2022 Subaru BRZ – First Look and a ride along at the track

Jeff Glucker

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The 2022 Subaru BRZ is here! This is the second-generation real-deal sports car from Subaru, and it’s back with a new look and more power. Under the hood is a 2.4-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine which makes 228 horsepower. You can still get it with a manual gearbox. And you should be damn happy that a car like the Subaru BRZ still exists in a world filled with more and more crossovers. This is a rear-wheel-drive, affordable, entertaining, two-door, front-engine, sports car.

And we went for a ride in it, with Subaru hot-shoe Scott Speed driving.

[Disclaimer: Subaru put me up in a hotel for the night and gave me food.]

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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23 responses to “2022 Subaru BRZ – First Look and a ride along at the track”

  1. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Color me interested. It isn’t beautiful, but it’s at least not homely like its predecessor (though I know not everyone felt that way– I thought it was ugly). This is, in my opinion, a near-perfect formula for the pre- or post- children couple. Power numbers are fine. Lack of turbo is fine. When the nest is finally empty, I could be very happy commuting in this car.

    Trouble is, my next car is going to still need to pull some teen-hauling duty, even if it’s just for transporting minor college “stuff”. In an ideal world, I would have both a BRZ and a new Bronco (and about 4 classic project cars), but the reality of my finances suggests I’ll be lucky if it’s just the Bronco and a rusty AMC.

    Reply
  2. Rick Radcliffe Avatar
    Rick Radcliffe

    Great video. You seem to have scooped everyone else as this is the first non-Subaru produced media I have seen.

    Is it me or are there strong styling links to the Lexus RC-F?

    https://www.lexus.com/models/RCF?link%5BGalleryComponentG1%5D%5BOVERLAY_SHOW%5D%5Bstatus%5D=true#GalleryComponentG1

    Reply
  3. fede Avatar
    fede

    the rear looks much better than before. and that style of vents behind the front wheels always looks excellent (but are they functional?)

    Reply
  4. Kernel Panik Avatar
    Kernel Panik

    Nice! Looking forward to seeing drivers running the new “big block” BRZ at the local autocross. And if you don’t love the looks, I suspect there might be some good deals on new first-gens going down.

    Reply
  5. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    The image was cropped on my phone so that only a bit of blue roof and a partial caption “…HE NEW SUBARU BR…” was visible. I was anticipating a story about a new Brat. Regardless of how good the BRZ may or may not be, it’s now a huge disappointment and I won’t watch the video. Sorry, Jeff.

    Reply
  6. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Color me interested. It isn’t beautiful, but it’s at least not homely like its predecessor (though I know not everyone felt that way– I thought it was ugly). This is, in my opinion, a near-perfect formula for the pre- or post- children couple. Power numbers are fine. Lack of turbo is fine. When the nest is finally empty, I could be very happy commuting in this car.

    Trouble is, my next car is going to still need to pull some teen-hauling duty, even if it’s just for transporting minor college “stuff”. In an ideal world, I would have both a BRZ and a new Bronco (and about 4 classic project cars), but the reality of my finances suggests I’ll be lucky if it’s just the Bronco and a rusty AMC.

    Reply
  7. Fuhrman16 Avatar
    Fuhrman16

    I’m rather torn on this. The technical stuff all sounds great. Less weight, lowered CG, wider track, better engine. I’m all for that. And I like the interior updates as well. But the exterior design…I thought the old BRZ was a great looking car. Can’t say I’m a fan of the big side vents surrounding the grill, the headlights and front fenders look a little tame compared to the outgoing car, and the rear end seems to be too narrow or tapered or something, a problem I find with the current Miata as well. From some angles it looks like an Audi TT in the back. Though I do think the roof line and door lines are better though.

    And I wonder, will there be a Toyota version of it as well?

    Reply
  8. Fuhrman16 Avatar
    Fuhrman16

    I’m rather torn on this. The technical stuff all sounds great. Less weight, lowered CG, wider track, better engine. I’m all for that. And I like the interior updates as well. But the exterior design…I thought the old BRZ was a great looking car. Can’t say I’m a fan of the big side vents surrounding the grill, the headlights and front fenders look a little tame compared to the outgoing car, and the rear end seems to be too narrow or tapered or something, a problem I find with the current Miata as well. From some angles it looks like an Audi TT in the back. Though I do think the roof line and door lines are better though.

    And I wonder, will there be a Toyota version of it as well?

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      Like you, I’m lukewarm about the new styling, but in contrast, I feel it’s a step up. Conceptually, I loved the outgoing BRZ, but thought it was a styling mess– as if they handed the designing off to the new intern and gave him a two-day deadline. I hated the head- and tail-lamps. Is the new one pretty? No, but I do think it looks more upscale. The fender-vent-to-rockers transition is admittedly clumsy, though. Oddly, the Audi you see in the rear looks to me like a 10-year old Civic coupe. But you’re right, it is more tapered.

      It’s funny how– just like art– car design can be interpreted so differently.

      Reply
  9. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    The torque dip being seemingly gone is all I needed to hear. The original Toyobarus were a good first draft, and perfectly fun to drive on the road. Miata is still the answer, but tiny back seat is still more workable than no back seat. Shame though that it gained weight, however little extra it is.

    Reply
    1. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
      Dean Bigglesworth

      Spent a week driving the OG GT86 on Norwegian mountain roads in 2013. It was an auto. Never really noticed the torque dip. I mean you’re cruising at low rpm, or wringing its neck. either way you stay either below or above the dip and it was a joy to throw it around twisty roads. The dip probably shouldn’t be there but it’s definitely not a deal-breaker for any sane person. And it can pretty much be cured with mapping anyway. It couldn’t keep up with a E36 328i BMW on a 60-200kph+ Swedish motorway run though so that was a bit disappointing…

      Reply
    2. Dean Bigglesworth Avatar
      Dean Bigglesworth

      Spent a week driving the OG GT86 on Norwegian mountain roads in 2013. It was an auto. Never really noticed the torque dip. I mean you’re cruising at low rpm, or wringing its neck. either way you stay either below or above the dip and it was a joy to throw it around twisty roads. The dip probably shouldn’t be there but it’s definitely not a deal-breaker for any sane person. And it can pretty much be cured with mapping anyway. It couldn’t keep up with a E36 328i BMW on a 60-200kph+ Swedish motorway run though so that was a bit disappointing…

      Reply
  10. willied1029 Avatar
    willied1029

    The design doesn’t seem very cohesive. Glad they didn’t give up on it, though.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I just hope this is an indication that the Toyota 86 won’t look like the Supra.

      Reply
  11. Pinkerton9 Avatar
    Pinkerton9

    Are the front scoops functional to cool the brakes? I would guess yes based on the looks of them. Thank you Subaru for bringing back some sweeping lines, gawd, it’s been a dark age for car design. Any chances of a convertible or a targa?

    Reply
  12. Pinkerton9 Avatar
    Pinkerton9

    Are the front scoops functional to cool the brakes? I would guess yes based on the looks of them. Thank you Subaru for bringing back some sweeping lines, gawd, it’s been a dark age for car design. Any chances of a convertible or a targa?

    Reply
    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Or a shooting brake?

      Reply
      1. Pinkerton9 Avatar
        Pinkerton9

        A Clown-shoe Subaru, you say?

        Reply
        1. outback_ute Avatar
          outback_ute

          While laudable, here at least they still sell for around the original price, there are other good looking examples like the Volvo 1800ES, or 944.

          https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1972_volvo_1800es_1531015630f66e7dff9f98764da4.jpg?fit=940%2C705
          https://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/924kombi00.jpg

          Reply
          1. Pinkerton9 Avatar
            Pinkerton9

            Oh, I’m not knocking it. Why waste all that potential cargo room? Save the hatch.

          2. Pinkerton9 Avatar
            Pinkerton9

            Oh, I’m not knocking it. Why waste all that potential cargo room? Save the hatch.

          3. outback_ute Avatar
            outback_ute

            Just saying the original Clownshoe looks like the afterthought it was; it has a certain charm but it’s not really good looking.

            No hatch on the twins and I am not sure if it would add much usability to offset the weight penalty.

  13. Rudy™ Avatar
    Rudy™

    The styling is a bit calmer than I thought it would be. But on the other hand, I wouldn’t want to attract attention in a go-fast car. I’m interested to see Toyota’s take on this. (Although I’d love to get one of the current 86s for a few ships ‘n’ giggles. Of the three versions, I liked the 86’s styling better than the Subaru or Scion versions.)

    Reply