Used 2019 Subaru BRZ

Thanks to its lightweight constructions, rear-drive layout and brilliant suspension, the 2019 Subaru BRZ 2-door coupe offers driving enthusiasts of all ages a chance to experience a car once commonplace on the road, but that today is almost extinct. Fun, affordable and very cool, the 2019 BRZ shares most of itself with the Toyota 86. Subaru’s donation to the joint venture is a 2.0-liter flat-4 engine that helps lower the car’s center of gravity and improve handling. The long hood, short deck and tiny back seat are all hallmarks of the genre, which includes cars like the larger Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang. You can also toss the 2-seat Mazda MX-5 Miata into the competitor set.

Those seeking the thrill of neck-snapping straight-line acceleration won’t find it in the 2019 Subaru BRZ, but that’s not what this little coupe is all about. With a 0-60-mph time just over six seconds, the BRZ is far from slow. But the real joy in driving such a car is the skill it takes to milk every ounce of power from the engine, getting off perfectly timed shifts via the 6-speed manual and pushing both the car and driver to their limits. Approach a winding road and the BRZ is in its element, hugging corners and accelerating out of curves. The playful rear end steps out just enough to suggest the potential for drifting before the electronic stability control intervenes to bring the car back from the brink. The BRZ’s steering is spot-on, its brakes are tenacious, and its engine willingly revs right up to the 7,000-rpm redline. For those who can’t or don’t enjoy a manual, Subaru does offer a 6-speed automatic compete with manual shift mode, but we just don’t think it’s as engaging as the less expensive manual counterpart.

You sit low in the 2019 Subaru BRZ in a well-bolstered bucket seat. The 3-spoke steering wheel, shifter and pedals are perfectly placed for performance driving. Even the tachometer is where it should be, directly in front of the driver, just as it is in a Porsche 911, so you can keep tabs on the coupe’s high-revving engine. There are seats for four, but the back seat is too small to be truly useful; the good news is that it folds flat to expand the trunk and the BRZ’s cargo capacity. Ergonomics overall is strong, but the Subaru’s infotainment system, despite improvements, seems a bit dated.

At just 166.7 inches long, the 2019 Subaru BRZ is about 10 inches shorter than a Chevy Corvette. Still it’s over 10 inches longer than Mazda’s miniscule MX-5 Miata, and it looks substantial with its wide stance and long hood. Although almost indistinguishable from the Toyota 86 and built in the same assembly plant, the BRZ gets its own bumpers and wheel designs. Standard twin tailpipes and an aluminum spoiler finish the tail end, and LED headlights are standard. The limited-run Series.Gray gets 17-inch black alloy wheels, Cool Gray Khaki paint, Crystal Black Silica mirror caps and black “BRZ” and “Subaru” badges.

LCD MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY
Available on the Limited and Series.Gray models, this ingenious addition sits just to the right of the center-mounted tachometer and can display oil and water temps, brake force and steering angle, lateral g-force and even act as a stopwatch to record track lap times.

PERFORMANCE PACKAGE
This optional upgrade is a must for die-hard enthusiasts. It adds Brembo 4-piston calipers and rotors up front and dual-piston calipers and rotors at the rear. Also in the package are Sachs performance shocks and unique 17-inch alloy wheels.

The 2019 Subaru BRZ remains available in two main trims: Premium and Limited. Premium models — yes, that’s the base form — include Subaru’s Starlink 6.2-inch touch-screen multimedia display with 8-speaker AM/FM/CD system with Bluetooth connectivity and USB/auxiliary ports, rearview camera, manual driver’s seat with height adjustment, Torsen limited-slip differential, 17-inch wheels, cruise control, and leather-wrapped shift handle and tilt/telescoping steering wheel. BRZ Limited models add an Alcantara-and-leather interior with heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED fog lights, security system, 7-inch touch-screen navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, push-button ignition, a 4.2-inch color instrument display, and red interior accents.

The 2019 BRZ’s option list is relatively short. If you want an automatic-transmission BRZ, you’ll have to get the more expensive Limited trim and option it. Other add-ons include the Performance Package available on the manual-transmission BRZ Limited that bundles black alloy wheels, Brembo brakes and Sachs front and rear shock absorbers. The BRZ’s options are nice, but in reality, even a base Premium model is recommendable as this coupe’s dynamic performance is its biggest draw. Safety systems like dynamic cruise control, a blind-spot monitor and autonomous braking are not available.

The 2019 Subaru BRZ derives 205 horsepower from a 2.0-liter boxer engine. The horizontally opposed boxer layout places the engine lower in the cradle, thus reducing the center of gravity while improving handling and cornering. Power is routed to the rear wheels via either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Models with manual transmissions use different valves, camshaft, cylinder heads and intake/exhaust manifolds to produce slightly more horsepower and torque than engines paired to the 6-speed automatic. Along with its lower price, better engagement but lower fuel economy, the manual-transmission models also come with a nifty red intake manifold.

2.0-liter flat-4
200 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm (205 horsepower w/manual transmission)
151 lb-ft of torque @ 6,400 rpm (156 lb-ft w/manual transmission)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 mpg (manual), 24/33 mpg (automatic)