Originally published on August 12, 2012
Photo Gallery:
2013 Subaru BRZ
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
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If last week’s tester, the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid, was everything that car enthusiasts hate about today’s modern cars, yet the average consumer loves, then this week’s tester (another Toyota development), the 2013 Subaru BRZ, is the exact opposite. A no-compromise (or at least very little) sports coupe that is hard edged and brings driving back to its roots.
I’ve been looking forward to getting my spin behind the wheel of the Toyobaru twins, as they are so lovingly referred to, for a long time now and this week I am going to make the most of it. I had a quick spin in a Scion FR-S a few months ago when a friend allowed me to take it for a run on an autocross course but I wasn’t so impressed as I had been driving my own car all day and the FR-S just felt slow—in the short time I’ve had with the BRZ I’ve come to realize my lack of proper judgement that day.
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Subaru’s version of this car, the BRZ, comes in two flavours; I have the base model that starts at $27,295, and there is a Sport Tech package that is also available and bumps the price to $29,295. The Sport Tech package adds keyless entry with push-button start, Anthracite black leather with red stitching, heated front seats, rear trunk spoiler, and fog lights—all the stuff you could live without but not a bad deal for another three thousand.
The BRZ comes standard with some features you do not get on the standard Scion version, like HID headlamps and LED daytime running lamps and a standard Pioneer audio with navigation, but it is $1300 more to start as well. The BRZ is also the only non-AWD car in Subaru’s lineup, so you may not see much advertising from Subaru (although some has started) as it does kind of go against the AWD mentality of their showroom.
Nevertheless, as an enthusiast and a journalist I am excited to see if this car lives up to the hype or not, and this week I am going to put it through the paces.
MSRP as tested (including destination): $27,295
For more information on Subaru and the BRZ visit Subaru Canada
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