2020 Subaru BRZ

While any infrequent shopper would be discouraged by the lack of technology features and ordinary interior quality, it is the performance purist that would appreciate the BRZ’s driving dynamics. The all-new, 2020 Subaru BRZ is is powered by a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that generates 205hp and 156lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive comes standard while the gearbox consists of 6-speed manual transmission.

 For the equivalent amount, y'all can likewise go for fascinating American muscle in the form of the entry-level Chevrolet Camaro, a car that is much more useful and powerful. The Chevy has introduced a lot of updates in the past few years, while the BRZ has endured the same throughout its life.

Subaru BRZ Coupe is available in two versions: all having a similar 2.0-liter engine but a change in the blend of features on offer. It does get a push-button start and an electrically powered steering wheel as well. This car is a unique mix of sleek exterior designing and snazzy Interiors. It has a great infotainment system. The Limited trim offers automatic transmission which brings the engine power down to 200 hp from 205 hp in manual trim.

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We recommend going for the Limited trim. This trim is packed with a lot of premium features that you’ll miss out on if you go for the base. Further, you have the option of getting an automatic transmission in the Limited trim. Limited is equipped with a bigger 7-inch display, and have features like Android Auto and navigation.

The Boxer-4 engine that sits underneath the bonnet of the Subaru BRZ was produced together with Toyota. The BRZ comes mated to a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine which is capable of generating 205hp and 156lb-ft of torque. These figures drop to 200hp and 151lb-ft if you opt for the automatic transmission. Even though the engine is small, it feels quite lively due to its rapid power delivery but the engine lacks power at midrange rpm which is disappointing.

The revving noise of the engine is harsh and feels irritating to the ears. The new engine is pretty peppy on a straight road and does what is really expected of a mid-price range coupe. Toyota 86 and the BRZ shares the powertrain, so power and torque numbers are absolutely similar as well.

Among its rivals, the Chevrolet Camaro has a more stalwart engine. It is equipped with a 2.0 turbocharged engine proficient in delivering 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. For 30 grand, you can get the Nissan 370Z that makes the acceleration more intense with 332 horses. 

Acceleration

Even though the power delivered by the engine feels quick, the BRZ manages to accelerate at an average rate only. The BRZ takes 6.3 seconds to go from 0-60 mph and takes 14.7 seconds to complete a quarter-mile, which is similar to its Japanese counterpart, Toyota 86. Taking 6.4 seconds to hit the 60mph mark, the Nissan 370 Z has the best in class acceleration owing to its superior engine.

Thankfully, you must not restrict yourself as the manufacturer does. A successful enthusiast car always draws the aftermarket mob. A plethora of customization options available for this sporty coupe.

Here again, the Nissan 370 Z glides way above the rest with utterly majestic figures of 5.0 seconds and 13.6 seconds respectively. The Chevrolet is a distant second, while the similar Subaru and Toyota are not even in the picture.

Braking Performance

Subaru has an effective set of brakes in class, the braking setup of the vehicle is impressive as the car comes at a halt from 60 mph in 104 ft. The ventilated brakes work great, and the braking pedal feel is excellent, even on the standard car.

Subaru BRZ Coupe has the brakes which match its acceleration i.e. despite not having the best of brakes; this car does so well in terms of braking and is not too far behind the rest. 

Just a twin could even the BRZ’s braking performance. Sure enough, it is the Toyota 86. The Nissan 370Z and Chevy Camaro might have larger brakes, but their skeletons are bearing too much dead mass to be any more effective than the Subaru and GT 86.

Ride and Handling

Subaru BRZ gives a joyful ride experience due to its highly communicative suspension system. The suspension system is finely tuned to make the drive sporty yet comfortable. The handling is responsive and driving the vehicle feels tight and athletic. The purpose of buying the car should be totally greedy, only to satisfy your wild automotive daydreams. The little car is remarkably smooth and confident, but only if you're gentle on the curves.

The steering is easy to handle and quite responsive which makes the driver feel confident while maneuvering the car and making sharp turns. The car is lightweight and quite sturdy and balanced which enables the car to have a better grip on the road and riding the coupe feels precision-filled.

The fuel efficiency of the BRZ is almost similar to most of its rivals. The car earns a rating of 21 MPG (city)/ 29 MPG (highway)/ 24 MPG (combined) for the manual transmission models. Going for the automatic transmission would boost the fuel economy to 24 MPG (city)/33 MPG (highway).

Indeed if the Camaro and the Nissan 370Z have a mediocre fuel economy, they come equipped with a more generous gas tank, thus granting them more miles. There are very minute details that differ from the 86 since both the Subaru and Toyota have similar gas mileage.

The interior of the car feels premium and comfortable. The leather-wrapped steering wheel has a good grip and the knobs and buttons are placed right, adding to the convenience of the user. The adjustable steering wheel enables the driver to choose the most suitable position for better control. The big windshield provides good front visibility to the driver. On paper, the car can seat 4 people. The front seats are roomy and comfortable with ample legroom and headroom.

The seats have good contour support and the front seats come equipped with a six-way manual adjustment for setting the best driving position. Like most sports coupe, the rear seats of the car feel cramped. The base trim comes with cloth seats, whereas the top trims get plush leather upholstery. Getting in and out of the car is relatively easy due to the large doors.

Interior Features

• Front Seatback Storage
• Leather Steering Wheel
• Dual Illuminating Vanity Mirrors
• Front And Rear Cupholders
• Cargo Floor Mats
• Front And Rear Door Pockets
• Electric Power Steering
• Rear View Camera
• Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel

Infotainment System

Subaru BRZ features a simple and easy to use the infotainment system. All the controls and options are displayed right on the screen and the user won’t have any problem using the menu. The base trim gets a 6.3-inches display screen, whereas the higher trims get a bigger 7-inches screen.

• AM/FM Radio
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with 4 months complimentary subscription
• 196-Watt 8-Speaker Sound System
• 2 USB Ports
• AUX Cable Input
• Bluetooth Connectivity

Cargo Capacity

The cargo space (6.9 cubic ft) of the BRZ is not large enough, which is a common issue in sports cars. However, Ford makes an exception as the Mustang has a boot volume of 13.5 cubic ft which is way more than any of its competitors.

Here again, the Chevrolet Camaro is too good for the rest, with a class defining 9.1 ft of space inside the trunk. The similar BRZ and Toyota 86 are the same in this regard too and Nissanjoins them too.

The car is elegantly and aerodynamically designed. The eye-catching curves and lines of the car combined with sleek looking head and tail lamps and a stylish rear spoiler gives this car the perfect sporty appearance. The car comes in beautiful and exotic color options to choose from. This sports coupe runs on 17-inch wheels. However, going for the top trim would fetch you 18-inch alloys.

The vehicle has a ground clearance of 4.9 inches which is similar to most of the cars in this segment. The Mustang has a slightly better ground clearance of 5.1 inches. The wheelbase (101.2 inches) of the BRZ is neither the longest nor the shortest in its class. The car comes equipped with standard features like fog lamps, power mirrors, and auto-leveling headlights.

Other sports coupes in this section are very close in dimensions and weight to the Subaru BRZ, with the exception of the Chevrolet Camaro, which has a big muscle car shell. It is heavy, long, and occupies a lot of the road, just as you would expect an American muscle car to be.

Exterior Features

• LED Headlights
• Body-Colored Side Mirrors
• Heated Side Mirrors
• Two-speed windshield wipers with variable-intermittent mode and mist feature
• 17-inch wheels with 7-inch aluminum-alloy finish

The Subaru BRZ proved in the testing that it’s a safe car. It scored a perfect 5 star in rollover rating and scored 4 stars in overall frontal barrier crash rating conducted by the NHSTA. IIHS has also rated the car “good” in many of its tests. The car has a limited warranty of 3-years/36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of 5 years/60,000 miles.

As far as collision prevention is regarded, it is purely up to the driver to keep the BRZ out of hazardous situations. The car does help the driver with a few assists such as electronic stability control and ABS. However, it is the nimbleness of the BRZ that is its last line of defense in avoiding an accident. You get the following features also :

• Electronic Stability Control(ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact beams
• Dual-Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Airbags
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Dual-Stage Driver and Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st and 2nd Row Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts with Pretensioners
• Rear-View Camera

Subaru BRZ vs Toyota 86

Toyota 86 is known as the twin of the Subaru BRZ as both the cars have the same boot space and engine, with similar acceleration and braking figures. Fuel economy is almost similar too. The higher trims of the BRZ have more and better features than the Toyota 86. It all depends upon the preference of the buyer.

The only difference visible is the interior, and this is something that can differ with different people. So both cars remain at par in this regard.

Subaru BRZ vs Nissan 370Z

With a bigger engine that assists it well for remitting a thrilling drive, the Nissan 370Z has an up on nearly every character of the Subaru BRZ. It is faster and has more driving range. Even so, the Subaru BRZ is more efficient since it actually has back seats and a larger trunk. 

The Nissan’s aged infotainment system also takes away some flair, while the BRZ is advanced enough to support all smartphones.

Subaru BRZ vs Chevrolet Camaro

Equaling the Subaru BRZ with the Chevrolet Camaro is like rivaling Michael Phelps to Connor McGregor. While the BRZ is about svelte looks and sporty driving action, the Camaro is all about brute force. In fact, you can get a Camaro with a V6 or even a V8 just above the price range of a Subaru BRZ.

In terms of interior, the Camaro offers more useful features, even for infotainment. Both the cars have uncomfortable rear seats, yet the Chevy awards more cargo expanse in the trunk.

Subaru BRZ is a cheap and comfortable sports car with a joyful ride experience. It has a lively engine and a very controlled and athletic handling. The infotainment system could have been better but the roomy interiors and convenient controls make up for it. What’ll appeal to most buyers is the beautiful sporty body of the Subaru BRZ. Go for this car if you want a stylish and hip looking, cheap yet comfortable sports car.