2013 Subaru BRZ

The 2013 Subaru BRZ and the Toyota Scion FR-S are essentially the same vehicles built on the same platform, developed jointly by Subaru and Toyota. Unlike many Subarus, the BRZ is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. It is light, lean, mean, and an affordable sports car option in the market.

The 2013 Subaru BRZ is available in two trims, namely Premium and Limited. Both the trims are powered by the same boxer engine and come with 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission. The Premium trim gets cloth upholstery, sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, 8-speaker audio system with touchscreen navigation as standard. The Limited trim is here to pamper you much more with better creature comforts and features.

Which trim should you buy?

We believe that the Limited trim will be a more favorable choice, as the price difference between both the trims is just $2,000 and for that extra money, you are getting many features like Alcantara and leather-trimmed upholstery, heated front seats, and side mirrors, dual-zone climate control, keyless access, and start, etc.

The 2013 Subaru BRZ is powered by a 2.0L boxer engine that produces about 200HP and 151 lb-ft of torque. Both the trims are mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard and we like it. It is slick and performs just as intended. Being a close-ratio transmission, the gearing is short and acceleration is good. You can also opt for a 6-speed automatic transmission which comes with different drive modes and pedal shifters as well, for a more sporty driving experience. Unlike other Subarus, the BRZ is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.

The BRZ is a good performer but can’t beat the competition in the 0-60 mph sprint and quarter-mile drag. It takes about 6.4 seconds and 14.9 seconds for the 0-60mph sprint and quarter-mile drag. The Ford Mustang and Nissan 370Z are equipped with bigger engines and come with more firepower and that shows in their performance too. Both the cars are almost a second quicker in the 0-60 mph sprint and quarter-mile drag.

The 2013 BRZ is fairly efficient considering its sporty performance. It offers 22 mpg, 30 mpg, and 25 mpg, in the city, on the highways, and in mixed driving conditions. It is equipped with a fuel tank of 13.2 gallons and with a full tank of gas it can travel up to 290 miles, 396 miles, and 330 miles, in the city, on the highways, and in mixed driving conditions. No competitors can beat its fuel economy. 

The Nissan 370Z is the least fuel-efficient, owing to a bigger engine and more power output. Similarly, the Ford Mustang is less efficient owing to a bigger engine. The Mazda MX-5 Miata comes pretty close in terms of fuel efficiency but due to a smaller fuel tank of just 12.7 gallons, it offers less range than the BRZ.

The interiors of the BRZ are designed to be full of purpose and are not fancy. The cabin gets a mechanical feel and the climate control knobs are in the shape of nuts and bolts. The driving position is good and there are no blind spots. The seats are firm and pretty well-bolstered and as you move higher, you get Alcantara trim. It has a rear seat but they are not comfortable for full-grown adults.

Being a rear-driven vehicle, the center tunnel further makes it difficult for the rear passengers to have a comfortable ride. It might even be difficult to get in there as the BRZ is a compact vehicle and comes in a two-door version only. Like most sports cars, the BRZ is more focused on handling and performance and you have to compromise on comfort and convenience to some extent. 

The BRZ and Mustang come with a seating capacity of four. The cars from Mazda and Nissan are proper 2-seater sports cars. Despite having rear seats for passengers, the BRZ and Mustang suffer from a lack of leg space and it's better to avoid those seats for a long journey. The Mustang offers the best cargo capacity of the lot, followed by the 370Z and BRZ. The MX-5 Miata offers the least cargo capacity. Some of the standout interior features of the BRZ are:

• Alcantara and leather-trimmed upholstery (Limited)
• Heated front seats (Limited)
• Dual-zone digital climate control (Limited)
• Keyless access & start (Limited)
• Flat-folding rear seatback 
• Steering mounted controls 

How intuitive is the 2013 BRZ’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system in the BRZ is pretty feature-packed. You get many features like a high-resolution 6.1-inch touch-screen with GPS navigation, HD radio, USB/iPod control, Bluetooth audio streaming, and hands-free connectivity, SiriusXM, NavTraffic, SMS text messaging capability, etc as standard across both the trims. However, the standard touchscreen interface could have been better as you have to go through many menus and options to get to your desired function. For a better musical experience, you get an 8-speaker audio system as standard. Some of the standout infotainment features of the 2013 BRZ are:

• High-resolution 6.1-inch touch-screen
• GPS Navigation 
• HD Radio 
• SiriusXM and NavTraffic
• 8-speaker audio system
• USB port/iPod control

The 2013 BRZ looks very identical to its twin, the Toyota Scion FR-S, and both are distinctive on the road. The BRZ looks like a proper sports car with 2-doors and coupe-like styling. The design is very aerodynamic as well, with an aerodynamic drag coefficient of just 0.28. The HID low beam and high beam headlights on the BRZ are functional and sleek as well. T

The front bumper imbibes the fog lamps as well. The BRZ was designed to have a lower center of gravity, for better performance and handling. The rear profile looks good with LED taillights and the rear bumper gets an integrated diffuser as well. The trunk spoiler and dual stainless-steel exhausts add to the sporty styling of the BRZ.

The BRZ seats low to achieve a better centre center of gravity and a curb weight of just 2762 lbs helps it to react more quickly to directional changes and offer better handling. The Nissan 370Z also has similar ground clearance as that of the BRZ. The Ford Mustang and the Mazda MX-5 come with higher ground clearance. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2013 BRZ are:

• Trunk spoiler
• Fog lights
• LED tail lights 
• Body-color power side mirrors
• Fog lights
• Dual stainless-steel exhaust outlets

The IIHS has given a “2013 Top Safety Pick” award to the Subaru BRZ and Subaru claims extensive use of high tensile-strength steel for the chassis and use of safety ring structure that’s used in other Subarus as well. The Subaru is equipped with many safety features like Brake assist, brake override system, ABS, traction control system, vehicle stability control etc as standard. Also, we believe that the BRZ’s agile handling would help in mitigating accidents. Some of the standout safety features of the BRZ are:

• Tire pressure monitoring system 
• Brake override system
• Whiplash-protection front seats
• Brake assist 
• Antitheft security system
• Engine immobilizer

The Subaru BRZ is a proper sports car with sports car handling and agility. It has a very good braking system and powerful 200-HP boxer engine for its size. It also scores well on safety features and being a Subaru, is built quite well. Also, the price point at which the BRZ is available, is simply stupendous and offers a lot of fun and adrenaline. So, in our opinion it's worth buying and offers you a sporty driving experience to make your daily commutes exciting.