The first generation Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86 set the automotive enthusiasts’ world on fire upon their launch in 2012, earning high praise in magazine and website comparison tests and taking home some expensive metals.
Not everyone converted to Toyota and Subaru’s unique rear-wheel-drive performance brand. The decision to install narrow tires meant the car was happy to slide at legal speeds, but it also meant there was plenty of headroom in the chassis.
Then there was the engine, which needed to work hard for its performance, and while it was okay, the mid-range torque drop and slightly rough character meant you had to work hard with gritted teeth.
As for the 2022 Subaru BRZ, the company claims its larger engine bids farewell to the torque dip and asserts that a stiffer chassis makes handling even more precise than before. Big claims, right? Don’t worry; Subaru has managed to deliver.
For now, Subaru plans to reopen order books by the end of the first quarter of 2022. It’s still unclear how many cars will be part of the next shipment, but they are expected to arrive before the end of June.
Standard equipment on the BRZ includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Factory satellite navigation; DAB+ digital radio; Dual-zone climate control; Leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever; Keyless entry and start; 18-inch alloy wheels; LED headlights.
Regarding safety, the 2022 BRZ will come standard with Blind Spot Monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additionally, opting for the automatic transmission provides Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite, including AEB (front and rear), adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and high beam assist.
The Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ have not been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
What’s the Subaru BRZ like on the inside?
Although it will be familiar for first-generation owners behind the wheel, some things have changed in the BRZ.
The seats and steering wheel have been lifted from the first-generation car, and the dashboard architecture is very similar. That’s not a bad thing.
The seats offer a solid combination of bolstering and long-distance comfort, and Subaru says they are now slightly lower in the cabin to free up a bit more space for taller drivers. It sounds small, but the redesigned door trims have released more knee room behind the wheel if you have long legs.
At six and seven feet, it’s still tight in the front, but livable. New for 2022 is the folding central armrest, preventing owners from resorting to aftermarket solutions as before. We didn’t spend enough time in the car to prove its worth, but having done some road trips in the first-generation car, there’s no doubt it’s a welcome inclusion.
New for 2022 is the digital instrument cluster, a first for Subaru in Australia. It’s simple but effective, with speed and revs prominently placed in the center, flanked by the car’s vital signs on the right and a customizable trip computer on the left.
Also new is the 8.0-inch infotainment system that takes a central place on the dashboard. It looks like a scaled-down version of the Outback and Forester’s singing and dancing system, but at a brief glance, it seems as fast as you would expect from a new car in 2022.
The inclusion of a transparent reverse camera is a win, while USB ports are now hidden under the armrest so that cables won’t get tangled in the gear lever when you’re in a hurry.
There’s no denying that the cabin is still built to a cost. There are plenty of hard or cheap plastics, and it looks a bit dated compared to a Hyundai i20 N or a Ford Fiesta ST, but all major touchpoints are of high quality.
The steering wheel, gear lever, and handbrake lever are leather-wrapped, and the armrests are soft and plush. The simple climate control cluster looks and feels more luxurious than the setup in the first-generation car as well.
If you’re interested in regularly carrying four people, this isn’t the car for you. The rear seats are okay for bags, but they’re really only designed to transport people in an emergency with negligible head and legroom.
The good news is that they still fold, making the BRZ much more practical than you might expect.
The boot space is a claimed 201 liters with the rear seats in place, but, as the above image shows, the standard spare wheel has a noticeable impact on using that space. We’d fix that and get a flat boot mat to free up a bit more room.
What’s under the Subaru BRZ’s hood?
Power in the Subaru BRZ comes from a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine. Although related to the seven-seater Ascent sold in the U.S., it ditches the turbocharger and takes the direct and port fuel injection system (D4-S) developed by Toyota, which debuted in the first-generation model.
The maximum power is 174kW (at 7000 rpm), and the maximum torque is 249Nm (at 3700 rpm), 22kW and 37Nm more than the old car, respectively.
Buyers can choose between a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter. The manual has revised gear ratios, and the automatic has been updated to shift faster.
The BRZ has a 50-liter fuel tank and drinks 98 RON premium unleaded. The declared fuel economy is 9.5 liters per 100 km in the manual and 8.8 liters per 100 km in the automatic.
