2013 Subaru BRZ Limited

Everything. The Subaru BRZ is a new model for 2013. Subaru and Toyota teamed up to build a sports car that’s sold around the world as the BRZ, the Scion FR-S, and the Toyota GT 86. This is exactly the car enthusiasts have been waiting for—2762 pounds, rear-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual transmission. This particular Subaru is more at home on a paved track than a gravel rally route because the BRZ is the only model in Subaru showrooms that isn’t all-wheel drive.

A compact coupe, the 2013 Subaru BRZ features a sporty exterior with flared fenders and short overhangs. It bears a lean and muscular appearance, with long, flowing lines and exquisitely contoured edges. The front-end styling includes an aggressive-looking grille and headlight design. Engineered in conjunction with Toyota long with the Scion FR-S, the BRZ bears a striking resemblance to that car. The Premium trim features 17-inch, alloy wheels with summer tires, automatic bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights, and keyless entry. The Limited trim level adds fog lights and a rear spoiler, as well as heated mirrors. The BRZ is available in a choice of several body colors, including WR Blue Pearl, Galaxy Blue Silica, and Sterling Silver Metallic. A choice of several excellent options for the exterior are available as well, including chrome fender trim, a rear bumper diffuser, and a rear bumper applique.

The cabin of the 2013 Subaru BRZ is simple and straightforward. A blend of Subaru and Toyota design elements, the interior may not seem quite as flashy as some of its major competitors, though this basic design was intentional. The front seats of the BRZ are comfortable enough to handle hard driving as well as long drives, with plenty of support. Drivers of any height can adjust comfortably in position and visibility out of the windshield is excellent. The back seats are a bit confining even for average-size adults, with restrictive leg- and hip-room and practically no headroom. Space in the trunk is rather limited as well, equipped with a mere 6.9 cubic feet, though folding down its modest rear seats manages a bit more cargo space. Both trim levels are loaded with a host of great standard features. Both models feature a standard navigation system and HD radio which work by a touchscreen interface. This interface can be a bit tricky to use, however, with small virtual buttons that are difficult to hit on the first try. Audio controls are also found on this interface, rather than on the steering wheel where they would be far easier to use. Full power accessories, including two one-touch power windows, are included as standard features, as well as cruise control, air-conditioning, and Sirius XM with NavTraffic satellite radio. Bluetooth wireless connectivity for hands-free calls is also included standard. The Limited trim features a few extra goodies for the interior, with such accessories as leather seating as opposed to the cloth seats of the Premium model, dual zone climate controls, and multi-level heating for the driver and passenger seats.

The 2013 Subaru BRZ comes equipped with the usual safety features standard, including such basic accessories as four-wheel, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, dual front side-mounted airbags, and front and rear head airbags. In brake testing, the BRZ came to a stop from 60 miles per hour in a good 114 feet, which is about what is expected from a car equipped with summer tires. The Subaru BRZ received the highest rating of ""Good"" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its frontal and side impact tests, as well as its roof strength test. They also awarded the BRZ the designation as a Top Safety Pick for this year.

As a performer, the 2013 Subaru BRZ is not the fastest car on the road, falling a bit short of some of its major competitors. Where the BRZ does deliver is in its sharp handling, capable of cornering with ease and offering some of the best communication to be found between the driver and the road. Nearly every nuance of the road is noticed by the driver, making the BRZ an engaging and thrilling car to drive. The ride is also rather comfortable and smooth, taking bump roads like a champ. Whether getting up to highway speeds or zipping around in city traffic, the BRZ offers an enthralling ride. One notable flaw is the amount of road noise the vehicle produces. The BRZ includes a rear-wheel drive system and a standard six-speed, manual transmission. A six-speed, automatic transmission with steering wheel shift paddle is available as an option. The BRZ goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds, though when equipped with the automatic transmission it gets there in a slightly worse 7.9 seconds. These speeds come in quite alongside other sports cars in its class. The manual transmission gets an estimated fuel economy of 22/30 mpg city/highway and 25 mpg combined, while the automatic transmission gets a little better with 25/34 mpg city/highway and 28 mpg combined.

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