Is The Subaru BRZ Really As Slow As Owners Say It Is?

Subaru BRZ (and its twin, Toyota GR86) is a two-door sports coupe with four seats, rear-wheel drive, and an optional six-speed manual transmission that is fun to drive. The BRZ is also reasonably priced, with all four available trim levels priced under $38,000. The BRZ is now in its second generation and has been widely praised by car owners and automotive media. But apparently, that’s not enough for some keyboard warriors who claim BRZ is slow. Specifically, some online reviewers complained about the lack of horsepower, listing more powerful cars on the market that they believed had better acceleration.

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At the test track, Car and Driver put the BRZ through its paces, accelerating from zero to 60 mph 5.4 seconds. Start it right and floor the throttle, and it’ll hit the quarter mile in 14.0 seconds at 101 mph. This isn’t the age of supercars, but it’s not the age of sloths either. The BRZ’s top speed is estimated to be around 140 mph. But is it slow? How do these numbers compare to a small, relatively cheap two-door sports coupe? When it comes to measuring speed, it’s all about context, so let’s put the BRZ into that.

Driving the BRZ is not a boring experience. Steering and handling are excellent. Go to any local track day or off-road event and you’ll likely see a few BRZs (or GR86s) zipping around the corners with their owners with big smiles on their faces. But if these events took place on a racing track, would you see the same enthusiastic smiles?

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this Mazda MiataOne of the BRZ’s strongest competitors, it has similar acceleration times: 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. A quarter mile? The Miata takes 14.3 seconds to hit 96 mph, so the longer the Subaru goes, the better the performance. Another fun, attainable compact car with sporty intentions, Honda Civic is Worth considering. With 200 hp and four doors, the Si is slightly less powerful and heavier than the BRZ, but it accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and hits the quarter mile in 14.9 seconds — noticeably slower. Some.

Internet reviewers have compared the BRZ to midsize sedans like the Camry and Altima, so let’s look at those cars as well. When Car and Driver tested the 2024 Nissan Altima, it went from zero to 7.6 mph 60 mph Second. this All-new 2025 Camry? It completes the sprint in 6.8 seconds. The new V8-powered Ford Mustang will beat the BRZ from 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds, as will the EcoBoost Mustang (0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds), but the BRZ compares favorably with the stock car.

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The current 2025 Subaru BRZ is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter boxer four-cylinder engine. It produces 228 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 3,700 rpm. While that may not seem like a lot of power, the BRZ has a curb weight of less than 2,900 pounds in all three trim levels: Premium (2,820 pounds), Limited (2,837 pounds) and tS (2,851 pounds). This makes the BRZ feel light on its feet. A car’s weight is important when it comes to straight-line acceleration, but it also has a big impact when considering braking, handling and overall driving dynamics. The lighter the car, the better it feels when driving and the less power it requires to feel sporty.

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The BRZ’s lightweight isn’t its only sporty element, either—there’s a ton of equipment available that makes the BRZ an enthusiast’s playground. The BRZ’s standard six-speed manual transmission features a limited-slip differential for better traction and handling. Depending on which trim level you choose, the BRZ also offers features like Brembo brakes (with gold-painted calipers), STI-tuned suspension dampers, and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. Even without the high-power upgrades available on the options sheet, the BRZ is a solid choice for shoppers who want a little entertainment in their daily drives.

If you’re at a drag racing track, your 0-to-60-mph time and speed through the quarter mile certainly matter, but almost everywhere else, acceleration is relative. Being able to sprint to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds is impressive, but how many times have you sprinted through a set of lights at full speed? in our 2025 Subaru BRZ tS Reviewwe think this 228-horsepower engine is a strong powerhouse, capable of revving to the limit and tackling mountain roads. Want to overtake another car on the highway? The BRZ is certainly up to the task. Need to merge quickly on a short ramp? Not a problem. Can Subaru build a more powerful BRZ? certainly. But other aspects of the BRZ ownership experience may suffer.

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If Subaru added a turbocharger or supercharger to the BRZ’s engine, power would certainly increase, but the price could easily go up, and fuel economy ratings could drop. According to the EPA, the BRZ with the automatic gets 25 mpg combined (21 mpg city/30 mpg highway), while the six-speed manual model gets 22 mpg combined (20 mpg city/30 mpg highway). 27 miles). While those numbers aren’t exactly Prius numbers, they’re certainly respectable for a car that’s a ton of fun to drive. Won’t. certainly. But straight-line speed isn’t everything, and the BRZ understands that.