2023 Subaru BRZ

Naturally aspirated 2.4L flat-four is the sole engine offered; same output on both Premium and Limited trims, manual or automatic.

Peak torque arrives far lower in the rev range than the outgoing 2.0L (was 6,400 rpm), improving everyday drivability though the absolute figure is modest for the segment.

Car and Driver's instrumented test of a 2023 BRZ Limited manual recorded 5.4 s to 60 mph and a 13.9 s quarter-mile at 102 mph, about a second quicker than the outgoing 2.0L car in both measures.

The 2.4L's extra low-end torque removed much of the old engine's mid-range flat spot and sharpened throttle response, but it is still a small-displacement NA four that wants revs for its best work — smooth and willing rather than effortless.

The 6-speed manual — taken by roughly four of five 2023 buyers — is widely rated among the best short-throw shifters on sale, with a light clutch and precise gates; the optional automatic with paddle shifters and rev-matched downshift blipping is competent but the manual is the character-defining choice.

The BRZ is rear-wheel drive only across its entire production run, with no AWD variant offered at any trim — a deliberate part of its sports-car character, but it scores at the bottom of this item's rubric.

One engine, one displacement, no turbo/hybrid/EV variant — the only choice is manual vs. automatic gearbox, which is a single powertrain by this rubric's definition.

EPA-rated combined economy for the volume 6-speed manual; the optional automatic is rated higher across the board.

EPA city rating for the manual, the higher-take-rate transmission (~79% of 2023 buyers).

EPA highway rating for the manual transmission.

A small 13.2-gallon tank combined with modest combined economy gives one of the shorter ranges in the segment; the automatic stretches this to roughly 330 miles.

Premium-fuel requirement combined with modest MPG pushes this above the coupe segment's normalization band; the automatic's better economy would lower this somewhat but still requires premium fuel.

Premium (93 AKI) fuel is required, not merely recommended, adding real ongoing cost versus regular-fuel rivals in the segment.

NHTSA has never published an overall, frontal, or side star rating for the second-generation BRZ — the nameplate's US sales volume is too low to be selected for NCAP testing. Estimated at 4 stars from the ZN8 Subaru Global Platform structure shared with the identical-body Toyota GR86 (50% more torsional rigidity than the outgoing ZC6/ZN6) and the car's own Good IIHS frontal, roof and head-restraint results.

The 2023 BRZ genuinely carries a Top Safety Pick+ — IIHS's 2022 award list names it explicitly as '2022-23 Subaru BRZ 2-door hatchback with optional front crash prevention', so the 2023 car is directly covered, not merely a 2022 result quoted at it. Every crashworthiness test IIHS publishes for it comes back Good: small overlap front on both driver and passenger sides, moderate overlap front, roof strength, and head restraints/seats. Two things hold it at the floor of the top band rather than higher. The award is conditional on the optional front crash prevention system, which on this car means paying for the automatic transmission — the manual BRZ, roughly four out of five sold, cannot qualify for the award's crash-avoidance leg at any price. And the result is dated: IIHS shows no rating for the updated side test or the updated (rear-passenger) moderate overlap test it added for the 2023 award cycle, which is exactly why the BRZ does not appear on IIHS's tightened-criteria 2023 Top Safety Pick list even though its 2022-23 award never lapsed.

The entire EyeSight-based active safety suite is automatic-transmission-only on the 2023 BRZ, and the manual six-speed — about 79% of BRZ sales, the highest manual take rate Subaru reports for any nameplate — gets none of it: no automatic emergency braking, no adaptive cruise, no lane departure warning, no high-beam assist. On the base/volume Premium trim, manual or automatic, Blind-Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are also absent; they don't appear until the Limited trim. What is standard across the whole range is the passive and stability set: seven airbags (dual front, front side, side curtain, driver knee), Vehicle Stability Control with Track Mode, ABS/EBD/Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist, a backup camera, and TPMS. Scored below the mechanically identical GR86 (which spreads its ADAS gap across roughly half its sales rather than four-fifths, and lets its equivalent mid trim add Blind-Spot Detection independent of transmission) because on the BRZ's own volume configuration — Premium manual — there is no active safety feature beyond the base stability/braking systems at all.

Where it is fitted, the EyeSight Pre-Collision Braking System performs very well: IIHS rates front crash prevention Superior in both evaluations it ran, vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian, avoiding the collision outright in both the 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests. IIHS publishes no nighttime pedestrian result, so the hardest condition the 80-100 guidance asks for is simply unmeasured. Held further below the top band than the identical GR86 system because IIHS labels it 'optional' precisely because it requires the automatic transmission, and the BRZ's own automatic take rate (about 21%) is lower than the GR86's — this measured Superior performance describes a smaller slice of the fleet actually sold.

Blind-Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard on the Limited trim regardless of transmission — a Limited manual does get it — but the base/volume Premium trim cannot be ordered with it at any price or transmission, a real gap behind the fastback's shallow rear glass and thick C-pillars. Coverage where fitted is alert-only (Subaru's own marketing bundles it with 'Lane Keep Assist' branding, but the system has no steering intervention); no surround-view camera is offered at any price, and Reverse Automatic Braking — the one active rear system — is further gated to the Limited automatic only. Scored slightly below the GR86's equivalent item because the BRZ's Limited trim, where this coverage lives, is the minority configuration behind an even more manual-dominant sales mix than the GR86's.

The 2023 BRZ has no lane-centering or lane-keep steering function at any trim or transmission, and Lane Departure Warning with Sway Warning exists only inside the automatic-only EyeSight suite — so the manual car, roughly 79% of sales, has nothing at all watching lane position, not even a warning. Even on the automatic, coverage is warning-only: like the shared-platform GR86, this generation deliberately omits EyeSight's assisted-steering element to suit the car's sporting character, and there is no Lane Tracing Assist as fitted to other Subaru EyeSight vehicles. Scored below the GR86's equivalent item because the BRZ's higher manual take rate leaves a larger share of the fleet with zero lane-position feedback of any kind.

Adaptive cruise is automatic-transmission-only in 2023, so the volume manual BRZ has no cruise control feature with a following function at all. On the automatic, EyeSight's ACC is a genuine full-speed-range system with stop-and-go, since the torque-converter automatic can creep and resume in traffic. There is no highway-assist package pairing ACC with lane centering at any price, and the camera-only sensing is subject to the usual fog/heavy-rain/low-sun dropouts. Scored a touch below the GR86's equivalent item because a larger share of BRZ buyers (79% manual vs. the GR86's roughly 52%) get none of it.

No hands-free highway driving system is offered on the 2023 BRZ at any trim, transmission, or option level. EyeSight's assisted-steering component is omitted entirely on this generation, so there is no foundation for even a supervised hands-on highway-assist feature, let alone hands-free.

IIHS evaluates four separate headlight configurations on this car — Premium and Limited, each with manual and automatic — and rates all four Good overall, so a Good-rated headlight really is standard across the entire range with no glare limit exceeded in any variation, one of the criteria the car's Top Safety Pick+ rests on. Held short of the very top because the best low-beam behavior is trim-gated: the Limited's curve-adaptive Steering Responsive Headlights are Good in all four curve tests on both transmissions, while the Premium's fixed headlights drop to Fair on the sharp-right and both left curves, and high-beam assist follows the automatic transmission rather than being fitted line-wide.

The low cowl, low beltline and short hood give forward and over-the-nose sightlines that are genuinely excellent for a sports car — placing the front corners is easy on a track or a tight road, and this is a repeated point of praise for the ZD8-generation BRZ. Rearward and over-the-shoulder views are the weak point: the fastback glass is shallow, the C-pillars are thick, and compensation is thin on the volume configuration — a backup camera is standard, but Blind-Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert are Limited-trim-only, and no surround-view camera is offered at any price or trim.

The 2023 BRZ has two complete sets of LATCH connectors and IIHS rates ease of use Acceptable — the second-highest grade — with modest attachment forces and no confusable hardware, marked down only for lower anchors sitting 2-4 cm deep in the seat cushion at both positions. Hardware aside, the practical reality drags this into the low band: everything must be threaded through a two-door aperture after folding and sliding a front seat forward, and the 2+2 body's tight rear legroom means a rear-facing seat cannot be fitted without pushing the front passenger seat to an unusable position. Nominally a four-seater, but not a car two car seats realistically live in.

BRZ is nominally a 2+2 but the rear seats are widely described as unusable for adults, sitting at the bottom of the coupe seating-capacity band.

Front headroom sits toward the low end of the coupe band, consistent with the BRZ's low, cab-rearward sports-car roofline.

Front legroom is roughly mid-band for coupes, adequate for average-to-tall drivers.

Rear headroom is cramped, typical of a fastback 2+2 with a steeply raked rear roofline.

Against the coupe band (which runs as low as 22 in for strict two-plus-two sports cars), 29.9 in is mid-pack — better than a true 2-seater's occasional jump seat but still child/short-trip only.

6.3 cu ft is near the bottom of the coupe cargo band, though the rear seatbacks fold to extend usable space.

A small center console bin, modest door pockets, and two cupholders are the extent of it — no standout storage features for a purpose-built sports coupe.

Front sport seats are well-bolstered and praised even on long drives, but the item covers both rows and the rear seats are functionally unusable for adults, pulling the score down.

Firm but well-controlled — reviewers repeatedly note the BRZ absorbs broken pavement better than its handling focus would suggest, enough to be a viable daily driver.

Cabin noise is a consistently cited weakness — persistent tire roar and engine drone at highway speed with minimal sound insulation.

Heated front seats and dual-mode heater controls are exclusive to the Limited trim; the volume Premium trim has no seat heating and no other comfort amenities (no heated wheel, no rear climate).

Entry trim is the Premium with 6-speed manual; base MSRP is near the low end of the coupe band, reflecting the BRZ's position as an affordable sports coupe.

Subaru does not publish a trim-level sales split, but the base Premium (often with the manual) is the trim enthusiasts and value buyers typically choose for this nameplate, so it is treated as the volume configuration.

The BRZ's naturally aspirated, mechanically simple boxer/manual drivetrain and Subaru's reputation for low running costs put it well below the coupe segment's typical 5-year maintenance spend.

The BRZ is a standout residual-value performer even among sports cars, which as a class depreciate faster than average; enthusiast demand and limited annual production support strong resale.

Industry-standard 3-year basic coverage, at the floor of the segment band; well behind Hyundai/Kia/Genesis-style 5-year basic coverage.

Standard 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage, at the floor of the segment band.

Subaru bundles standard 3-year/36,000-mile roadside assistance with the New Vehicle Limited Warranty nationwide, but there is no nationwide complimentary scheduled-maintenance program for the BRZ (only ad-hoc dealer-level offers), and no connected-service trials or charging credits apply to this gas coupe.

$29,615 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (76% retained, or about $22,507) leaves about $7,108 in depreciation. Add the projected $2,179 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $9,287 in total.

Consumer Reports predicts the 2023 BRZ at about average reliability compared to other new cars, and the mechanically identical Toyota GR86 predicts around 3/5 — a mixed-to-average signal rather than top-tier.

Subaru finished #2 overall (narrowly behind BMW) in Consumer Reports' 2023 annual brand rankings and scored above the industry average in J.D. Power's 2023 Initial Quality Study, but J.D. Power's longer-term Vehicle Dependability Study has repeatedly placed Subaru below average in the same period — a genuinely mixed multi-source picture rather than a clean top-tier standing.

Early-production 2022-2023 BRZ/GR86 units were subject to NHTSA recall 22V-879 for improperly manufactured FA24 valve springs that can fracture and cause misfires or engine stalling — a genuine powertrain safety recall, and notable because the prior-generation FA20 engine suffered a very similar valve-spring fracture recall (and a botched fix) a decade earlier, making this a recurring failure mode for the engine family rather than an isolated one-off.

The FA24 2.4L flat-four is new to the 2022+ generation with no long-mileage track record yet; documented engine failures are concentrated in single-digit counts among track-driven cars against a fleet of thousands, and Subaru's boxer-engine family carries a known history of valve-spring and oil-related durability concerns that predates this specific engine.

Reviewers describe the cabin as spartan and driver-focused with mostly hard plastics, calling materials 'good but not great' rather than upscale — competitive for the price point but not a standout among rivals like the BMW 2 Series or Lexus LC in this peer set.

Reviewers consistently note tight, solid assembly with no widespread rattle or panel-gap complaints for this generation, and Subaru's above-average 2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study result corroborates decent out-of-factory assembly consistency.

Subaru distributes through roughly 640 US dealers and has topped J.D. Power's Customer Service Index for satisfaction with dealer service among mass-market brands in this period, reflecting a strong nationwide service reputation even though the network is smaller than the largest mainstream brands.

The BRZ benefits from a large aftermarket thanks to its shared platform and engine with the Toyota GR86 (hundreds of parts listed at mainstream retailers, plus a deep tuner/performance aftermarket), but average annual Subaru repair costs run somewhat above the mainstream-brand average, landing it at normal-to-slightly-elevated ownership cost rather than class-cheapest.

An 8.0-inch touchscreen is standard across both 2023 BRZ trims, which is near the small end of the coupe band.

Subaru's Starlink capacitive-button interface for this generation is usable but has been criticized by reviewers as laggy and cluttered compared to class leaders.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on both trims but wired-only for MY2023 — no wireless projection is offered on any BRZ trim.

No embedded turn-by-turn navigation is standard; owners rely on phone-projected maps, and Subaru's built-in voice command system is functional but unsophisticated.

The standard 8-speaker system is adequate but unremarkable, and unlike Subaru's WRX, the BRZ does not offer a premium Harman Kardon upgrade.

A 7-inch multi-function digital gauge cluster with selectable displays (including a track-oriented mode) is standard on both trims — solid for the segment even if not fully customizable.

Subaru's Starlink platform in this era offers no meaningful over-the-air update capability for the vehicle's software or infotainment features.

The MySubaru app covers remote lock/unlock, vehicle locate, and remote start — but remote start is unavailable on manual-transmission cars, which is the BRZ's volume configuration, and full functionality requires a paid Starlink subscription after the trial.

Basic USB-A ports and a 12V outlet are provided; wireless charging is only available as a dealer-installed accessory, not built in.

Proximity keyless entry with push-button start is standard on both trims, though there is no phone-as-key feature.

A rear-view camera is standard, but there are no front/rear parking sensors and no surround-view camera on any trim.

No true windshield-projected head-up display is offered on any trim; the small secondary 'multi information display' atop the dash shows boost/g-force data but is not a HUD.

The 2+2 rear seats are tight two-door access points with minimal legroom/headroom — installing and accessing a car seat is difficult and the space is unsuitable for daily family duty.

The 2023 BRZ earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ only on the trims with optional EyeSight (automatic transmission); US-market manual-transmission BRZs did not gain EyeSight until MY2024, so the volume manual trim lacks forward collision warning/automatic emergency braking for 2023.

With rear seats effectively unusable for adults and a loud, firm-riding cabin, multi-hour trips with more than two occupants are impractical.

The manual clutch and firm ride add some fatigue in stop-and-go traffic, but reviewers repeatedly call the BRZ comfortable enough to daily-drive, with good outward visibility for a sports coupe.

The naturally aspirated 2.4L flat-4 runs on regular unleaded and returns roughly average commuter fuel economy — reasonable for a sports car but not a standout value versus mainstream commuter vehicles.

A compact coupe footprint and a tight 35.4 ft turning circle make the BRZ easy to park and thread through city streets; the standard rear camera helps offset its low-slung sightlines.

A rear-drive 2+2 sports coupe with no towing rating and a tiny trunk has essentially no work capability.

The Subaru/Toyota-developed drivetrain has a generally solid mechanical reputation, but the car's low ride height, performance tires, and lack of protective trim make it unsuited to any work-context abuse.

No tie-downs, no accessible bed or cargo floor, and no upfit ecosystem exist for a low, two-door sports coupe.

A loud cabin and firm ride reduce highway endurance, and a modest fuel tank paired with mid-20s combined MPG limits range between stops relative to touring-oriented coupes.

Rear-wheel drive only, low ground clearance, and summer performance tires make the BRZ entirely pavement-bound with no light off-road or foul-weather capability.

The 6.3 cu ft trunk is small, but 50/50 split-folding rear seatbacks allow long, narrow items (skis, golf bags) to pass through, giving modest flexibility beyond the trunk alone.

The BRZ is a benchmark for affordable-sports-car handling: near-neutral 53/47 weight balance, minimal body lean, and confident, predictable limit behavior praised across the automotive press.

Electric power steering is unusually well-tuned for the segment — quick, accurately weighted, and communicative by modern EPS standards.

Brake pedal feel and stopping power are solid for street driving and confidence-inspiring, though the standard brakes are known to fade under sustained track use.

The larger 2.4L flat-4 improved low-end response over the prior 2.0L, but a mid-range torque dip is still noted, and throttle response, while linear, isn't the smoothest in class.

The boxer-four has a distinctive, enthusiast-friendly exhaust note, but it drones at sustained highway RPM and is more heard than felt in terms of harshness.

A 35.4 ft turning circle is toward the tighter end of the coupe band, aiding low-speed maneuverability.

A low, well-bolstered driving position with well-placed pedals for heel-toe shifting is a strength, though the low seat height and narrow door openings make ingress/egress awkward for some drivers.

The BRZ is an enthusiast icon precisely because it prioritizes chassis balance and driver engagement over raw power — reviewers and owners alike consistently rate it among the most enjoyable affordable sports cars.

The base Premium trim ($28,595) already includes LED headlights, an 8-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and alloy wheels — competitive for the price against rival sports coupes, though not class-leading in luxury content.

Reviewers repeatedly single out the BRZ's blend of chassis balance, steering feel and naturally-aspirated engine response for the money as standout bang-for-buck in the segment.

Just two trims (Premium, Limited) each offered with manual or automatic — four total configurations spanning roughly $28,595–$32,795 — a narrow, take-it-or-leave-it lineup versus rivals like the Mustang or Corvette that span far wider price/spec ranges.

BRZ US sales rose 25% to 4,188 units in 2023, a healthy trajectory but still a low-volume niche seller in absolute terms — a steady, growing performer rather than a segment leader.

Subaru carries a loyal, largely enthusiast-driven following built on reliability and value rather than outright prestige; the BRZ specifically benefits from a strong grassroots motorsport/tuner following, but the brand lacks the aspirational pull of a performance-focused marque.

As a low-volume, enthusiast-demand niche coupe, the 2023 BRZ saw little meaningful discounting at dealers — several dealer incentive-search pages returned no active offers for the Premium trim, and buyers commonly report paying at or near MSRP.

The second-generation BRZ launched for MY2022, making 2023 only its second model year on the current platform — current tech and design with no redesign imminent, though a carry-over year with no major changes from 2022.

The 2023 BRZ earned a Car and Driver 10Best Cars award for the second consecutive year and is consistently praised in comparison tests, typically finishing at or near the top of its segment alongside the GR86.