cars news 10: 2016 Subaru BRZ Series.HyperBlue Long-Term Arrival Review

In October I got a surprising email from our garage gurus: Did I want to swap the automatic 2016 Nissan Maxima SR I’d just started driving for a Mazda MX-5 or Subaru BRZ, both with manual transmissions? I assumed I was being punked—was it really my lucky day? Yes, I can already hear the comments: “Y U NO CHOOZE MIATA?” Because I hang out with my 5-year-old niece on weekends, and she needs to sit on a booster in a back seat, which the Miata doesn’t have. Plus I took part in a BRZ/Miata comparison story and picked the BRZ. (Yes, the Miata won.) So I snatched the keys to the Blue Bomber ASAP.

This is the second BRZ MT has had. When the car first vroomed onto the automotive scene in 2012, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on one. Our dearly departed Rory Jurnecka (now spinning wheels at Automobile mag) happily chaperoned a 2013 Silver Sterling Metallic specimen. This time around we’ve got a 2016 Series.HyperBlue model, which is, well, bluer. Other than the color, what’s changed from then to now on the Boxer engine, Rear-drive Zenith coupe? Not much. It’s still running a 2.0-liter flat-four making 200 horses and 151 lb-ft of torque, requiring premium gas. We again chose the six-speed manual transmission. Our 2016 weighed in at 2,763, a 9-pound difference from the 2013, and front/rear distribution remains at 55/45 percent. Wheelbase (101.2 inches), length/width/height (166.7/69.9/50.6), EPA mpg (22/30/25 mpg city/hwy/combined) are, yup, same as before. Our test numbers reveal we did a 6.4-second 0-60 mph in the 2013 and a 6.8-second in the new one—I’ll ask our test team about that difference. (Maybe somebody was slacking?)

The 2016 BRZ comes in two trim levels, Limited and Premium, and Premium is the lower of the two. Ours is the Limited. Besides an engine, both trims share vehicle stability control and traction control systems, electric power assisted steering (EPAS), ventilated disc brakes, 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 R17 hi-po summer tires, HID headlights, a tire pressure monitoring system, two 12-volt outlets, a rearview camera, and an updated 6.2-inch touchscreen with Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system. Limited trim goodies include foglights, heated front seats and side mirrors, a trunk spoiler, sun visors with vanity mirrors, and dual-zone automatic climate control. There’s no nav system. The Limited fetches a $2,000 premium over the Premium, with our long-termer stickering at $28,485. (Our 2013 was $28,265.)

So what’s up with the HyperBlue special edition? There are only 500 of ’em in the wild. The black wheels are complemented by gloss black badges and exterior mirrors, which look sweet. The black leather and Alcantara upholstery is shot through with matching HyperBlue stitching on the seats, steering wheel, and parking brake handle, and there’s faux black carbon-fiber trim on the dash. I think the interior looks kickass, but I prefer the traditional Subaru Blue Pearl paint to the HyperBlue, which is paler and more vibrant. But I’m so happy to be shifting gears for the next year that the BRZ could be pea soup green and I wouldn’t mind.

2016 Subaru BRZ Series.HyperBlue
BASE PRICE	$28,485
PRICE AS TESTED	$28,485
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE	2.0L/200-hp/151-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve flat-4
TRANSMISSION	6-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	2,763 lb (55/45%)
WHEELBASE	101.2 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	166.7 x 69.9 x 50.6 in
0-60 MPH	6.8 sec
QUARTER MILE	15.3 sec @ 92.3 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	114 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.91 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	26.1 sec @ 0.68 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	22/30/25 mpg
ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY	153/112 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.78 lb/mile
REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB	29.3/33.2/31.0 mpg