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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2013 Subaru BRZ

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Overview

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2013 Subaru BRZ Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 8.0

The 2013 Subaru BRZ is a compact rear-wheel-drive sports car that exists solely to engage its driver and deliver high-performance thrills on the streets and at the racetrack. That's the kind of simple mission statement we can get behind. Tight steering, a well-sorted suspension and firm, capable brakes help the BRZ deliver ample dynamic fun, while a comparatively modest price tag makes that fun accessible to passionate drivers of common means The BRZ competes in the same rear-drive ring as the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang and Hyundai Genesis Coupe, but proves itself to be a formidable opponent with its lightweight body and high-strung attitude.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive and fun-to-drive rear-wheel-drive compact sports car, it's hard to beat the all-new Subaru BRZ. That it has a gorgeous form factor, two (albeit small) rear seats, and good fuel economy are icing on an already delectable cake.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If your idea of a sports coupe is one with a V6 or V8 engine and a larger overall size for the money, you might be better off with a Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang or Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

8.0
Driving Dynamics

8.5
Comfort & Convenience

6.5
Design: Interior & Exterior

8.5
Value

8.0
Safety

N/A

How It Ranks

#4

out of 8

MPG

#5

out of 8

Horsepower

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Consumer Rating

9.8 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2013

A Subaru without all-wheel drive seems like sacrilege, but considering the kind of holy fun offered up by the 2013 BRZ we're willing to overlook its rear-drive sin. While it's a technical twin of the Scion FR-S, the BRZ adds a bit of luxury to the performance equation by offering a more upscale interior.

Driving the BRZ

Driving Impressions If the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang are large broad swords, then the Subaru BRZ is a finely balanced samurai blade. Its well-sorted suspension and limited-slip differential allow the BRZ...

to tackle curvy roads with precision and every steering and throttle input from the driver is met with immediate response. Diving into and out of corners may be the BRZ's forte, but the Subaru's sports-car performance appeal extends to its responsive braking and a 2.0-liter engine with smooth, linear power delivery all the way up to its 7,000-rpm redline. And while it may look and feel like a racecar, the BRZ is comfortable enough for your daily commute.

Favorite Features

VOICE-ACTIVATED GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEM
While the BRZ's competitors can be equipped with a navigation system, none of them have one on their lists of standard equipment.

IMPRESSIVE FUEL ECONOMY
We really like that the Subaru BRZ is able to achieve up to 34 mpg highway (with an automatic transmission, no less) while providing all the fun of a sports car.

2013 Subaru BRZ Details

2013 Subaru BRZ Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

Billed as a 2+2 sports car the 2013 Subaru BRZ is best thought of as a 2-seater thanks to elfin rear bucket seats sized for emergency use only. Up front, occupants enjoy more human-like comfort with reasonable head space and comfortable yet incredibly supportive sport seats. The plastic-clad interior isn't fancy, but it offers simple functionality with minimal distraction, smartly keeping the driver focused on the joy of driving.

Exterior

Eye the all-new Subaru BRZ up and down and you might notice it bears a striking resemblance to the recently introduced Scion FR-S. The fact is, besides some minor details, the 2013 BRZ and FR-S are identical twins (we'll leave you to figure out which is the evil one). A long hood, abbreviated trunk, and a squat, planted stance all hint at the BRZ's sporting credentials. In person Subaru's coupe has a more charming presence than in pictures due to its small, athletic dimensions.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Anchoring the BRZ's standard equipment list are a Torsen limited-slip differential, a navigation system with 6.1-inch touchscreen, six airbags, and an 8-speaker audio system with auxiliary and USB inputs.

Optional Equipment

Buyers looking to enhance the basic Subaru BRZ premium trim can step up to the Limited trim, which adds heated seats with Alcantara inserts and leather bolsters, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lights, keyless entry and engine start, and a rear spoiler.

Under the Hood

We have hopes for a turbocharged engine option in the future, but for now the sole engine available in the 2013 Subaru BRZ is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder producing 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the engine's horizontally-opposed layout the Subaru BRZ boasts an extremely low center of gravity, enhancing the vehicle's handling abilities. Engine power is sent to the rear wheels via a standard 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic transmission.

2.0-liter flat-4
200 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
151 lb-ft of torque @ 6,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/30 mpg (manual), 25/34 mpg (automatic)

Pricing Notes

The 2013 Subaru BRZ Premium trim has a starting price of $26,265 with the fancier Limited trim adding another $2,000 to the total. It's priced a little higher than its competitors – the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Hyundai Genesis Coupe – but keep in mind that the BRZ offers an all-inclusive package unlike the others whose many options and trim variations can drive up the bottom line. Be sure to check the KBB.com Fair Purchase Price to see what other BRZ buyers in your area are paying for their cars. Over a 5-year period, we expect the Subaru BRZ to retain its resale value much more than its American and Korean rivals.

To find out what consumers are really paying for this vehicle, first select a style to see the Fair Purchase Price| Calculate payments for this vehicle

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Subaru BRZ vehicles for sale near you.

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2013 Subaru BRZ Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.8

Out of 10

Based on 8 Ratings for the 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

9.9/10

Quality

9.5/10
Reliability

10.0/10

Performance

9.9/10
Comfort

9.0/10

Styling

9.4/10

BRZ is the complete package

By ducatismo (TX) on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 5,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"If you are looking for a affordable, reliable, dynamic, practical and just plain fun car then look no further. I picked my up in New York and drove the 2600 miles back to Dallas. Drive was very comfortable and MPG was unbelievable. At only 200hp the car is still very capable of delivering a incredible driving experience. I just wrapped up a track day at the new F1 track in Austin and besides giving the pass to faster cars ont the straights, the BRZ was kicking butt where it counts, in the corners. Man does this car handle. I have 5k on it and have been able to squeeze some more power/torque via a catback exhaust and cold air intake. Though no monstrous HP gains it definitely helps. Also added Stoptech brake pads, huge difference. Granted, these are updates for track use so other wise the car bone stock is more than enough. Highly recommend buying the interior trim from JPM Coach. Really makes the cabin come together. All in all, fantastic drivers/family/daily driver's car."

7 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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Great handling machine, a bit too much road noise

By Blubaru (TX) on Tuesday, January 01, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 4,700

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Fun to drive, great handling. Superb MPG"

Cons: "Road Noise is annoying"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Excellent car for a weekend get away, driving around town, or the old fashion Sunday drive. The MPG is exceptional and this car is really fun to drive. Long trips are taxing on body and road noise is annoying."

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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A blast to drive -- Attracts gawkers

By Scott N. (CA) on Monday, November 12, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 575

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Awesome handling, great design aesthetics, value!"

Cons: "Touch screen navigation is icky"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"We've been Subie fans for well over a decade. When I saw the BRZ announcement and the early reviews, I knew I found the replacement for my Subaru Legacy GT. We've put about 575 miles on the car in a couple of weeks. Still babying the engine during the 1,000 mi break-in, so I have not explored the higher rev regime. That being said, this car will make anyone drive like a pro. It is sure-footed and instills confidence in driving. For fun I've tossed the car through a few corners and it is amazing how well the car goes hard through corners. Accelerate going around the cloverleaf to enter the highway, you bet, love the G's! The seats are like big hugs and hold you firmly in place. The car just seems to love going in something other than a straight line. The instrument panel at night is wonderful on the eyes. As a pilot, I've always loved red instrument panels because it is better for your night vision. Another cool feature on the Limited model is a projection adjustment on the HID head-lights. You can point them more down toward the road, or with a turn of a button raise them up to look farther down the road. This is a driver's car. If you love cars, love engineering, and love driving, you'll dig this car immensely. It isn't a screamer. For people that need lots of HP to over-compensate for something this is not the car for you. Handling, yes, power, so-so. At 200 HP the power to weight ratio is just dandy unless you are going to the track to race. There is a long waiting list for these cars. They are on allocation to the dealers. Ours took 9 months to come in to our dealer. I've heard rumors that Subaru is releasing 6,000 per year in the US market. That is NOT a lot. As soon as it shows up in "Fast and Furious" next year, the demand is only going up. I'm betting these cars hold their value very well over time. This car attracts a LOT of attention. Every time my wife and I come out of the market or she from her office, people are walking around the car looking in and at it. It is beautiful to look at. I've chatted with a lot of strangers who want to know all about the car. Subaru nailed it. *Seriously* nailed it. I loved my Legacy GT, but this BRZ is a worthy replacement and simply a joy to drive."

10 people out of 10 found this review helpful

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Better handling than my friends Ferrari and Porche

By Gilbert (NC) on Monday, September 24, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 900

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Incredible handling and fun to drive. Good mileage"

Cons: "Audio/navigation controls. Storage compartments."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This is an incredible sports car for the money! Although the horsepower is not comparable, the handling and visibility is superior to much more expensive vehicles. The limited trim is well worth the approximate $2000.00 for all the extras. The only improvements suggested would be larger and more convenient controls on the audio and navigation system, along with more cabin storage. The front seat comfort is very good and the rear seats are usable in a pinch. They also help the insurance cost. This car will be a classic and outpaces a similarly priced Miata in features and performance. Highly recommended!!!"

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Fantastic car for the money - fun, great MPG

By CAM1734 (OH) on Monday, August 13, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,500

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: Not Rated
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "great price, fun to drive, handles well"

Cons: "limited number of cup holders"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I picked up my Limited model with 6-speed on July 3rd -- now have 1500 miles on it and have averaged 32.8 mpg while enjoying the peformance (mix of city and highway driving). The car is fantastic -- loaded with features, drives great, handles well, and is an all-around a FUN car. The back seat is really there just for insurance purposes and that seems to work."

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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AWESOME CAR IF YOU CAN GET ONE

By kkobay01 (HI) on Saturday, August 04, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 850

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "TURNING, TORQUE, FLASHY CAR"

Cons: "NONE"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I purchased this car two months ago on a first come first serve basis. No mark-up on this car in honolulu. I've heard that the outer islands are marking this car up $5K more than MSRP! So i got a great deal at MSRP. Fun car the drive. People turn their heads when driving wondering what is that! Great gas mileage. Takes Premium gas. Worried about where i park the car. I honolulu there will be about 17 cars for the entire year for sale. So i lucked out. came to the dealership three hours before they opened. I snapped it up right away! You won't be disappointed with this hard to get roadster. Good luck finding one available for sale at MSRP."

1 person out of 3 found this review helpful

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