Used 2016 Subaru BRZ for sale 

The new Subaru BRZ is powered by the same flat-4 boxer engine on all its trims. There are two principal trims on offer for 2016, the Premium and the Limited. Either trim comes with a manual transmission as standard, though the Limited trims are offered with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The new HyperBlue trim has some exterior & interior accents and styling but only comes with a manual gearbox.

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Depending on how you wish to use the car, the manual transmission is suited for the enthusiast, while the automatic has better fuel economy and is suited for the daily driver. The Limited trim offers a plethora of conveniences at a minimal price increase over the Premium.

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The 2016 BRZ has a rear-wheel-drive as standard and features a 2.0L flat-4 Boxer Engine. The engine is situated super low at the front improving the handling and the drivability. The motor puts up 205 horsepower and 156 foot-pounds of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, though the Limited trim offers a 6-speed automatic with shift paddles and rev-matched downshifting.

The Subaru has the lowest center of gravity of any mass-production car. It has low mounted struts at the front with sporty coil springs. The rear suspension is a double-wishbone setup adopted from the Subaru WRX STI. The car has a hefty bit of road feel and the Torsen limited-slip differential also helps with the rear wheel grip. The engine itself is high revving and has direct injection, although it misses out on the turbocharger that the WRX sports.

The Scion FR-S is basically the same car, sold by Scion as the BRZ and the FR-S were developed in collaboration by both brands. It has similar performance figures. They compete against the Nissan 370Z which has a beastly 3.7L V-6 tuned to offer power much above either car. Though comparing driving feel, the lower center of gravity on the Subaru makes it feel much more agile on the road.

Subaru BRZ Acceleration and braking

The Subaru BRZ is the quickest among the three, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.7 seconds.The Scion FR-S has similar figures, behind the BRZ by 0.1 second in both the performance checks. The Nissan falls behind with a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds, but is quicker in the quarter-mile by nearly a second at 13.6 seconds.

Coming to braking, the Subaru and the Scion come very close with their braking distances of 114 feet and 115 feet respectively.  The Nissan takes the least distance to stop, at 106 feet. In terms of brake sizes, the BRZ and the FR-S have the same brake rotor sizes,  at 11.6 inches front and 11.4 inches rear. The 370Z is equipped with much bigger brakes, at 12.6 inches front and rear, which aids in its better braking performance.

Subaru BRZ handling and steering

The BRZ is a gem when it comes to handling. The car's welll balanced chassis, combined with the well-tuned suspension make the ride quality enthralling. The car uses a suspension setup of struts at the front and a double wishbone setup at the rear. The 200 horses are enough to make you excited, but it wont appeal to the mad enthusiasts. The car's chassis is supremely communicative and will not mellow the experience, making you want more and more.

The steering on the BRZ is very precise and accurate. The car turns with the slightest of inputs and understands the driver. Excellent corner stability inspires confidence like no other. The BRZ is east to understand and use, and its clear when you are approaching the limits on this car.

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The Automatic transmission is the one to go for if fuel economy matters to you. Nevertheless, the small responsive 2.0L motor is quite frugal in any configuration. And that said with limited shifts, you could probably get a better mileage from the manual transmission. The automatic transmission returns 25 mpg in cities, 34 on highways, and 28 mpg combined. While the manual gearbox gives 22 mpg in cities, 30 on highways and 25 mpg combined.

The tiny 2.0L motor along with a small 13.2-gallon fuel tank gives both the BRZ and the Scion FR-S a combined range of around 317 miles. The large V-6 on the Nissan is much less frugal although the larger 19-gallon fuel tank has a longer range than either car, at 399 miles combined. The Nissan's economy figures are lower, at 21 mpg combined.

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The Subaru does a bad job at isolating you from the world, though that is exactly the purpose of the car, and the cabin feels poised to push your driving experience behind the wheel. The controls and display are modernized and easy to use. The interiors are simple but feel subpar compared to the other vehicles in this segment. Subaru's intention of keeping the interior simple probably went too dar. Even then, there is no lack of equipment and features on the base trim as well. Overall quality and finish can see improvements. 

The seats have enough bolstering and support to take you through curves, and the car can easily take two passengers for long durations as well. The low hood ahead makes visibility an easy task for anyone and everyone. Limited models get Alcantara seats with better bolstering. The back seat is another story, and it is almost impossible to get into it without jostling with the B-Pillar.

The interior dimensions of the car are analogous to that of the Scion FR-S. The Nissan 370Z offers only two seats, although taller passengers would be better suited for the car. Additionally the Nissan’s seats are better supported and seem more luxurious. Also, the space on the Nissan is much better than on the other two. Some standout interior features are:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Simulated suede and leather upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Height adjustable driver’s seat
• Keyless ignition and entry

How intuitive is the 2016 Subaru BRZ’s infotainment unit?

The BRZs also sport a 6.2-inch screen which feels much more modernized over the analog system in the past car. The screen has a great resolution, and is quite easy to operate, though this can be a bit clunky when repeatedly used. The infotainment includes BLuetooh and smartphone integration.

The audio system is an 8-speaker setup that is adequate for the small cabin and can actually drown out the noisy exterior. Some standout infotainment features include:

• 8-speaker audio
• Bluetooth
• Voice Control
• Navigation
• Aha Radio
• Pandora
• iHeartRadio
• Stitcher
• Weather and Calendar features

Cargo Capacity

The cargo capacity on the BRZ stands at 6.9 cubic feet. However, the foldable rear seats open up access to much more storage and cargo space. This cargo capacity is not at all great for this class.

 All the three cars surprisingly have the same cargo capacity, at 6.9 cubic feet. 

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The BRZ has been on sale for 4 years now, and it has always been a bit of an outlier in the rest of Subaru’s lineup. The car has a sports-car silhouette, five-spoke alloy wheels, flared fenders and stylized flanks. The arched roof and the long hood complete the aggressive look. What's been efficient about the design is that it follows the simple sports car profile, but it is very well made at the same time. The low hood on the front shows the lower set grille on the front bumper with menancing headlamps. The side shows the big wheel archees and the sloping roofline mixing into the neatly designed tail.

Apart from the headlamp design, there is nothing the BRZ shares in design terms with other cars from Subaru. Unlike most other factors, the Subaru is slightly heavier than the FR-S, by around 40 lbs. Otherwise, both the cars share the same dimensions inside out. 

Unsurprisingly the Nissan 370Z is the heaviest car of the lot. And the petite Nissan is still the shortest vehicle in the competition. Though compared to the wheelbase the Subaru and the Scion FR-S offer a slightly lengthier one reflecting on stability and dynamics. Some standout exterior features are:

• LED headlights and tail lights
• Power windows
• LED fog lamps
• Rear Spoiler
• Auto-leveling headlights

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The crash-test ratings for the car are top-notch. The car offers high occupant safety standards offered by the rest of Subaru’s lineup. The NHTSA has awarded the car a 5-star rating, while the IIHS has given it a “Good” rating as well as an “Acceptable” score for the small overlap frontal crash. Some standout safety features offered in the new Subaru BRZ are:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Curtain 1st And 2nd Row Airbags
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Pretensioners
• Back-Up Camera

Subaru BRZ vs Scion FR-S

Since the BRZ was developed in partnership with Toyota, it is almost identical to the Scion FR-S. We can safely say that they are badge-engineered but there’s still plenty of differences. The BRZ looks a lot more appealing to begin with. It also has more standard features and handling is a lot more precise.

However, there's more similarities than differences. The cars have similar performance numbers, similar crash test scores. Also, the interior on the Scion has more appeal to it than of the BRZ.

Subaru BRZ vs Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370Z is more powerful than the Subaru BRZ, and is a much better offering overall. It has high value for money, superior interiors and a more defined exterior as well. The 370Z's V6 is much more refined as well. Both the cars have excellent handling capabilities. The Nissan's braking is more precise, but it lacks in terms of the initial acceleration, due to its heavy weight.

The 370Z and the BRZ have the same trunk size. The BRZ is much more reliable as well. In terms of safety, the BRZ gets a 5-star rating whereas the 370Z has not been tested yet. Also, the BRZ is less expensive than the 370Z, by around $1500.

Through and through an enthusiast’s car, the 2016 Subaru BRZ continues on its well designed and agile frame. The engine response is powerful and the body dynamics of the car are reminiscent of costly sports cars. The interior and the ergonomics could take a bit of work, though the BRZ is sure to get a smile from you when you take it out for a spin along curvy roads. 

The car is well priced to the point of being almost inexpensive, and comes with a plethora of racing spec options right from the dealership. As such it is definitely worth consideration in the compact sports coupe segment.

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