Mazda MX-5 Miata vs Subaru BRZ

Subaru performance has traditionally boiled down to three letters: WRX. But for almost a decade, Subaru fans have gotten familiar with another three-letter code: BRZ.

The Subaru BRZ is unlike anything else in the automaker’s lineup. Subaru is known for building practical cars with all-wheel drive (AWD) and turbocharged engines, but the BRZ throws all of that away. It’s a willfully impractical two-door sport coupe with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a naturally aspirated engine, aimed at providing the most satisfying driving experience.

The first-generation BRZ was introduced as a 2013 model, so the sports car was due for a redesign. The 2022 Subaru BRZ gets a restyled exterior and a more powerful engine, as well as more tech features than its predecessor. As before, the new BRZ is twinned with a Toyota product. Its previous counterpart was the Scion FR-S; it's now the Toyota 86, which was renamed GR 86 as part of its redesign (and is covered in a separate review).

Subaru keeps the 2022 BRZ lineup simple, with just base and Sport-tech trim levels to choose from. We spent a day with the higher-tier BRZ Sport-tech, driving it on winding roads as well as a race circuit and autocross course.