitive controls. There is a digital instrument cluster and a central touchscreen (as referenced in official materials), but they’re there to support the experience, not dominate it. Physical buttons remain for core functions, so you aren’t diving through menus just to adjust climate or audio while cornering.

5. Everyday livability, surprising practicality.
It’s still a 2+2 coupe, so the rear seats are more kid?plus?luggage than full?time adult space. But owners often highlight a clever perk: fold down the rear seats and the trunk can swallow things like a full set of track wheels and tires or weekend?getaway gear. Fuel economy and running costs are generally regarded as reasonable for a sports car, making the BRZ viable as a daily driver if you’re committed to the cause.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
2.4?liter Subaru Boxer engine (naturally aspirated)	Linear, predictable power delivery and a responsive, rev?happy character that makes spirited driving more controllable and engaging.
Rear?wheel drive layout	Classic sports?car handling feel with playful, adjustable balance and clear separation between steering and propulsion.
Low center of gravity chassis	Improved cornering stability and agility, giving you more confidence at speed and a planted feel through fast bends.
6?speed manual or automatic transmission (market dependent)	Choose between maximum driver involvement with the manual or easier commuting with the automatic, without losing the BRZ’s core character.
2+2 seating configuration	Extra flexibility for short trips with passengers or for folding the rear seats to expand cargo space for gear or weekend luggage.
Compact, low?slung coupe body	Sporty stance, excellent seating position, and the ability to thread through tight city streets or winding roads with ease.
Modern infotainment with touchscreen and digital instruments	Access navigation, media, and vehicle information while still retaining a driver?focused layout with essential physical controls.

What Users Are Saying

Browse through Reddit threads and enthusiast forums and a clear picture emerges: owners are passionate, vocal, and generally very positive about the Subaru BRZ—while being honest about its limitations.

Common praise:

• Handling is the star. Users frequently describe the BRZ as one of the most communicative, confidence?building cars you can buy new today. The steering feel, chassis balance, and predictability at the limit are often mentioned as best?in?class for the price.
• Fun at legal speeds. Compared to big?power turbo cars, the BRZ’s relatively modest output means you can explore more of its potential on normal roads without instantly crossing into reckless territory.
• Great for learning and track days. Many owners use their BRZ for autocross and track events. They love that the car rewards smooth inputs and technique rather than brute throttle, making it a great teacher.
• Strong community and aftermarket. Enthusiasts highlight a broad ecosystem of suspension, wheel, tire, and cosmetic upgrades. The car is often seen as a blank canvas for personalizing handling and looks.

Common criticisms:

• Power is "enough", not thrilling in a straight line. If you’re chasing 0–60 bragging rights, owners admit the BRZ isn’t that car. It’s quick enough, but straight?line speed is not its party trick.
• Road noise and ride firmness. Some daily drivers report more cabin noise and a firmer ride than in regular compact cars or crossovers, especially on rough highways.
• Rear seats are tight. The 2+2 layout is useful, but adults won’t thank you for long journeys back there. Many treat the rear seats as extended storage rather than true passenger space.
• Winter usability depends on where you live. With rear?wheel drive, appropriate tires become critical in snowy climates. Owners in harsh winters sometimes keep a second, more practical Subaru for bad?weather duty.

Overall sentiment: if you value driving engagement over raw numbers and can live with the practicality trade?offs, owners think the BRZ delivers huge smiles per mile.

Behind the BRZ is Subaru Corp., a Japanese manufacturer listed under ISIN: JP3401400001, long known for its Boxer engines and engineering?driven approach to vehicles. That heritage is very much alive in this coupe.

Alternatives vs. Subaru BRZ

The obvious comparison is the Toyota GR86, which shares a platform and much of the mechanical hardware. Depending on your market, pricing, suspension tuning, and styling details differ slightly, but both cars deliver a very similar core experience. Choosing between them often comes down to brand preference, dealer network, and which looks you prefer.

Beyond its twin, you might also cross?shop:

• Hot hatches (e.g., front?wheel?drive performance compacts): These often offer more practicality—five doors, bigger trunks—and in some cases more power. But they’re front?wheel drive, heavier, and usually lack the low seating position and classic sports?coupe feel of the BRZ.
• Turbo performance sedans: They’re faster in a straight line and more comfortable for families, but also significantly heavier and more expensive. If you want something that feels light and simple, they may feel overbuilt by comparison.
• Used higher?end sports cars: You can potentially find more powerful rear?wheel?drive coupes on the used market. However, running costs, reliability risks, and the lack of modern safety tech can make them less appealing as daily drivers.

What keeps the Subaru BRZ relevant is its clarity of purpose. It’s not trying to do everything. It’s not a crossover, not a family car masquerading as a sports machine, and not an overpowered drag racer. It sits in that increasingly rare sweet spot: modern enough to be safe and reliable, simple enough that you still feel everything it does.

Final Verdict

The Subaru BRZ feels like a love letter to people who still enjoy the act of driving. In a market obsessed with screens, size, and self?driving features, it’s almost rebellious in its simplicity: low, light, rear?wheel drive, naturally aspirated, and unapologetically focused on fun.

If your daily life is crowded with notifications, deadlines, and digital noise, the BRZ offers something quietly radical: a way to unplug without going offline. A familiar road becomes a playground again. A curve is no longer an inconvenience; it’s the highlight.

You do need to go in with clear eyes. This is not a family hauler, not a luxury cocoon, and not a drag?strip monster. The rear seats are tight, the ride is firm, and straight?line speed—while perfectly adequate—is not the headline act. But if what you care about is feel, feedback, and the simple joy of getting a corner just right, those trade?offs don’t feel like compromises. They feel like part of the commitment.

For drivers who want a modern car with old?school soul, the Subaru BRZ stands out as one of the most honest, rewarding choices you can make. You don’t just own it; you grow with it—one apex at a time.