2026 Subaru BRZ

Name: 2026 Subaru BRZ Review
Brand: Subaru

Release Date: Fall 2025

Estimated Price: Starting around $33,000

The 2026 Subaru BRZ is is an affordable yet entertaining sport coupe. While it may lack the power of more performance-focused vehicles, its impeccable balance makes it a joy to toss around, even if you're a seasoned driver.Read full review

Contact your local dealers about upcoming availability and pricing details.

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2026 Subaru BRZ Review

Pros

Precise handling and steering
Simple and driver-friendly control layout
Ride quality is pretty agreeable for a sports car
Excellent fun-to-dollar ratio

Cons

Cramped back seats and tight storage
Elevated noise levels on the highway

What's new

2026 BRZ could be due for some minor updates
Part of the second BRZ generation introduced in 2022

Overview

Written by automotive expert Mark Takahashi

7/31/2025

There's a lot for driving enthusiasts to like about the 2026 Subaru BRZ. This is Subaru's lightweight and affordable sport coupe. It's not massively powerful like a Ford Mustang GT, but it does have nimble handling that drivers of any experience level can enjoy. This quality, plus the car's sporty looks and low price, makes it a rare offering in today's lineup of vehicles. Subaru hasn't done much to the BRZ since the current generation was introduced in 2022. That's a long time in car years, so we wouldn't be surprised if we get an exterior refresh, along with some new features, for the 2026 Subaru BRZ.

Edmunds spotlight: Affordable fun

If you're looking for something that's nimble and fun but won't blow your monthly budget, the Subaru BRZ is just right. It's not the most powerful sports car you can find, but that also means it won't overwhelm you with speed, making it easier to explore the car's limits. The available manual transmission is satisfying to shift, and kudos to Subaru for keeping it as an option in a day when manuals are increasingly rare. Best of all, the BRZ isn't too expensive, making it a good choice for a fun everyday car that can be taken to weekend track days to build up your performance driving skills.

Competitors to consider

There are two primary competitors to the Subaru BRZ. The first is the related Toyota GR86. Subaru and Toyota jointly developed these two cars. Other than slightly different suspension tuning and a few styling tweaks, the BRZ and GR86 are the same car. The other option we recommend is the classic Mazda MX-5 Miata. It's just as fun to drive and comes in either its classic soft-top convertible form or as the Miata RF, which has a folding hardtop design.

What’s it like to live with?

We wanted to get a more complete ownership experience for this affordable sport coupe, so we added a 2022 Subaru BRZ to the Edmunds long-term testing fleet. While there have been some changes over the years, many of our results and observations still apply. Check out our BRZ One-Year Road Test to learn more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Kurt Niebuhr

Great

8.3

out of 10

We drove the 2026 Subaru BRZ on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

9/10

How does the BRZ drive? The BRZ's steering and handling are sublime. The quick and highly accurate steering allows you to place the car exactly where you want it through a turn, and the well-tuned suspension and overall balance are great for any kind of driving. Feeling brave and want a little playful tail-out behavior? The BRZ is happy to do it. Or what if you want to carry a mild drift all the way through a corner on a racetrack? No problem here either. The BRZ is light, but not overly so, and fun and grippy when you want it to be.

The brakes would likely benefit from more aggressive pads for prolonged hard use — like at a track day event — but otherwise they provide solid stopping power. Our BRZ Limited test car with high-performance summer tires stopped from 60 mph in 106 feet, which is a respectably short distance. The brakes are easy to use around town too, stopping smoothly in day-to-day traffic.

The larger engine in this generation BRZ pays dividends from idle all the way to redline. There's no slump of power at midrange rpm like there was in the previous-generation car. At our test track, our manual-equipped BRZ Limited sprinted to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. That's almost a second quicker than the previous version and similar to the acceleration of the latest Golf GTI (5.9 seconds) and Mazda Miata (6.0 seconds).

The six-speed manual transmission's shifter feels positive and precise in your hand as you move through the gates. Opting for the automatic transmission results in slower acceleration (6.9 seconds) but it's easier to live with in heavy traffic. It also comes with paddle shifters and provides quick downshifts when you select Track mode.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the BRZ? The BRZ has a somewhat firm ride but with good compliance and it's able to soak up most road imperfections, especially at higher speeds. This is a car built for the back road and the open highway. Simple manually adjustable seats feature improve bolstering for your upper back and manage to hold you in place without being restrictive. Dual-zone climate control for such a small car seems like overkill, but it does the job.

Unfortunately, the BRZ is a bit on the noisy side. Road and tire noise is near constant and very loud. And engine noise, never a strength for the BRZ, is more annoying than evocative.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? Basic, straightforward and easy to use, the interior of the BRZ allows the driver to focus on driving. The BRZ's compact dimensions don't give it an abundance of interior room, but front passengers will find it more than comfortable, especially if they're on the taller side. Taller drivers will also appreciate the added space and room for adjustment, especially when compared to the much more cramped Miata. The rear seats, however, are better used as interior storage space than for passengers.

The BRZ's low dashboard is made possible by a well-integrated infotainment touchscreen mounted out of the way to enhance forward visibility. The Subaru's low-profile engine also gives the BRZ a low hood line, further enhancing visibility for back roads and racetracks. Be aware that the BRZ's low ride height and long doors can make getting in and out a bit difficult.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The BRZ comes with a modicum of modern tech. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is standard, though you can't get an integrated navigation system in the BRZ. Two quick-charging USB ports in the center armrest allow for your device to be truly out of the way while driving. And while the BRZ's infotainment interface isn't going to win any design awards, it works well thanks to its quick response times and easy-to-understand graphics.

Far less impressive is the audio system. While that's likely not a priority for a sports car, the system can't really keep up with interior noise levels and is easily taxed by moderate volume. We think there's room for improvement here.

For its price, the BRZ is available with a decent number of advanced driver aids. Most of them are tied to the optional automatic transmission, but automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and rear emergency braking are certainly nice to have as an option. Special mention needs to go to the BRZ's various traction and stability systems. They're well calibrated for daily driving, and Track mode allows for a good amount of extra fun. There's also the option to turn them all off and let the tail hang out should you be a professional driver on a closed course.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? Small coupes aren't the most practical, but the BRZ is more than up to the daily grind. Its relatively small 6.3 cubic feet of trunk space is hampered by its short height, but when the seats are folded (you can't do that in a Miata), Subaru says the BRZ will hold four wheels with tires. For reference, the Miata's trunk can swallow 4.6 cubes, while the substantially larger Mustang holds 13.5 cubes.

Inside, the BRZ offers a small but practical amount of storage. The cupholders reside well behind the driver's right arm, so you're never at risk of bumping them while driving, and the rear seats excel at holding bags, jackets and other items you don't want rolling around in the trunk. Anchor points for car seats exist, but getting them in or out is unlikely to be easy.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Fuel Economy

8/10

How’s the fuel economy? Thanks to its light weight and relatively small engine, the BRZ is capable of fairly decent fuel economy for a sports car. The EPA says to expect an estimated 22 mpg (20 city/27 highway), and we were pleasantly surprised to see 28 mpg on our real-world evaluation route. Our test car was equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. The BRZ with the automatic gets an EPA-estimated 25 mpg (21 city/30 highway).

Value

8/10

Is the BRZ a good value? The BRZ is a relative bargain even when you get the top Limited trim. While we wouldn't go so far as to call the interior premium, it is solidly constructed. To get a similar amount of equipment, most competitors would ask for thousands more, if they even offer it.

Warranties for the BRZ are fairly standard, with three years/36,000 miles and five years/50,000 miles offered for bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, respectively. Subaru also includes three years/36,000 miles for roadside assistance. It should be noted that Toyota's version of the BRZ, the GR86, also includes two years of free maintenance.

Wildcard

9.5/10

If you can't have fun driving the BRZ, then maybe sports cars just aren't your thing. As sports cars, and all vehicles for that matter, become more complex and expensive, it's refreshing to see a truly back-to-basics sport coupe with true ability. The steering, handling and balance of the BRZ exist in very few production cars regardless of price, and the car caters to every level of enthusiast. As a bonus, its friendly demeanor and accessible limits make the BRZ an instant and eager companion. While the engine sound isn't going to win any awards, its gruff tones do grow on you over time. No driver will ever outgrow the fun that can be had with the BRZ.

Which BRZ does Edmunds recommend?

Subaru hasn't released official information on the 2026 BRZ as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's BRZ, the midrange Limited trim gets our recommendation. This model steps up performance with stickier tires while adding several interior upgrades and safety features. It's also the only BRZ that can be optioned with an automatic transmission, which is both quicker to accelerate and more fuel-efficient than the manual.

2026 Subaru BRZ

2026 Subaru BRZ Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds spotlight: Affordable fun

Competitors to consider

What’s it like to live with?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which BRZ does Edmunds recommend?

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