AFFORDABLE SPORT

Subaru’s bargain-basement BRZ sport coupe comes alive when driven hard, letting its agile chassis divulge its track-worthy handling prowess

What does the BRZ sport coupe have that no other Subaru has? Simple: It has rearwheel drive.

Subaru has built its reputation on its affordable all-wheel-drive sedans, wagons, crossovers and rally worthy performance compacts. But when giant Toyota and the small automaker partnered up to create an affordable shared sports car, rear-wheel drive was not only a way to help keep the BRZ and its twin FR-S within a young driving aficionado’s budget. It was also the obvious way to achieve traditional track-worthy handling.

And boy, does the BRZ handle. Our 2017 top-of-the-line Limited model featured an optional Performance Package that boosts the standard car’s already superb road-hugging manners by adding upgraded Sachs front struts and rear shocks, Brembo high-performance brakes and lightweight 17-inch dark-finish alloy wheels.

Fitted with 215/45 R17 summer performance tires, the little coupe grips the tarmac like a leach, hurtling through turns flatly and confidently.

To gain so much capability costs a fair bit in ride comfort — this is one stiff chassis, meaning every crack in the asphalt or divot in the concrete is transmitted into the cabin with a noticeable jolt.

Those Brembo brakes, whose red calipers peak through the wheel spokes, assuredly slough off speed with a progressive press on the pedal.

The electric steering provides near-perfect heft, precise response and excellent feedback.

The only possible fly in the ointment is the modest power output from the Subaru sourced “boxer” flat-four under the shapely hood. Fortunately, the BRZ weights in at a relatively light 2,800 pounds, which helps the engine’s 200 horsepower get the job done. Keep the revs up, and the little coupe scoots pretty well.

Inside, there’s plenty of hard plastics relieved by contrasting stitching, some soft-touch surfaces, and a brace of big speedo and tach gauges. Form-fitting buckets are as comfortable as they are supportive.

While no speed demon, the BRZ is affordable sport, plain and simple. There’s nothing else out there on the market, especially at such a palatable price point.