Test drive of the new Subaru BRZ – The individual characters of the BRZ and 86 were clearly established

Which is faster, the Toyota 86 or the Subaru BRZ?

In the new BRZ, the rear stabilizer bar is now mounted to the body, which developers say reduces body roll. Additionally, they revised the spring and damper characteristics to improve handling stability and reduced the "torsional spring" effect of the top mount and damper bushings to minimize friction during suspension stroke.

Test drive of the new Subaru BRZ – The individual characters of the BRZ and 86 were clearly established | SUBARU

Of course, the steering is not dull, the car follows precisely, and thanks to the well-damped suspension system, cornering remains a strong suit.

Lightweight materials are also used to lower the center of gravity. For example, aluminum is used for the roof, front fenders, front suspension housing, and hood.

Subaru notes that they focused on the problem of "brittle compounds forming at the weld interface between dissimilar metals, causing them to peel off easily." By appropriately using five different joining methods, they have managed to bond the aluminum roof to the steel body, which is quite impressive.

The manual shifter has a satisfying feel and is pleasant to operate. Although the gate spacing is short, it's difficult to misshift. The clutch also feels robust, and it's genuinely enjoyable to shift gears while keeping the engine revs high.

The engine torque feels a bit thin in the lower rev range, so a manual transmission is ideal for keeping the revs above 3000rpm. As someone who loves driving manual cars with less torque, I found it particularly appealing.

Which is faster, the Toyota 86 or the Subaru BRZ? Even racing drivers seem to have differing opinions. Essentially, the individual characters of the two models have been clearly established.

It's a 2+2, and while the rear seats are cramped for passengers, the benefit of being able to store luggage is significant. Furthermore, the rear seatbacks can be easily folded down using levers located in the front seats, allowing for considerable storage space when using the trunk pass-through. The new model shows considerable attention to detail in terms of practicality.

The price for the "S" model, which I test drove, starts at 3,267,000 yen, and the "R" model starts at 3,080,000 yen. The tires are high-performance types: 215/45R17 for the "S" and 215/40R18 for the "R." The "S" model has 8 speakers compared to 6 in the "R," and front seat heaters are standard. There isn't a significant difference in comfort features.

Spec

SUBARU BRZ (Specifications for S model)