Car and Driver Wraps Up 40,000-Mile Review of the Subaru BRZ

Anyone that has ever driven a Subaru BRZ will tell you the same thing—the car is brilliant. And that’s not brilliant how people call everything brilliant. No, it’s really that great. The best compliment the BRZ continues to get since its introduction in 2013 is that it gives owners most of what a Porsche Cayman offers but for tens of thousands of dollars less.  

In its 40,000-mile test of a 2023 BRZ Limited over 19 months, Car and Driver had a lot of great things to say, including that it achieved better fuel economy for the outlet than it did in EPA testing. Two different members of the magazine’s staff summed up their love for the BRZ. “I’m having trouble finding something to dislike about this car,” remarked technical editor Austin Irwin. Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald added, “Each time I go a few weeks without driving the BRZ, I start to think that it can’t be as good as I’ve made it out to be, but then I drive it again, and it’s just as good as I remember.” 

When optioning its long-term tester, Car and Driver chose the Limited trim over the Premium because it added 18-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer performance tires (over the standard 17-inch wheels with Michelin Primacy HP tires). The Limited also came with heated seats, blind-spot monitoring, and microsuede seating with contrasting red stitching. And, of course, because it believed in saving the manuals, the magazine opted for the slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission over the six-speed automatic.  

In testing, the outlet was able to get to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and ran through the ¼-mile in 13.9 seconds at 102 mph. These were the exact same figures as when it tested the BRZ brand new. Those are very solid numbers for a car that has a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated flat-four engine that produces 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Certainly, its performance is aided by the fact that the Subie only weighs 2,839 pounds. While the EPA estimates that the BRZ will achieve 20 mpg (city), 27 mpg (highway), and 22 mpg (combined), Car and Driver actually got a combined 26 mpg average (with a 31-mpg average at 75 mph) and 400 miles of highway range.  

Over the course of 40,000 miles, a car can experience some things that could make an owner question his or her love for it. However, for the most part, the BRZ saw routine maintenance, including oil changes every 6,000 miles, tire rotations, a cabin air filter, and brake and clutch fluid changes at 30,707 miles. 

The outlet swapped out the brake rotors, brake pads, fluid, and even the tires for stickier Bridgestone Potenza Race summer street tires that were 10 millimeters larger front and rear. All of these goodies aided in the BRZ upping its lateral acceleration from .95G to 1.01G, dropping its stopping distances by 19 feet (from 70 mph) and 33 feet (when touching the brakes at 100 mph). At Virginia International Raceway, its modded 2023 car was able to lap the track 3.1 seconds faster than a fully stock car. The best piece of news was that the track drivers reported that there were no bad changes to the pretty-perfect driving performance.  

Could the BRZ also be a great everyday car when the weather turns cold and snowy? Well, Car and Driver put that to the test, too, with some 16-inch steel wheels wrapped in Michelin X-Ice Snow winter tires. The editors reported that “our BRZ trudged through two Michigan winters with little issue. Getting up to speed in the white stuff required careful throttle work, but once the car was moving, its direct steering and responsive handling made it easy to control even when it wasn’t pointed straight, which was often. And we all agreed the BRZ looks cool on black steelies …” 

So, buying a Subaru BRZ is a no-brainer. The magazine fell in love with the fact that you don’t have to be driving at ludicrous speeds to have fun, and it is so well-mannered and controllable that it makes you enjoy your drive even more. “This is a delightful little car,” said video editor Carlos Lago. “Every control is at a near-perfect location, and the responses to driver inputs make the entire experience engaging, even if you’re just driving to Trader Joe’s.” That sounds like total approval.  

At Subaru of Rochester, we are happy to offer our customers more than a hundred new and used vehicles. Our fantastic sales team and finance department will work hard to find the best car that fits your needs. And our dedicated service department will always ensure that your vehicle is taken care of in the best way possible.