2016 Subaru BRZ

With a budget-friendly price tag, the car gives its riders a powerful 200 hp motor to play with. Given its price, performance potential, and features, it falls in a similar ballpark as the Scion FR-S, Ford Mustang, and the Chevrolet Camaro.

The 2016 Subaru BRZ is offered in 3 trims, PREMIUM, LIMITED, and HYPER BLUE. The 2016 BRZ comes with a base price of $25,395 for the base model and goes up to $27, 690 for the HyperBlue version. It offers a punchy 2.0 Liter Inline 4-cylinder engine along with a 6-speed manual gearbox with all of the trims. It comes equipped with a standard 6.2-inch touchscreen, air conditioning, and cruise control.

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To get the best value for the money, we recommend getting the 2016 Subaru BRZ Limited as it offers a great combination of both plush interiors and performance along with a great ride experience. While the HyperBlue is only diminutively expensive, it is specifically catered for those who want ultimate luxury.

At its heart, the 2016 Subaru BRZ comes with a small but powerful 2-L engine that produces a decent 200hp and 151lb.-ft of torque, which gets the car rolling. The engine feels smooth, refined and utilizes its power very well. The snappy motor makes the car zip through city traffic like a charm and while on an interstate or a track, it performs really well.

It can be easily touted as a throttle-friendly car. The standard 6-speed manual gearbox feels natural while using and makes the rider feel connected to the car, while the optional 6-speed automatic transmission available only with the Limited trim aids efficiency. The 2016 Subaru BRZ sprints from 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds and can complete a quarter-mile run in 14.9 seconds, timings slower as segment standards.

When compared to its rivals, the pony car, the 2016 Mustang, takes the pole position with 5.2 seconds to reach 60 mph, closely followed by the 2016 Challenger taking 5.4 seconds. The 2016 Scion FR-S shares a similar engine as the Subaru and both coupes fail to match the prowess of its competitors. The FR-S is the slowest vehicle in the segment taking 7.1 seconds in the acceleration test. Both the Ford and Dodge have the highest outputs in the segment, while the former leads in power-producing 300hp, the latter is the torquiest managing 295lb.-ft.

The 2016 Subaru BRZ is extremely conservative. It averages 22 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG combined. With the available automatic transmission, efficiency further increases and by averaging 28 MPG, it assumes a prime position in the segment. It comes equipped with a standard 13.2-gallon fuel tank that when equated with the efficiency bestows a total range of 294 and 396 miles in the city and on the highway, respectively.

When compared to the competitors, the 2016 Scion FRS is similar to the BRZ. On the other hand, the 2016 Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro are marginally less efficient averaging 21 and 24 miles per gallon of fuel. However, they do feature larger fuel tanks. In the segment, it is the Chevrolet Camaro w/1LT that manages the highest range of 399 and 570 miles in the city and on the highway, respectively.

The 2016 Subaru BRZ's interiors are very simple without many fancy nit bits. Getting in and out feels slightly difficult but once inside, the seats are comfortable. The front seats are comfortable and roomy that can fit a 6ft person easily. However, it is the rear row that is a problem and feels constrained.

The interiors are not as stylish as some of its rivals but they provide enough comfort for a long drive. The cargo space is disappointingly small among its rivals and with a trunk volume of 6.9 cubic feet only, the rear seats are best used for cargo only.

Each coupe in the segment can seat four passengers only. While space upfront differs with each vehicle, a constrained rear seat that does compromise on head-, shoulder-, and legroom is a commonality amongst the competitors. But it is the Ford Mustang that provides maximum space to the driver and front passengers and also leads the segment in cargo capacity with a total trunk volume of 13.5 cubic feet, followed by the 2016 Camaro. The similarities between the 2016 FRS and 2016 BRZ also extend to its interior and cargo space.

Some of the salient interior features include:

• Dual-zone Climate Control
• Cloth/Suede/Leather Upholstery
• Front Cupholders
• Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Interior Air Filtration
• Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel

How intuitive is the infotainment system of the 2016 Subaru BRZ?

Each trim of the Subaru BRZ comes equipped with the brand’s traditional Starlink 6.2-inch multimedia display screen. It is quick to respond and comes equipped with a large number of features as standard. On duty inside the cabin is an 8-speaker sound system and some other salient infotainment features include:

• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Pandora Internet Services
• Voice Control
• Navigation System
• USB Connection
• Auxiliary Audio Input

With its aerodynamic exteriors and low stance, the BRZ looks way ahead of its time and places itself uniquely when on the road. All of its exterior features give the BRZ a very singular look and with the rear spoiler, the car becomes eye candy. It is immensely subtle in its design and reeks of innocence. It sits low from the ground at 4.9 inches to be precise and looks well-planted and like a proper sports coupe ready to prance.

Despite its smaller dimensions, it is an apt fit for the subcompact coupe segment. The 2016 Subaru BRZ weighs 2,764 lbs and is the lightest option on offer. It is the shortest in overall length and wheelbase, each measuring 166.7 and 101.2 inches, respectively. It is 69.9 inches wide and 50.6 inches tall.

There is very little to distinguish between the Subaru BRZ and Scion FRS as both share a similar skin. Both the 2016 Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro are larger coupes and share a similar length of 188.3 inches. While the latter sports a longer wheelbase of 110.7 inches, the former is wider and taller and has a better ground clearance of 5.9 inches.

Some of the salient exterior features include:

• LED head and taillamps
• Rear Spoiler
• LED Fog Lamps
• Rear Bumper with integrated diffuser
• Black/Chrome Fender trim

The 2016 BRZ comes with a host of safety features. It has been tested by both the NHTSA and IIHS and scores top-notch ratings all across. It comes equipped with standard features like brake assist, 4-wheel ABS, and side-impact beams. Some of the other standout safety features include:

• Antitheft security system
• Vehicle stability control
• Traction control system
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution
• Subaru advanced frontal airbag system with driver's and front passenger's front airbags
• Rearview Camera

The 2016 Subaru BRZ is a budget car. It adds a plethora of standard features that ease usability and add practicality to the ride. It is ideal for an amateur rider as it cohesively unifies power, a likable design, and an ergonomic cabin with affordability. It is a definite buy for those who are looking for something sporty without