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2017 Subaru BRZ review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
6 photos

Subaru BRZ highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • Excellent steering
  • Well-balanced chassis
  • Comfortable front seats

Cons

  • Cramped rear seat
  • Modest acceleration
  • Small trunk

Mileage (EPA estimate)

21 city, 29 highway, 24 combined

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The 2017 Subaru BRZ is a stylish, fun-to-drive two-door sport coupe

The Subaru BRZ is a proper sport coupe, boasting a well-balanced chassis, rear-wheel drive, and exciting driving characteristics. The only model in the Subaru lineup without all-wheel drive, the BRZ is the virtual twin to the Toyota 86. For the 2017 model year, the BRZ gets its most significant update since it was introduced in 2013. The engine output is slightly higher with the manual gearbox and said gearbox has also been revised for improved acceleration. The suspension has also been retuned, and upgrades have been made throughout the BRZ's cabin.

Subaru offers the 2017 BRZ in three trim levels, including the Series.Yellow, a limited-edition fully loaded variant with yellow paint, black badges, and a black and yellow interior color scheme. While the BRZ is hard to beat for great fun behind the wheel, rivals like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro have much more powerful options, while the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI are more versatile.

All Subaru BRZ years

What is new for the 2017 Subaru BRZ?

  • The BRZ is available in a new trim called the Series.Yellow.
  • The Series.Hyperblue trim has been discontinued for 2017.
  • BRZ trims have been upgraded with Leather Seats and Satellite Radio Ready as standard equipment this year.
  • Navigation System features are now available as options on select trims.
  • The Premium trim now comes with Rear Spoiler as standard equipment.

Subaru BRZ photos

5 reasons to buy the 2017 Subaru BRZ

What We Like 

  • Driving: It may not be a high-powered sports car, but the Subaru BRZ is one of the most enjoyable driver's cars on the road. With excellent steering, a firm suspension, and a smooth transmission, the BRZ feels balanced and confident on a twisty back road and also delivers a comfortable ride when cruising on the freeway. There is some road noise, but not enough to be troublesome. 

  • Crashworthiness: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Subaru BRZ Good ratings for all crash tests except the small overlap front test, which earned the BRZ an Average rating. A rating of four out of five stars was awarded the BRZ by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for frontal crashworthiness. 

  • Interior: The BRZ has a simple, clean interior design that's nothing fancy but still stylish and comfortable. Features like a 6.2-inch touchscreen display, GPS navigation, HD radio, and Bluetooth® connectivity come standard on all trims of the BRZ. The front seats are firm and well shaped, and they provide excellent support during enthusiastic driving while remaining comfortable for long road trips. However, the rear seats are cramped, with limited legroom and headroom.  

What Needs Improvement 

  • Utility: Since the BRZ is a sport coupe, there aren't high expectations for utility. Still, trunk space in this sporty Subaru is just 6.9 cubic feet, and there's limited storage in the cabin. Folding down the rear seats, though, does improve cargo space dramatically. 

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

3
1
2
Above Average

RepairPal gave the Subaru BRZ an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Subaru BRZ 24th out of 27 among Subcompact Cars.

View RepairPal's full rating of the Subaru BRZ

Subaru BRZ features and specs

Limited 2WD 2D Coupe

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • CD Audio
  • Cruise Control
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • Leather & Suede Seats
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear Spoiler
  • Rear View Camera
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Side Airbags
  • Smart Key
  • Traction Control
  • Alloy Wheels
  • Navigation System

Drive Wheels

Rear Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

2.0L

Horsepower

200

Torque (ft-lbs)

151

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

13.2

Wheelbase

101.2"

Overall length

166.7"

Width

69.9"

Height

50.6"

Leg room

F 41.9"/R 29.9"

Head room

F 37.1"/R 35"

Front tires

P215/45WR17

Rear tires

P215/45WR17

Seating capacity

4

Transmission

Automatic

2017 Subaru BRZ FAQ

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