It’s a recipe that car enthusiasts are more than happy to support – engine at the front, drive to the rear and a six-speed manual shifter to play with. One such model that comes with all these things is the Subaru BRZ, and it recently received a facelift for the Malaysian market. However, is it a good buy? To find out, here’s our very own Harvinder Singh as he reviews what’s new (and what’s not) on the rear-wheel drive coupe.
As a recap, Motor Image launched the facelifted BRZ in August this year, available in both six-speed automatic and manual guises. The former will set you back RM230,749 on-the-road without insurance, whereas the shift-it-yourself variant goes slightly less at RM224,389.
Under the bonnet, the familiar 2.0 litre D-4S direct-injected, naturally-aspirated boxer-four petrol engine continues to be of service, serving up 200 PS and 205 Nm. The BRZ also gets updated suspension with new springs, dampers and a larger anti-roll bar to provide better response, stability and comfort.
Visually, the front fascia now features a more angular U-shaped spoiler, full-LED headlights that incorporate C-shaped LED daytime running lights and LED indicators, plus the fog lights are now LED-type units. Elsewhere, there are redesigned side slits on the front fender, new 17-inch machined-finish 10-spoke wheels and new LED taillights.
Moving inside, you’ll find a new multifunction steering wheel, redesigned instrument cluster with a wrapped visor, updated controls for the dual-zone automatic climate control and a new 4.2-inch colour multifunction display.
Now, without further delay, allow Harvinder Singh to take you on a walk-around tour the BRZ, as well as provide some indication of just what it is like to drive.
GALLERY: Subaru BRZ facelift
The Subaru BRZ facelift offers an engaging and rewarding rear-wheel-drive experience with precise steering and easy driftability, but its interior quality and lack of modern features are notable drawbacks for its price.
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Great car but the price is out of this world!!! It should be priced below RM 100k….
it does look old though. entering 5 years soon. hard to challenge logic sense though – FR with low centre of gravity. NA and lightweight for that linear power delivery.
In Aussie, Subaru BRZ is similar segment & priced as Hyundai Veloster Turbo around A$30k.
All over the world, this car is considered a normal priced car. Even tukang masak or orang angkat sampah also can buy this car without loan.
Come to Malaysia, this car become same category as Mercedes and BMW.
Tak masuk akal with pricing.
Have you ever seen fast food restaurant with so many BRZ parked in front? All the workers might be its owners.
Price should be rm120k – rm130k , old timer celica , forte , mrs all price +- rm120k – rm130k with otr insurance
a Honda civic 1.5 turbo with racechip can smoke a BRZ or AE86.
An Audi RS6, Mercedes AMG E63, a BMW M4, and even a Civic Tyre R or Ford Fiesta ST can smoke your pathetic CVT Honda Civic back into stone age, race chip or not.
Try race with this 86 at Ulu Yam or Genting Sempah, it can eat your stupid Civic at every corner for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Oh ya, this RWD 86 can do drift and run donuts around your front heavy Civic, which is equipped with a auntie-groceries-visit CVT gearbox, And your Civic can’t even do a J turn because it use a e-handbrake.
Stop comparing your Civic as if it’s the best car in the world, all cars are made for its purpose with its pros and cons. go fcuk yourself , pethetic Honda fanboi.
There are two type of Honda fanboys , one that just recently hopped onto the bandwagon, riding on the sheep mentality of the burgeoning Honda sales in recent years. These type of fanboy will claim their soft turbo Civic is the best car in the world, and they will go and every car forum and saying they can smoke this smoke that.
The second type of Honda fanboy is the old hardcore NA VTEC loyalist that dated back to the EJ, EK and B 16 days ….They love Honda because of their personal passion for what Honda represent culturally and driving satisfaction, especially in the JDM scence. They know their stuff, they are courteous, and they are humble and willing to share, rather than being an idiot bragging about their CVT car. And this idiot who brag about his civic is not one of them.
My honda civic turbo can smoke your unclish camry, dun play play
What have you been smoking?
no boy ,you forget about the rice vortex wing and fake exhaust
Like u said.. It’s 25k USD. It’s considerably a budget car in overseas, but it’s priced highly in Malaysia. That early 90s radio media player seriously can meh?? Hmm.. Can’t justify the price tag..
well, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro also starting from USD25k…
bringing in such spec at this price is just adding salt to a wound.
That spare tyre is really an eyesore though on a 220k sport car
OK.. HARVINDER IS A MUCH BETTER PRESENTER. So much easier to listen to, and dress simpler and better
His bod looks too yummeh
220k car but no signal on side mirror, Shame!
it’s ok ppl dun use it anyway
You dun use it too?
Is this Brz more fun to drive or a Mazda MX-5?
Brz 0-100kmh 8.2 sec, MX-5 faster = below 7 seconds.
I suggest u test drive both. The 86 is more taut and purposefully build for track, drifting and it’s also Gymkhana readied. The MX-5 is much softer and more to B road satisfaction.
Speed and acceleration does not equate to fun. A car may be fast on paper but when it’s not communicative to the driver and doesn’t handle well, then it’s not a fun car at all. If you have to (dangerously) wrestle with the car every time you want to chuck it into a corner, where’s the fun?
Fast car doesn’t mean fun and fun doesn’t mean fast. To me, fun is how well the car behave and knows your every intention, and when it turns and dynamically in-sync with your mind and input, now there’s where all the fun is. Mazda calls this Jinbaitai.
Well said.
It’s more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow…
Hi Harvinder, how do you rate the brz compare with a rotary rx8 if you look past the maintenance part of them ? Both are high revving non turbo.
Since we’re in the rwd topic, how would it compare to a Lotus Elise? Which is also rated best for its fun and epic handling