Subaru BRZ
It’s an A-lister on a B-road
Amonth into running our BRZ, I’ve learned two very significant things. One, the BRZ is not a supercar slayer, because it’s not particularly potent and those Michelin Primacy tyres don’t offer masses of grip. And two, I don’t give a hoot, because on the right road, in the right conditions, it is just sublime.
The reasons why are easy to explain. For starters, the car’s low centre of gravity gives it balance that cars of twice the value will envy, and its nicely weighted steering responds with an eagerness that makes it feel as though the whole car is wrapped around you and moving with your every input.
Power hard out of a corner with the engine turning over close to peak torque at around 6000rpm and the outside rear of the car will squat just enough to maximise traction but not so much that the opposing front tyre feels like it’s struggling to stay in touch with the ground.
It’s a remarkably satisfying feeling to work the car this hard, and despite sending just 197bhp to the back, the Torsen limited-slip differential locks just enough to enable delicate slides on corner exits.
Traction control and ESP, while not majorly intrusive when switched on, can thankfully be turned off completely, leaving it up to you to ensure the car stays on the black stuff. However, unlike with a car that has more power, you feel like you’re a long way from getting into trouble. The BRZ is a very forgiving machine, flattering both aggressive and smooth driving styles.
On an open and well-sighted B-road you can drive with a level of commitment that would send many other cars hurtling into a hedge. The BRZ dances and pivots around its centre and is small enough to thread along a British B-road without fear of stepping over the white lines.
This all translates into a car that is approachable but still feels like a proper sports car. My colleague Jimi Beckwith put it nicely after jumping straight out of a Mazda MX-5 and into the BRZ when he said the Subaru “feels more serious” and “like a specialist car”.
I agree. And for that reason, I won’t be giving up the keys to it any time soon again.