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

Let’s face it. If you are an automotive journalist assigned to review a sports car after driving it for a week, that is probably one of the better moments of your job. When the Subaru BRZ was redesigned for the 2022 model year, somebody at Car and Driver had just that assignment, and he ended up saying many positive things about the car. That prompted Car and Driver to look into the model further by keeping one for a 40,000-mile review. The editors just wrapped up those 40K miles, and Twin Falls Subaru passes on what they found. 

“The BRZ’s versatility and razor-sharp handling make it a budget Porsche 718 Cayman.” —Eric Stafford 

Honestly, this blog could consist of nothing but quotes like that. Still, some context might help. In 2023, Car and Driver added a $32,112 2023 BRZ Limited to its long-term fleet. It opted for the Limited over the Premium primarily because of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires, size 215/40R-18, that came as part of the trim. The Limited trim also added heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, and microsuede upholstery with red stitching.  

As it does now, the 2.4-liter boxer-four produced 225 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 3,700 rpm. The greater torque peaking at a lower rpm made the power much more accessible than that of the 2.0-liter engine of the first-generation BRZ. The publication that is the voice of the “Save the Manuals!” campaign naturally went with the six-speed manual, and for the 2023 model, that meant doing without the Subaru Eyesight package of safety and driver aids. For 2024, EyeSight was standard on all models.  

“This is the type of car that coaxed me out onto a two-hour drive with no destination, just driving for the pure joy of it.” —Caleb Miller 

The powertrain got the 2,978-pound coupe to 60 mpg in 5.4 seconds and through the quarter mile in 13.9 seconds at 102 mph. The acceleration differences between when the car was new and after 40K miles were negligible. With some long-distance trips from its home in Michigan to Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Virginia logged, the BRZ averaged 26 mpg overall during its extended test, which exceeded the EPA combined estimate by 4 mpg. A 75-mph highway cruise netted 31 mpg, which was also 4 mph over the EPA highway estimate. 

Because the car had to remain active during a few Michigan winters, Car and Driver traded the summer tires for Michelin X-Ice winter tires on 16-inch steel wheels. The editors described the Subaru’s only non all-wheel-drive model’s snow performance thusly: “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.” When on dry pavement with the winter tires, drivers did notice the expected lack of grip and increased road noise compared to the summer tires. 

“Is there a better car to drive on a snowy day? This thing is just so fun and easy to steer with your right foot.” —Greg Fink 

The article started by stating that a lack of surprises is a good thing when living with a car for 40K miles, and the BRZ provided scant surprises. The telematics system was recalled, and the tire pressure monitoring system needed to be fixed. Just after the 40K mark, there was a small transmission seal leak, but everything was warranty-covered. Overall, maintenance costs for the car across its 40K-mile stay were $1,407. 

“This is a delightful little car,” wrote deputy 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.” This touches on a sentiment that rose frequently in the final review. A light sports car such as this can provide driving enjoyment without requiring life-threatening speeds. “The BRZ is 80 percent of the fun of a Porsche for a third of the price,” wrote one reviewer in the log book. 

While admitting the BRZ is not the airport shuttle vehicle of choice, the staff did find the car surprisingly practical, especially its fold-down rear seats, which expand cargo carrying capacity—a feature absent in its chief competitor from Mazda. 

“I love the true sports-car simplicity of the BRZ.” —Eddie Alterman  

At first glance, a sports car may not seem like the ideal choice in Minnesota, but Car and Driver shows that with the additional investment of winter tires, the BRZ can deliver pure sports car enjoyment all year round in northern latitudes. We invite you to try that kind of driving entertainment yourself with a BRZ test drive at Twin Falls Subaru. 

“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.” – Associate news editor Jack Fitzgerald