2019 Subaru BRZ Review

Name: 2019 Subaru BRZ Review
Brand: Subaru

Price Range: $23,590 - $25,990

2019 Subaru BRZ Limited Coupe Exterior Shown

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by Jason Kavanagh^{Senior Vehicle Test Engineer
Jason joined Edmunds' testing team in 2006 as a vehicle testing engineer. Jason believes true appreciation of modern cars stems from owning really, really bad old ones.}

Pros

Balanced and forgiving handling makes for an easy and fun drive
Comfortable and supportive front seats
Better tech than what's offered by its Toyota twin

Cons

Tepid acceleration with no engine upgrade offered
Significant engine noise and freeway noise

What's new

New limited-edition Series.Gray trim level
Over-the-air updates added to the navigation system
Part of the first BRZ generation introduced in 2013

When it was introduced in 2013, the Subaru BRZ was like a cool, refreshing drink of water in an arid wasteland. At the time, there were few sporting vehicles that weighed less than 3,000 pounds and drove their rear wheels. The BRZ's compact size, sharp dynamics and low price of entry were a revelation.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Hamden, CT

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2019 Subaru BRZ
Limited Coupe
$22,895
- 47,690 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl manual
- Prime Auto Sales (115 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Whitman, MA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (21 City/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1ZCAC18K9600553
Stock: CVK-472
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Stock photo^**
2019 Subaru BRZ
Limited Coupe
$20,997
- 58,859 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use
- 4cyl manual
- Sanford Imports (529 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Sandford, NC
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
24 Combined MPG (21 City/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JF1ZCAC12K9601049
Stock: 7005052B
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 04-14-2025

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It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. The main target of criticism was its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine's characteristics in everyday driving. It was coarse-sounding and exhibited a dearth of torque right smack-dab in the middle of the rev range.

The 2019 Subaru BRZ is much the same car, despite running changes over the years. A significant engine overhaul in 2017 resulted in an almost unnoticeable uptick in power and remarkably similar power delivery to the previous engine. There have also been a few minor tweaks to the suspension tuning along the way but nothing that fundamentally alters the plot.

There are some great alternatives if you want more power, such as the Honda Civic and the Hyundai Veloster. Nevertheless, the BRZ remains what it has always been: a rewarding, lightweight and affordable sport coupe. We're just waiting for the turbo.

What's it like to live with?

Get to know even more about the Subaru BRZ! Learn about day-to-day ownership from our editorial experts' long-term test of a 2013 Limited. We know it is fun and relatively affordable. How comfortable was the ride? How was the fuel economy? Was the cargo room big enough for everyday use? Learn this and more from our test. Note that the 2019 BRZ differs slightly from the 2013 model we tested — the manual-transmission version gained more power in 2017 — but our coverage is otherwise applicable.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.4 / 10

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Subaru BRZ (2.0L flat-4 | 6-speed manual | RWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2017, the current BRZ has received some revisions, including a revised infotainment system in 2018. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's BRZ, however.

Scorecard

Overall	7.4 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	7.5
Interior	7.5
Utility	7.5
Technology	5.5

Driving

8.0

When it comes to feel, precision and handling, the BRZ is near the top of the class. It's an absolute blast to drive this car around turns. But the BRZ's weakest link is the engine. Its performance and thrashy sound are disappointing and knock the score down a notch.

Acceleration

6.0

The manual-equipped BRZ is tricky to launch aggressively because of its quick clutch engagement. Our best run yielded a 0-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds, which is underwhelming for a sport coupe. The engine suffers from a lack of midrange torque, too, which makes for sluggish roll-on highway passes and the like.

Braking

7.5

Initial impressions are very good, with a firm but easy-to-modulate pedal feel around town. And there's fairly impressive stopping power and grip from the relatively humble tires. But during aggressive driving, the pedal becomes harder to modulate.

Steering

9.0

As it should be for a car like this, steering is very direct and nearly telepathic. The steering's quick nature rewards smooth driving and minimal inputs.

Handling

8.5

The BRZ is wonderfully playful, and it's refreshing to drive a car that doesn't demand triple-digit speeds to return triple-digit heart rates. It's rear-wheel-drive, though, and can get darty if you're too reactive or lose focus. Managing rear-end grip is the key.

Drivability

7.0

The shifter requires some effort in order to change gears, but throws are short and shift gates are well-defined. It's down to the flat-four engine here. It's responsive below 3,000 rpm but falls flat on its face when you need it most. Longer highway grades can't be pulled in sixth gear.

Comfort

7.5

There's nothing to complain about if performance and sheer driving pleasure are what you're all about. To the more casual driver, though, the Subaru might seem a little noisy, rough riding and confining.

Seat comfort

7.5

Other than the upper part of the seats looking like wetsuits (Katzkin, anyone?), they offer great lateral torso support. But leg support is lacking, and your back will get hot very quickly because these seats do not breathe well.

Ride comfort

7.5

It doesn't crash over bumps, but you'll feel every little imperfection. Overall, the BRZ's suspension does a good job of maintaining body control, but it might be too stiff for those who aren't committed to putting exciting handling over a comfortable ride.

Noise & vibration

6.0

These tires bring the noise on coarse surfaces. Sound deadening is kept to a minimum, so the BRZ is definitely on the loud side. Wind noise becomes quite noticeable at higher speeds. It's never too much for the enthusiast, but passengers might disagree. The engine can sound thrashy at high rpm, too.

Climate control

7.5

With a small cabin and big vents, this dual-zone system works well enough to cool things down quickly. The controls seem needlessly ornate, don't match the rest of the cabin, and can be blocked by the shifter when in the odd-numbered gears.

Interior

7.5

The Subaru isn't going to win any interior design awards. But with plenty of space, good visibility and most every control at your fingertips, the BRZ is a comfortable companion through spirited driving.

Ease of use

6.0

Subaru has packed a lot of redundancy into this small space. The control layout is cluttered, though. And while it's not unusable, you can get confused over which interface you're supposed to use.

Getting in/getting out

7.5

As expected, the BRZ sits low to the ground. But a wide door opening and unobtrusive seat cushion help make it relatively easy to get in. Rear-seat access is nearly a joke; it's a tiny step-through. And the front seats do not return to the way you had them configured after sliding them forward.

Driving position

8.5

For as low as you sit, the preferred driving position is surprisingly upright. It does take a bit of getting used to, but the seat adjustments and distance from the seat to the wheel and pedals should be agreeable to most drivers.

Roominess

7.5

There's ample room for the front passengers. Nothing with feelings can sit in the back. But for this class of car, rear-seat space isn't typically a priority.

Visibility

8.0

With a tall, wide windshield and a low hood, forward visibility is pretty good. The view out the back is a little compromised, but the rear-quarter windows do help when changing lanes. A fairly high-resolution backup camera aids in the tightest of quarters, but we wish the displayed images were larger.

Quality

7.5

With such a firm ride and a rigid chassis, it'll be interesting to see how the BRZ holds up over time, but we didn't notice any squeaks or rattles in our test car. The hollow-sounding doors are reminders of the car's light weight, but nothing feels on the cheap side.

Utility

7.5

A small coupe like the BRZ certainly has its storage space disadvantages, but with folding rear seats and a real-world usable trunk the BRZ shouldn't be reserved to weekend duty.

Small-item storage

7.0

Small, hard plastic door pockets and a center console tray with removable cupholders are about all you get in the BRZ. It's not great, but at least the items stored are truly out of your way while driving vigorously.

Cargo space

8.0

While the trunk opening isn't particularly generous, it can hold a decent amount of smaller-size items. With the back seat folded, the BRZ will swallow a set of tires. The narrowing of the trunk into the back seat can make it difficult to slide wider items through.

Technology

5.5

The BRZ's technology is dated. Even though it's new for Subaru, the touchscreen's mismatched appearances, lack of features and cluttered operation leave you wishing you could buy a BRZ without any of it at all.

Audio & navigation

5.0

The interface in the BRZ is a real disappointment. The 6.2-inch touchscreen interface lacks speed and features and is not intuitive to use. For this reason, getting the Limited with its upgraded infotainment system is a good idea.

Driver aids

7.5

The BRZ lacks most of today's advanced driver safety aids. The stability control system works well and can be adjusted to allow the driver to have a little more tail-out fun. The advanced driver will still prefer to defeat the system entirely, which can be done easily.

Voice control

6.5

Voice recognition is commendable, never missing a word, but the voice that speaks back is unnatural and dated. The system is a bit slow to access music and playlists, and even with the clumsy manual interface, it's simply faster to do it yourself.

Compare 2019 Subaru BRZ trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2019 Subaru BRZ models

The 2019 Subaru BRZ is a two-door sport coupe available in three trim levels: Premium, Limited and the limited-production Series.Gray. All of them come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive. With the standard six-speed manual, the engine produces 205 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. Those figures dip to 200 hp and 151 lb-ft with the optional six-speed automatic transmission.

Standard equipment on the BRZ Premium includes 17-inch wheels, summer performance tires, LED headlights, a trunk spoiler, heated mirrors, a height-adjustable driver's seat, cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, a folding rear seatback, a 6.2-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, a variety of smartphone-streaming audio apps, dual USB ports, and an eight-speaker sound system with a media player interface, an auxiliary audio jack, a CD player and satellite radio.

Stepping up to the BRZ Limited adds LED foglights, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, simulated-suede upholstery with outer seat portions in black leather, heated front seats, an enhanced trip computer display, and a 7-inch touchscreen that brings with it integrated TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Only the Limited can be fitted with the optional automatic transmission. Its optional Performance package adds Sachs performance dampers, Brembo high-performance brakes and gray-painted alloy wheels.

The limited-edition Series.Gray trim comes with unique wheels, cabin trim and badges, a frameless rearview mirror, and the Performance package.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Subaru BRZ Premium 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.99 per gallon for premium unleaded in Connecticut.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Connecticut

$203/mo

$164/mo

Avg. Compact Car

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#24 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Subaru BRZ from 2008-2022.}

$566/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.7x/yr

vs. 1.22x/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

25.6%

vs. 10.1%
for Average Subcompact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Subaru BRZ Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.2

26 reviews

5(54%)

4(35%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(11%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

The Perfect Sports Car - For the Price

Ken, 02/04/2016

2016 Subaru BRZ Series.HyperBlue 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)

Keeping in mind that you can get the BRZ for less than $30,000 it is, in my opinion, the best sports car of the modern era. The driving position, steering feel, and ability for an amateur driver to push the BRZ to the limit is the reason that it makes every driver smile. The point of the BRZ (or the FR-S, or GT 86 since they are all essentially the same car) is to make a grown-up feel …

A fun daily driver - but with a cost

James, 02/22/2017

2016 Subaru BRZ Limited 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)

The big thing to know about this car is that Subaru/Toyota wanted a cheap performance car that would make drivers smile. They succeeded, but the cheapness can come back to bite long-term owners. I have daily-driven the car for a year and 14,000 miles, so I have had the proper seat time to write a review. The two companies decided to put the whole budget into the drivetrain. My car in … this respect has been solid. I replaced the transmission, differential, and engine oils myself, and the engineers really put a lot of thought into how to do that easily. On the flip side, most nuts and bolts on this car are made out of very weak metal, leading to all the wheel studs being stripped in just a few changes. The interior rattles like crazy, the speakers buzz at higher volumes, which are needed because of loud road noise. I had two sets of tail lights leak, and my headlight ballasts went out and needed replacement. The list goes on. The car will continue to drive and handle beautifully, but the non-essentials will entropy around you. The maintenance bill won't be in the thousands, but I have constantly had $100 here and there to replace the cheap parts. I am 6'2" and 190 pounds and am triangle-shaped. Think broad shoulders and small waist. This car's seats are the most comfortable I have ever sat in. I want these for my office, house, and every car afterward. That being said, if I was an inch taller or 20 pounds heavier, I would hate them. All of my 'larger' friends hate riding in the car. My wife is tall and thin, and she hates hunching over to get in/out of the passenger side. Holding on to the steering wheel makes the driver's side easy. People like to say this car is slow. For muscle-car owners who love straight line speed, this car is not for you. I don't want any more power out of it, because I get to floor it during daily driving, and I don't get speeding tickets. It's exhilarating without being too dangerous. Countless journalists have raved about the balance and steering - all I know is that the car feels super secure going 30+ mph over suggested speed limits on turns. If I was looking at a BRZ and similar cars today, I personally would just save my money and buy a Mazda Miata RF. That being said, I still roll the windows down on a warm day and just go for a drive to relax. This car does this at a great price, and I would recommend it to a friend - if they are willing to deal with the mentioned issues.

Unlike anything out there

Tom, 07/11/2019

2019 Subaru BRZ Limited 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6A)

The car feels very mechanical and analog. The handling is out of this world and if you keep the RPM right it’s fast enough. I am 6 foot 3 and Have enough room in it.

BRZ

allie henry, 04/30/2019

2019 Subaru BRZ Limited 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 6M)

A great, speck of a sports car. Definitely not for a big person, but for the right size this car is wonderful. It handles great on corners and accelorates great from a roll. The interior is sleek with stylish accents. The back seat is small but would get someone from A to B if needed. I wouldn't recommend this to a family, but for a single person or a couple it could be the perfect fit. …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Subaru BRZ, so we've included reviews for other years of the BRZ since its last redesign.

See all 26 reviews of the Subaru BRZ

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2019 BRZ Highlights

Trim:

Premium

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$25,795
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$203/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	6.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the BRZ models:

Side Curtain Airbags: Automatically deploy when the car has been struck from the side. Cover the windows of both rows and protect occupants' heads.
Vehicle Stability Control: Uses the brakes and reduces power to prevent accidents. A Track mode reins in this intervention to allow some sliding.
Brake Assist: Automatically applies full braking force when the car detects the driver is initiating a panic strop.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover7.1%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Acceptable
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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