I appreciate simplicity in a new vehicle, especially considering that a majority of the hundreds of other vehicles that I’ve reviewed in the past few years have been rather complex in their equipment and technology. Getting back to some basics is always a welcoming thing in today’s automotive landscape, and that’s just what I got in the Subaru BRZ tS again, with some safe and fun performance to boot, for this week’s quick test drive review.

The Subaru BRZ has always been a vehicle to shake things up a bit, being one of the most affordable rear-wheel-drive vehicles you can buy new, only to be edged out by a slightly lower starting price by the Mazda MX-5 Miata, considered to be a direct competitor even though it’s a drop-top. That shaking up of the industry literally rides on the concept of the BRZ being a relatively lightweight sports car that, after last year’s engine ‘upgrade’ has a bit more power to work with and thrives on being an enthusiast choice and even more so with the BRZ tS trim, where the tS stands for tuned by STi.

My review of the Subaru BRZ tS last year brought home the notion that there’s still a lot of fun to be had in a modern-day vehicle without breaking the bank – if you don’t mind living with the shortcomings. Those shortcomings are limited to being a rather small vehicle that isn’t going to bode well for growing families or someone any taller or bigger than me at 6 feet 3 inches tall. What does bode well for enthusiasts is the playful nature of such a sports car and having a 6-speed manual transmission all in a low-slung, lightweight, and compact package.

The power, all 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque from a horizontally opposed boxer 4-cylinder, keeps the BRZ tS on the safe side of things but still allows you to stick out the rear end and have some oversteering fun. Though, don’t expect too much out of the BRZ and get carried away with burning up the delightful 18-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, as there’s just not enough oomph to carry a burnout or drift too far – unless you’re just that good at driving. The low center of gravity, among the lowest in the industry, does help in tossing the BRZ tS around in addition to having a nicely balanced weight distribution that’s nearly 50/50 (actually 53:47). Getting that curb weight of 2,847 pounds up to 60 mph takes about 5.8 seconds – provided you perform a good launch and flawlessly conduct a shift to second gear.

The BRZ tS adds a few performance bits like the 4-piston Brembo brake calipers up front and two-piston rears. Moreover, the suspension has been slightly reworked for a more compliant ride and handling quality, which I find may exacerbate some road imperfections for a little extra jouncing of the body, but doesn’t necessarily beat you up. I do enjoy the exclusivity of the BRZ tS having the manual transmission, which is a delight to row through the gears, feeling even more connected to a vehicle that’s already extremely low to the ground – we’re talking exotic car levels low. The automatic transmission available in other trims seemingly takes away some of the fun for those hardcore enthusiasts, but at least you have that option outside of the tS trim.

Fuel Economy isn’t all that spectacular, as one may think for such a small vehicle sporting a 4-cylinder engine. You’ll expect to nearly match the EPA estimates of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined in the real world. Though the use of premium unleaded fuel, required by Subaru, takes an additional money hit for those looking to save a bit when filling the 13.2-gallon fuel tank.

Subaru, alongside its nearly identical counterpart, the Toyota GR86, keeps the good times rolling in a simplified formula that’s mostly a two-seater but has the +2 rear seating setup more for looks than functionality, as taller folks will find the manually adjusted and nicely bolstered front Ultrasuede heated seats nearly hitting the rear seats.

There’s really no getting around the smallish cabin, but after finding a good seating position, you find that the interior is quite accommodating for those who aren’t looking to move around much. The rear seats are a challenge in most cases, but you may fit a child car seat in place through some clever choreography. Subaru does a little extra for the BRZ tS trim with the Ultrasuede seats and the blue accents throughout, but you still get an excessive amount of road noise in any trim level of the BRZ.

Good on Subaru for keeping the BRZ around even if its sales aren’t exactly stellar. It’s good to appreciate a manufacturer, and the folks at Toyota, for keeping such a vehicle alive and being one of the rare ones in many facets that doesn’t cost a fortune. Pricing for the 2025 Subaru BRZ starts at $33,210 for the base trim before any options or fees, while the BRZ tS with its manual transmission comes in at $37,756 for my fun test vehicle, including a $1,170 destination and delivery charge.