Driving
There is an even function to the form. The chassis is lightweight and stiff and forms to base for the excellent driving dynamics of the car. The car’s center of gravity is low and allows the suspension enough space to work its magic.
The design of the inside cabin comes with a near perfect seating position. The pedals are spaced nicely and the shift lever fits perfectly in the hand. It is simplistic and efficient. The steering does not have any buttons on the face and the central mirror is made with minimum material so that the weight is kept to a minimum.
Beneath the hood, it has a 200 hp, 2 Liter, 4 cylinder, boxer engine. It offers 151 lb-ft of torque through the real wheels and a standard limited slip differential by Torsen. The handling was of paramount importance here with the power plant being mounted as low and far back as possible to compliment the low center of mass and a nearly 50-50 front-rear weight distribution.
It lacks low end torque but since it is more of a corner carver than a drag racer it doesn't matter. What it lacks in torque it more than makes up for in the mid-to-top swing though. The sound is a satisfying one and feels good for the 6 speed manual transmission.
Handling
In terms of performance, there is hardly anything to complain about. The car offers fantastic feedback and responsiveness. It is like an extension of the driver's body.
The car has some classic sports car proportions. It sits low on the ground and has a wide stance and a compact footprint. It is hard to believe it is a Subaru. It is a sporty looking car, that is for sure! It is a two door fantastic ride which seems to designed for someone single who wants a nice get-around car.
Just like the Mazda Miata, the Subaru delivers thrills at all speeds. It can be as satisfying when driving in peak traffic and as when cruising at 65 mph on a highway on-ramp and then taking off to 80 mph when you get on the highway.
It handles corners like a champ and doesn't show any understeer at all. Oversteer was just a tap away thanks to the VSC Sport button.
The narrow 215 width tires allows the car sufficient mid corner rotation which makes driving this RWD fun. Plus, the tires can easily be upgraded and if you are a BRZ enthusiast, you were most probably going to swap them anyway.
The touchscreen navigation and sound system aren't the best in the world but they get the job done. The voice command does an okay job and there are quite a few audio sources like Bluetooth streaming and USB integration to keep you satisfied. And you can easily get an aftermarket double DIN stereo.
Competition
The Scion FR-S is a major competitor which is almost the same car. You could also look at the well-equipped 2015 V6 Ford Mustang. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8, Volkswagen GTI and the Mazda Miata are all worthy competitors. While all these cars are close to perfect, it seems like the BRZ is the closest overall which is why it manages to narrowly come out on top in the comparison. It does not have the muscle of a Mustang but not everyone wants that either.
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