Subaru BRZ ON THE ROAD

Review by Rob McSorley

Photos by Mat Brooks

Everybody knows the old cliché "You wait all day for a bus and then two turn up at the same time" but the same is true in the world of sports cars. For a while there has been a lack of good ol' fashioned sports cars and then Toyota and Subaru both bring one to the market with the GT86 and BRZ. The truth is that they are very similar as they are the fruit of a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru's parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

Despite what Toyota will tell you the twins owe more to Subaru than Toyota with a 2.0-litre normally aspirated engine under the bonnet and most of the platform engineered by Subaru. The differences between them are limited to interior trim and equipment and differently styled bumpers. We managed to get hold of a BRZ to see if it was worth the wait. Read on to find out

There are certain ingredients that are needed to make a good sports car. The BRZ scores on all fronts, for starters its boxer engine is mounted as low and far back as possible in the chassis which results in a 53/47 weight distribution. Power is fed through the rear wheels and the seating position is inches from the tarmac.

Its 2.0-litre boxer engine isn't as powerful as some would have liked with 197 bhp and 150 lb ft of torque. The shove on offer comes fairly high in the rev range at 6,400 rpm so it means you need to work it hard. When you do flex your ankle the snarling sound gets better and better the more you hear it. The power is served smoothly and there always seems to be good reserves of thrust when you need it. With a 0-62 mph sprint taking 7.5 seconds the BRZ is no slouch but wont blow your socks off like other sports cars will.

On the road the BRZ turns the tamest of driver into a Ritalin deprived child as it urges you to push it harder. The brutal, mechanical feel to all of the controls is heavenly including the clutch pedal which has some weight to it and is easy to modulate. The gearbox couldn't be better with a snappy, short throw and heavy action that feels precise. The steering is quick, direct and communicative. You could probably close your eyes and still give an accurate account of what the road surface feels like down to the last scuff.

When you do want to get your pulse racing the BRZ is your willing slave thanks its sublime chassis dynamics. With your backside only inches from the tarmac and the near perfect weight distribution the BRZ devours corners like there's no tomorrow. It's alert, planted and beautifully flat even when pushed very hard.

When you do stretch its legs you are rewarded with tenacious grip levels and a crisp turn in permitting the driver to get straight back on the power mid-corner. It's also possible to provoke the tail to sneak out of line but the purity of the feedback through the controls means it's easy to keep control with quickly returning grip. The BRZ makes every journey an absolute hoot as you catapult from one corner to the next.

But don't worry, for such a focused machine impressive levels of comfort have been engineered into the BRZ to keep her indoors happy. Riding surprisingly well on its 17 inch alloys the BRZ offers good pliancy over rough surfaces. The boxer engine also remains quiet when you take things a little more calmly and wind and road noise fail to penetrate the snug cabin.

From pictures the BRZ looks like a fair sized car but in the metal it is actually very compact. From behind the wheel it feels snug with the almost vertical steering wheel enhancing the sporty feel. The cabin's design isn't over complicated and is built using robust rather than luxurious materials but it only adds to its charm. The seats are as near to perfect as possible with thick side bolsters which hold you tightly but are still comfortable. The dials are unfussy with a large central rev counter and the switchgear is logically laid out even if the bolt shaped heater controls are a little tacky.

Space is generous in the front with good leg and headroom but space in the back is severely restricted to the point that you could hardly refer to the seats as seats, more like trimmed storage areas. The boot however is decent with 243 litres; enough for a set of golf clubs or weekend bags. Visibility is also better than we expected with thin pillars and large windows although the low seating position means that the end of the bonnet is impossible to see.

Car styling is subjective but we think the BRZ is a well styled coupe. Its low slung look and long bonnet/short tail stance give the car a solid, planted look and the design of the wheels suit its character well. The angular front lights and aggressive lower bumper create a mean face and we particularly like the subtle bulge in the wing around the front wheel. The rear also looks fairly tasty with sharp-looking lights, a sporty diffuser with twin exhausts and a sizable boot spoiler. Our test cars colour is also a must evoking memories of Impreza WRXs of old which is no bad thing.

At £26,495 the BRZ is aggressively priced against rivals but comes with all the essentials you could need. Touchscreen sat nav, heated half leather seats, keyless entry, dual zone climate control, cruise control, electric windows and mirrors are all standard. It's also good for up to 44.1 mpg if not driven like a maniac and costs a reasonable £215 a year in road tax. It is also sure to be reliable as Subaru and Toyota's reputations are impervious.

Tech Data

Price as tested: £26,495
Engine: 2.0 16v 197 bhp - 0-62mph: 7.6 secs - Maximum Speed: 140 mph -
Economy: 27.2 mpg (urban) 44.1 mpg (extra-urban), 36.2 mpg (combined) - Emissions: 181 g/km (Band I) - VED (12 months): £215

Dimensions: Length: 4240 mm - Width: 1775 mm - Height: 1425 mm - Wheelbase: 2570 mm

*data from Subaru UK

DriverVIBE Verdict

If you are looking for a proper hairy-chested sports coupe then the BRZ is a worthy model to consider. It has the ability to make every journey fun often resulting in long detours. The way it behaves on the road ticks all the boxes with well mannered dynamics that make every driver feel like a pro. It handles brilliantly with plenty of grip and poise and levels of feedback through the controls that many rivals can only dream of. It results in an exhilarating driving experience that makes it easy to exploit the revvy, willing nature of the boxer engine. It may not be as quick as some would have liked but it seems perfectly suited to the BRZ and once you become accustomed to the engines power delivery you can carry tremendous speed into corners. Comfort also hasn't been forgotten with a compliant ride and refinement in abundance. The cabin is also a great place to be feeling snug and well designed although it perhaps doesn't feel special enough. So what did we not like about the BRZ? That's easy; the fact we only had the keys for 3 days!

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