The 2022 Subaru BRZ is here, and with its affordable price tag, brilliant RWD chassis, and six-speed manual transmission, it is all the rage right now. So, here's a list of pros and cons of the all-new BRZ that should help you decide whether the all-new BRZ is the right affordable sports car for you.

Pro: Price-to-Performance ratio

The latest Subaru BRZ continues to stay true to the original's recipe, which gets you fun to drive, rear-wheel-drive car with great chassis and equipment for cheap. Speaking of price, the 2022 Subaru BRZ is available in two trim levels, starting with the entry-level Premium trim that carries a price tag of $28,990. The range-topping Limited trim features upgraded 18-inch aluminum wheels, summer tires, and blind-spot monitoring, over the standard trim and costs $31,490. The BRZ range is offered with a six-speed manual as standard, which happens to be our pick of the lot, but if you can opt for the six-speed automatic it will set you back $1,600.

Con: Poor fuel economy

The very purpose of downsizing to a four-cylinder sports car is the gains in fuel economy, but unfortunately, the 2022 BRZ's 2.4-liter flat-four engine falls far short of what is expected from a nippy little sports car from this segment. To start, the less involving six-speed automatic is the most fuel-efficient version you can buy, and it delivers 25 mpg combined, 21 mpg in the city, and 30 mpg on the highway. The six-speed manual, on the other hand, drops those figures down to 22 mpg combined, 20 mpg city, and 27 mpg highway, on par with a Ford Mustang GT, which has twice the number of cylinders and twice the noise.

Pro: Punchy engine

Driving enthusiasts will also welcome a new 2.4-liter flat-four-cylinder engine powering the 2022 Subaru BRZ that's not only more powerful than the 2.0-liter version it replaces, but also rectifies a major issue. The last-gen Subaru BRZ suffered from a major flaw, which was its engine. Yes, the 2.0-liter flat-four worked well for the most part, but there was a noticeable flat spot in the powerband at 4,000 rpm, which dampened the driving experience. Thankfully the new 2.4-liter flat-four powering the BRZ packs 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque which is 23 horsepower and 28 pound-feet of torque more, all while managing to get rid of the flat-spot in the power band. As a result, the new BRZ does 0-60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, a whole second quicker than its predecessor.

Con: Cramped rear seats

Nobody buys a sports car for practicality, but let's face it, at this price point, the Subaru BRZ not only competes with the brilliant Mazda MX-5 Miata, but also has to contend with beloved hot hatchbacks like the Golf GTI and the upcoming 2023 Honda Civic Type-R. So, the BRZ needs to entertain the possibility of occasionally seating more than two occupants since at this price point, it could very well be a person's only car and that's where it all falls apart. Bad ergonomics like the unnecessary long center tunnel and poor seat angle all contribute to a second row that is barely fit for kindergarteners without those large rear-facing baby seats.

Pro: Well-thought-out cabin

The 2022 BRZ's cabin is a mild evolution at best, but that's no bad thing considering Toyota and Subaru did get a lot right in the first attempt. There's a new 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster which is more informative than before, and a new 8.0-inch touchscreen that's pretty slick and comes with essentials like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The front portion of this cabin continues to be roomy with supportive seats and enough headroom to accommodate taller occupants (over six feet tall) with helmets, something that a Miata coupe struggles with. The rear seats are still best left to children, but there's plenty of in-cabin storage and for this is a car that can effortlessly engage in daily driven duties.

Con: Tricky spark plugs and maintenance

The last-generation Subaru BRZs and Toyota GT86s had a reputation for racking up astronomical maintenance costs due to a glaring design flaw of the flat-four engine - the spark plugs. One needs to drop the entire engine down to do the sparkplugs, but the service intervals are 30,000 miles apart so it won't be a regular affair. However, it's something to be aware of. Even the gear oil change needs some effort, but the rest of the shenanigans like changing the engine oil and air filter are all pretty straightforward.

Pro: Well-balanced chassis

Weighing in at 2,843 pounds, the 2022 Subaru BRZ is a tad heavier than its predecessor, but all the extra weight comes in the form of crucial updates like the bigger engine and a stiffer chassis. The older model had sublime chassis balance and this new model dials things up to 11 with a new stiffer chassis, offers more feedback through the wider and stickier tires, and is now easy to induce oversteer mid-corner which was relatively harder to achieve with the previous-gen BRZ

Con: Still lacks forced induction

Though the new 2.4-liter engine is more powerful than its predecessor with 228 horsepower, it still lacks the punch and urgency of a turbocharged engine. Despite speculations, the 2022 BRZ comes with a naturally aspirated engine, which is a measure taken by Toyota and Subaru to keep the costs down, and they did succeed. But, as a result, the Mk.8 Golf GTI, which costs about the same, features twice as many doors, a smaller turbocharged engine with more power and fuel efficiency, and offers a near-identical 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds despite the weight disadvantage and front-wheel drive.

Pro: Brilliant manual gearbox

Subaru continues to offer the new 2022 BRZ with a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes, both of which are six-speed 'boxes. But our pick of the lot is a six-speed manual which comes as standard. The manual gearbox offers crisp shifts and comes paired with a well-weighted clutch, which is easily on par with the Mazda MX-5 Miata's brilliant gearbox which is the benchmark in this segment. The six-speed TQ automatic is a $1,600 option which does get you the convenience, but it comes with a performance penalty as the manual version is quicker to 60 mph.

Con: BRZ's arch-nemesis - the Mazda Miata

The 2022 Subaru BRZ is without a doubt a phenomenal sports car, but there is one car that threatens its reign, which is the legendary Mazda MX-5 Miata. In its latest 2022 avatar, it starts at a near-identical $28,665. Even though it is not as practical, it offers the thrill of drop-top motoring which isn't something you can opt for with the BRZ. However, Mazda offers the option of a drop-top option with the MX-5 RF. The RWD Miata, with its 181-horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine is the closest contender in every respect and is widely regarded by purists as the best entry-level sports car of all time.

FAQ

Q: What do I need to know before buying a Subaru BRZ?

Things to note before buying the 2022 Subaru BRZ:

The range starts at $28,990. It is powered by a 2.4-Liter flat-four with 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It features an RWD setup with two transmission options to choose from - a six-speed manual or a six-speed auto. It accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds

Q: Is the 2022 BRZ reliable?

Yes, the 2022 BRZ receives Subaru's tried-and-tested 2.4-liter flat-four engine, which is proven its reliability in other Subaru products over the years.

Q: Is the 2022 Subaru BRZ fast?

Yes, the 2022 Subaru BRZ is a fast sports car that does 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds and has a top speed of 140 mph.

Q: Is a Subaru BRZ a good buy?

Yes, the 2022 Subaru BRZ, with its starting price of $28,990, is the most affordable and fun-to-drive sports car on sale today that competes with the likes of the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata and 2023 Acura Integra.

Q: How many miles will a Subaru BRZ last?

Subaru offers a generous warranty with the 2022 BRZZ which includes 3-years/30,000 miles New Vehicle Limited Warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. In general Subaru boxer engines are known for their reliability and should easily last over 100,000 miles before needing any major overhaul.

Q: Which year BRZ is best?

The 2022 Subaru BRZ is better than ever and comes with a bigger, punchier 2.4-liter motor with 228 horsepower and improved chassis dynamics.