I remember when the Subaru BRZ was first released in 2012 as I always loved seeing them on the road, the design is simply classic sports car and even after all of this time I still think it’s a head turner. But it has taken me until now to get behind the wheel of one, and a very special one it was.
Just 150 examples of the BRZ 10th Anniversary Edition have been produced for the Australian market and they all sold. This special edition was available exclusively in Subaru’s signature WR Blue and features unique exterior and interior styling elements. The exterior elements include black finish 18-inch alloy wheels, crystal Black door mirror caps, and a black rear badge.
The second generation BRZ is powered by a horizontally-opposed Boxer 4-cylinder, petrol engine that emits the familiar Subaru burble on start up. The engine produces 174kW of power @ 7000rpm and 250Nm of torque @ 3700rpm, which doesn’t sound like much, but in reality it’s all you need in the 1,249kg coupe. The BRZ does require 98RON petrol, with the official combined fuel efficiency being 9.5L/100km in the manual BRZ and for my week I only used 9.0L/100km even though I had plenty of fun in the BRZ.
Switch the BRZ to track mode and the ESC is turned off, but even so I still felt in control of the BRZ at all times, for this dance I was always in the lead. Maybe if I pushed harder in the BRZ it would have responded in a more aggressive manner, but for my skill level I was happy with the thrills on offer. I also appreciated that there were no artificial pops and bangs from the BRZ’s exhaust, just the sweet naturally aspirated Subaru sound.
Track mode also turns the taco into a bar style, like in a race car and as you accelerate hard the taco flashes to tell you when to change up just before the 7,500rpm red line. There is no loss of traction in a straight line under hard acceleration in the BRZ and it tracked straight and true as I whipped though the gears in the slick 6-speed manual transmission and delightfully weighted clutch, making for perfect footwork every time.
The snug front seats hold you in tight thanks to the Ultrasuede and leather accented seat trim, like the arm of your dance partner firmly holding your waist. Both front seats are heated with the driver getting manual adjustment for recline, height and forward/back and the passenger seat misses out on height adjustment, but is still at a comfortable height. The Ultrasuede extends on to the door trim, where there is an embossed commemorative 10th Anniversary logo on the door trim.
Other special edition elements on this BRZ include blue stitching on the door armrest, steering wheel, shift boot, parking brake boot and seat trim, blue perforations in seat trim, black interior highlights on the AC dials and centre console buttons, with a numbered internal badge, this is number 10 of the 150 examples.
In addition to a permanent smile on their face the driver gets a leather steering wheel, which is the perfect size and a lovely shape to hold. There are controls on the steering wheel including a button for the voice control, which is designated with a masculine looking silhouette in it. The voice control worked well for me when I used it to make phone calls, changing the radio station, and setting a destination on the sat nav. The 8″ touchscreen has an integrated infotainment system that connects to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto using wired connectivity.
There isn’t much storage room in the BRZ cabin and it’s mostly located under the arm rest where you have two rigid cup holders. There two USB-A ports located here and an AUX socket and this is where your phone will be have to be stored as well. You do get two good sized drink bottle storage cubbies in the front doors as well.
I would say the rear seats are for emergency use only because in reality there is no leg room if both front seats are back. I was able to fit three people in with the passenger seat a long way forward to give the rear seat passenger behind them enough room, just. The BRZ does have two ISOFIX/two rear tether child seat restraint points, but again it would be a tight fit.
The BRZ has a power assisted boot lid with a button under the boot lid, on the key fob, and in the cabin to release it. This biggest surprise I for in the BRZ was finding a full-size spare tyre in the boot, yes this does restrict your boot space, but it means you can enjoy your driving experience knowing that should the unthinkable happen and you get a flat, you can carry on driving. If you want a little more boot space the whole rear seat can be folded down.
The current BRZ model has no ANCAP safety rating, but does have dual front, dual front side, dual curtain and drivers knee airbags. The manual BRZ comes with standard cruise control only with limited driver aids like Blind Spot Monitor and Lane Change Assist. The automatic BRZ does get Subaru’s Eyesight system featuring Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, and Pre-Collision Brake Assist. The BRZ has a standard rear-view camera with no front or rear sensors.
All new Subaru’s come with 5 Year/Unlimited Kilometre Warranty period and roadside assistance can be purchased at an additional cost. The service interval for the BRZ is 12 months or 15,000kms, whichever occurs first. A five year service plan for the manual BRZ can be purchased upfront for $2,528.48.
Unfortunately the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Subaru BRZ are sold out, but you can still experience the BRZ dance for yourself with the BRZ RWD Coupe Manual priced at $40,290, BRZ RWD Coupe Auto $44,090, BRZ RWD Coupe S Manual $41,590, and BRZ RWD Coupe S Auto $45,390, all prices exclude on-road costs. You can configure your new BRZ online or visit your preferred Subaru dealer for more information.
| Pros | Cons |
| It’s so much fun to drive! | There is no room in the rear seats |
| The unique Subaru sound | Requires 98RON fuel |
| The full-size spare tyre | No front or rear parking sensors |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.