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Price Range: Less Than
$24,490
$154,765
mpg/MPGe Range: More Than
11
134
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Introduction:

To help members understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs, the Automobile Club of Southern California's Automotive Research Center (ARC) began testing and reviewing vehicles over a decade ago

For the 2023 edition, we include testing and ranking cars and light trucks with the latest technology, including having at least one advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) feature. In addition to vehicle evaluation, the guide covers a number of pertinent automotive topics in detail—for example, the latest advanced safety features, how to properly maintain your vehicle, and new vehicles coming to market in the next few years.

2022 Subaru BRZ Limited

Vehicle Type: Small Gasoline
70
 overall score
Category Ranking: 11

Vehicle Price

Base Price: $32,295
Price as Tested: $33,255

Fuel Information

Fuel Type: Premium
Fuel Capacity (gal): 13.2
EPA City mpg21
EPA Highway mpg30
EPA Combined mpg25
with optional front crash prevention

Advanced Safety Features

  • Adaptive Cruise Control [O]
  • Advanced Headlights [O]
  • Automatic Emergency Braking [O]
  • Blind-Spot Warning [O]
  • Forward-Collision Warning [O]
  • Lane-Departure Warning [O]
  • Lane-Keeping Assistance [O]
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Warning [O]
  • Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking [O]
  • [S] Standard, [O] Optional

Overall Observations

Thanks to Subaru, the affordable sports car is alive and well, in the form of a second-generation BRZ, which was redesigned for 2022. In collaboration with Subaru, Toyota produces the nearly identical GR86 (see page 112). Noteworthy improvements include new sheet metal, a new engine, and tweaks to the chassis and suspension. The BRZ offers only 1 engine, a flat 4-cylinder that churns out 228 hp, up 23 hp from the previous model. Rear-wheel drive is standard, as is a 6-speed manual transmission. A 6-speed automatic is optional. A good argument for choosing the automatic, though, is that you also get adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and auto high beams—they’re not available with stick shift. LED headlights and dual-zone automatic climate control also are standard. The BRZ’s pros are pretty much de rigueur for a sports car: bold exterior styling, sharp handling, and a responsive drivetrain. And the cons? Also what you’d expect: a noisy cabin, limited storage and cargo space, and a rough, bouncy ride. Additionally, fuel economy is less than stellar (premium fuel is required). Nonetheless, if you’re looking to buy a sports car without breaking the bank, the BRZ is a solid choice.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong Points

  • • Sporty handling
  • • Sleek styling
  • • Responsive drivetrain

Weak Points

  • • Rough ride, bordering on harsh
  • • Lots of engine and road noise
  • • Limited cargo and storage space

Vehicle Specifications

Model year tested: 2022
Number of passengers (F/R): 2/2
Curb weight (lbs): 2900.0
Exterior L / W / H (in): 167.9 / 69.9 / 51.6
Wheelbase (in): 101.4
Number of air bags: 7
Warranty (months/miles): 36/36,000
Tire manufacturer and model: Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Front and rear tire size: 215/40 R18
Max towing capacity (lbs): Not recommended
Headlight type: LED
Transmission type: Auto 6-speed
Drivetrain type: Rear wheel
Engine/motor: 2.4L 4-cylinder boxer
Engine horsepower @ RPM: 228 @ 7,000

Test Data

Test Vehicle Scores

Advanced Safety Features:

6.30

Fuel Efficiency:

5.38

EPA Emissions Score:

3.00

Acceleration:

4.81

Braking:

10.00
Handling: 9.51
Quality and Drivability: 7.42

Ride Quality:

6.19

Interior Size:

1.60

Easy of Entry and Exit:

4.03

Visibility:

5.64

Interior Noise:

5.62

Cargo Capacity:

.04
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