Subaru’s BRZ tS – TOO SWEET

Subaru’s BRZ tS

TOO SWEET

It’s not too often that I look back at my youth and wish for something different. I was raised in Houston and really had a sweet childhood…all things considered. But if Subaru’s BRZ had been around, I would have begged the powers that be for it instead of the Mazda RX7 that I loved through every burnt-out clutch.  

The car I tested for a week was a WR Blue Pearl 2025 Subaru BRZ tS that arrived with an MSRP price tag of $36,465.  It was powered by a 228 hp, 2.4 liter naturally aspirated Subaru Boxer engine paired to a six-speed, close-ratio manual transmission.  EPA estimated fuel economy ratings for the little speed devil is 20 City and 27 Highway. 

The 1^st-generation Subaru BRZ was introduced back in model year 2012 as a joint production with Toyota.  The initial Toyota model was branded as a Scion FR-S, but since the Scion brand is no longer with us Toyota’s version is now the GR86.  The initial concept was to design and build a rear-wheel drive 2+2 fastback coupe powered by a normally aspirated engine.  It’s uncomplicated, a pure sports car that’s designed to be just fun to drive. 

The 2025 Subaru BRZ tS comes equipped with STI-tuned front and rear Hitachi dampers to optimize its light weight and low center of gravity for better control and stability. A Brembo braking system, including gold-painted front and rear calipers along with larger pads and rotors, is there to enhance stopping power, fade resistance and pedal feel.  The standard 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels are mounted on 215/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires for superior grip and quicker turn-in. There’s modest tS badging on the front grill and the rear decklid.

Inside, the cabin is wrapped in black upholstery with tS-only contrasting blue stitching on the front seat bolsters, leather-wrapped steering wheel, shifter boot and parking brake boot.  The STI logo is displayed on the red starter button and customizable 7-inch digital instrument cluster.  The Subaru Starlink 8.0-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system is standard for all BRZ trim levels.  

This is a great sports car for all ages, but particularly attractive for the younger set. Every time I checked my speed on the loop, I was pleasantly surprised to not be driving as fast as it felt. Subaru got it right in that I felt super close to the road, in a good way. You feel all the right vibrations, not so much of the bumps and potholes of our roads. And the first thing that came to mind was this would be great for wild young drivers. I feel sure that had I driven this car instead of that Mazda I wouldn’t have been such a menace on the roads of Houston.  

This probably isn’t a great car for one-car households, unless you’re a workaholic single person without the benefit/need of dependents. And the backseat is great, but only if your backseat drivers don’t have legs of any length. Because Subaru lowered the front seats so much to give you the feel of the road, there’s really not any reasonable space for feet. On the plus side, backpacks and briefcases fit snuggly.  So, if you can give up on the idea of a backseat, they do fold down. This elongates the cargo/trunk space to make this sports car suitable for a trip to IKEA for that flat pack…

In keeping with the single or DINK drivers, everything in front is geared for the driver’s convenience. If you can’t find the controls for what you need on the steering wheel, it’s  next to your right hand. The only unusual placement was for the cup holders; they are still in the center console, just closer to the backseat. I found this location super-efficient  while shifting gears. No more knocking cups of coffee out of the cup holders going around those fun corners. But it took me a little while to get used to reaching back for it. All-in-all, this is a fun car that puts you on the pavement and into the curves. It gets your motor running.