Subaru BRZ – Coupe Full Of Thrills

History is either a blessing or a curse. The BRZ badge is an abbreviation for ‘Boxer Rear-drive Zenith’ and it refers to the engine and chassis layout. Everything about the BRZ is designed with one thing in mind ‘Thrill’. The exterior is striking and unlike most coupes the Subaru is not beautiful in a conventional sense but the bulging wheelarches, wide track and low nose give it a very dynamic attitude. Little changes to the bumper and fake vents on the front wings are the only difference between the BRZ and the GT 86. The BRZ looks clean and simple due the Subaru’s unique WR Blue Mica Paint.

The BRZ is more streamlined than the MX-5 despite being 20mm longer and 55mm wider. Its shape is aerodynamic which creates almost little drag. Once you set your foot inside, you find a cabin which puts the driver first. The seats are lower than the Mazda and give excellent support. The top-spec SE Lux variant has leather and Alcantara trim, but the base SE has cloth seats. The SE version does get climate and cruise control, keyless entry and start, plus auxiliary audio ports and USB. Buyers who expect a lavish cabin will get disappointed. There is a decent amount of kit, the hard grey plastics and digital displays means the BRZ feels ugly inside.

The four-seater Subaru gives a big advantage over the Mazda as it is more practical for everyday use. The boot is 243-litres but with rear seats folded this coupe’s capacity increases to 1,270 litres. Subaru steering is agile yet the ride is firm enough to remain settled on bumpy roads where as the Mazda is bouncy on bumpy roads. The BRZ has 39bhp power advantage over the MX-5 with 0-60mph time of 7.1 seconds. Subaru’s handling is a joy and it feels stable on the road than both of its rivals, GT 86 and the Mazda. This gives confidence to t he driver. This is the first Subaru with direct injection and it returns only 33.1mpg and high CO2 emission of 181g/km.

Subaru offer a comprehensive ‘Everything Taken Care Of’ package. It includes dent and scratch repair, collection and delivery from each service, a full annual valet and even a monthly wash. All these things are free of charge. The BRZ and GT86 are slightly different on the road that is why it is difficult to distinguish between them on the road. The Subaru deserves the same praise as the much appreciated Toyota. It’s simple and aggressive styling; aerodynamics and greater practicality give it an edge over the Toyota, which justify its high price.