The Sub-$30K 2022 Subaru BRZ Is Still an Affordable Sports Car
The outgoing BRZ earned appreciative fans not just by being fun, but also because of its entry-level price. And though the 2022 Subaru BRZ offers more performance, it won’t matter if it’s too expensive for ordinary people to buy. Luckily, it appears that the 2022 BRZ should still be a relatively cheap thrill.
The base 2022 Subaru BRZ starts at less than $30,000
Before its update, the Subaru BRZ started at roughly $30K. In its last year, 2020, the tS and Limited trims crested that limit slightly, MotorTrend notes. However, the base Premium trim started at less than $30,000. And that tradition carries forward with the 2022 BRZ.
For 2022, the base Subaru BRZ Premium starts at $27,995 with the six-speed manual transmission. With destination and delivery, that works out to $28,955. If you want the six-speed automatic instead, the all-in starting price is $30,555.
That starting price makes the 2022 Subaru BRZ Premium $2,275 more expensive than the equivalent 2019 Premium, MT says. But the 2022 car has several upgrades over the outgoing model. For one, it has a larger 2.4-liter flat-four with 228 hp instead of a 200-hp 2.0-liter flat-four. The 2022 BRZ is also stiffer than the 2020 car and comes standard with a limited-slip differential.
Plus, the 2022 Subaru BRZ has an upgraded interior and significantly more standard tech. It has an 8” center touchscreen, 7” customizable digital display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, push-button start, and keyless entry. Also, heated mirrors and LED headlights. Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance suite, with features like adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning, is only available on automatic-equipped models, though.
In addition, the 2022 BRZ gets a trick standard tire-pressure monitoring system. This TPMS lets owners register two sets of wheels, as long as they have compatible sensors. That way, owners can freely swap between summer and winter tires without sticking to one set of wheels, The Drive explains.
How much does a fully-loaded 2022 Subaru BRZ cost?
There’s one more 2022 Subaru BRZ trim above the Premium: the Limited. Naturally, it’s slightly more expensive. With destination and delivery, the manual BRZ Limited starts at $31,455; the automatic version starts at $33,255.
Spending that several thousand over $30K gets you a few extra luxuries. Instead of 17” wheels, for example, the 2022 BRZ Limited rides on 18” wheels. And those wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 summer tires. Also, while the manual BRZ Premium misses out on some standard ADAS tech, the manual Limited gets blind-spot detection, lane-keep assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. However, the automatic BRZ Limited gets reverse automatic emergency braking on top of that.
As of this writing, Subaru hasn’t released an online configurator for the 2022 BRZ. So, it’s difficult to say how much one equipped with every option and accessory will cost. Still, in all likelihood, buyers will be able to drive one off the lot for well under $40K. And they won’t have to wait long for the opportunity: the 2022 BRZ arrives in dealers in fall 2021.
How does this price compare to RWD sports cars like the 2022 Toyota GR 86?
Although Subaru has released the 2022 BRZ’s pricing details, the same can’t be said for its corporate cousin, the 2022 Toyota GR 86. The two cars are essentially identical, and will therefore likely cost roughly the same. MT puts the GR 86’s starting price at $29K-$30K.
In terms of RWD sports cars, the BRZ and GR 86 have relatively few rivals. There’s the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport, for example, which starts at $26,380 before destination. However, its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is down 47 hp and it lacks rear seats. And if you want an LSD, you have to step up to the $30,290 Club. On the other hand, it’s also a convertible.
Other coupe options include the Ford Mustang EcoBoost and the Chevrolet Camaro. With the High Performance Package, the Mustang’s 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes 332 hp. However, it’s also more than 700 pounds heavier. And if you add the Handling Package, the starting price bumps up to over $37K. As for the Camaro, the closest 2022 BRZ competitor was the Turbo 1LE, and that’s been discontinued for 2022.
In short, for now, the 2022 Subaru BRZ is one of the most affordable RWD sports cars available. Now all that’s left to know is how it drives.
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