2013 Subaru BRZ

The new 2013 Subaru BRZ is rated among the best affordable sports car, due to its track-ready performance and affordable price.

This car was built by Subaru in collaboration with Toyota, and it hit the market in spring of 2012.

It faces competition from rivals that may look like a guest list at a Hollywood premiere.

Specifications

General Info
Vehicle Type: Coupe Base Price: $25,495.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.2 gallons (33.5l) MPG: 22 city / 30 hwy
Dimensions
Length: 166.7 in. (423.4 cm) Wheel Base: 101.2 in. (257 cm)
Height: 50.6 in. (128.5 cm) Width: 69.9 in. (177.5 cm)
Curb Weight: 2762 lbs (1252 kg) Ground Clearance: 4.9 in. (12.4 cm)
Luggage Capacity: 6.9 cu ft Maximum Seating: 4 people
Performance
Engine: 4 Cylinder DOHC Subaru Boxer® Displacement: 2.0 Liter cc
Horsepower: 200 HP Max RPM: 7000 RPM
Torque: NA Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
0-60 mph: 6.1 seconds 1/4 Mile: 14.6 seconds
Available Trims & Engine
Option:Limited A/T MSRP: $27,495; MPG: 25 city / 34 hwy

Engine & Performance

This rear-wheel drive is powered by a 2.0L flat 4-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower and 151 lbs-ft of torque. This engine is connected to a standard 6-speed manual transmission, although customers can opt for the 6-speed automatic transmission with rev-matched downshifts and steering column shift paddles. With these, a 2013 BRZ equipped with the manual transmission is able to go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, while the one fitted with the automatic transmission does it a second slower at 7.9 seconds.

A manual-equipped BRZ nets a fuel economy of 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. A BRZ equipped with the automatic transmission gets a fuel economy estimated at 25/34 mpg city/highway. The BRZ gets a lot of praises due to its strong brakes, excellent handling and athletic handling. In fact, it’s handling and braking beats those of perennial favorites.

Exterior

The 2013 BRZ comes with it sports-car appearance to go with its short tail, long nose and swooping roofline. The hood is made of aluminum, which help in keeping the overall weight down. This 4-seat compact coupe is offered in 2 trim levels: Premium and the Limited model.

The Premium trim comes with standard features that include: automatic bi-xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, summer tires and LED running lights. The Limited trim further adds a rear spoiler and fog lamps to its exterior.

Interior

The BRZ comes in a driver focused design with easy to use controls. The cabin is textured with a hard plastic trim. The front seats are comfortable and provide ample support, while the rear seats would be suitable for short people or children.

The tachometer is located in the middle of the gauge cluster, enabling the driver to monitor the engine’s information clearly. This tachometer also accommodates a digital speedometer. The BRZ has a cargo space of 6.9 cubic feet, which can be increased by folding the rear seats. This cargo space is more than that of the Mazda Miata, and almost equal to that of the Nissan 370Z.

Safety & Reliability

The Subaru BRZ is equipped with many safety features. Standard features in all trims include: electronic stability and traction control, antilock brakes, driver and front passenger airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, emergency trunk release, 4-wheel ABS, daytime running lights and brake assist.

This car gets a basic warranty running through the first 3 years or 36,000 miles, in addition to the 5-year or 60,000 miles engine warranty.

Pros

  • Excellent steering
  • Light and well-balanced chassis
  • Comfortable front seats
  • Peppy 4-cylinder engine.
  • Elegant styling

Cons

  • Small trunk
  • Audio control
  • Relatively modest acceleration
  • Tight rear seats.

The 2013 Subaru BRZ is a delightfully fun car to drive. If you are shopping for an affordable sports car that combines great handling, light weight and excellent performance; then, the BRZ is the car for you.

Competition

This is where the Subaru BRZ joins the fray with some of the big boys, the comparisons include that with the V6 Nissan 370Z (MSRP $33,120; 18 city / 26 hwy), the V6 Dodge Challenger (MSRP $25,195; 18 city / 27 hwy), and the mild mannered Hyundai Genesis coupe (MSRP $24,250; 21 city/ 30hwy).

Overall Rating
80 out of 100

What others say:

“The 2013 Subaru BRZ shows that simplicity and leanness can provide more driving thrills than complex, high-horsepower sports cars costing several times as much.”Car Connection

“This car is new from the ground up. It’s Subaru’s only vehicle that doesn’t come standard with all-wheel drive. It’s not even optional, as the car’s internals are so packed in that an AWD system won’t fit. It does have the brand’s trademark horizontally opposed “Boxer” 4-cylinder engine.”Consumer Guide

“Standard equipment includes a Torsen limited-slip differential, electric power steering, 17-inch alloy wheels, summer performance tires and Vehicle Stability Control with traction control that includes five different modes.”MSN Auto-ConsumerReports

“The 2013 Subaru BRZ is a compact rear wheel-drive sports car that exists solely to engage its driver and deliver high-performance thrills on the streets and at the racetrack.”KBB

“Light and well-balanced chassis; excellent steering; high fuel economy; comfortable and spacious front seat; abundant standard features; distinctive styling…Small backseat and trunk; frustrating audio controls; relatively modest acceleration.”Edmunds

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