Skidpad and figure-eight results in the automatic BRZ were comparable to those in the manual car. In the former it gripped to 0.94 g average, and in the latter, it lapped in 25.7 seconds at 0.71 g average. It's just as lovely as the manual version—all the same balance, delight, and fingertip steering. It remains a tail-happy machine, too; we noticed the rear tires got hot before the fronts, an unusual trait.

Hard Realities

Test results don't illustrate how living with the 2022 Subaru BRZ remains challenging. Some aspects are good, like the supportive front seats or thin-rimmed steering wheel. Yet swaths of hard black plastic, flimsy circular air vents, and somewhat low-resolution displays make the cabin look and feel cheap. The level of noise inside the cabin at highway speeds furthers the spartan impression.

Despite the superb driving position, some ergonomic and packaging decisions left us confused. There are few places to stash things outside of the center console compartment. The drive mode, traction control, and heated-seat switches are placed prominently behind the shifter. We think those could have gone elsewhere to allow for more storage.

Behind the front seats are two areas that, according to Subaru, are meant to accommodate humans. They're better thought of as supplements to the small trunk. Only automatic-equipped BRZ models get EyeSight driver assist features, which works nowhere near as well as in other Subarus. The adaptive cruise control shuts off in stop-and-go traffic, and the lane-keeping system seems to do nothing.

This isn't a do-it-all sports car that's as good a commuter as it is a canyon carver. Still, we are mighty impressed with it, and it's made big fans out of us.

Damn the Numbers

Now that you know the results of the 2022 Subaru BRZ's performance testing, you'd do well to forget them. Inevitably someone will decry the car as slow, and depending on context, they won't be wrong. And even if it grips impressively on the skidpad, zeroing in on those decimals detracts from the sensations it imparts while it does so. Sure, the new 2022 BRZ's numbers are generally better than before, but the improvement in feel is greater than gains made in any test.

Instead, focus on how this car earns your affection and makes memories. From the first drive onward, you'll find yourself contemplating how fluid the weight transfer was while braking before a turn, how planted it felt over a tricky off-camber bit, or how the tail stepped out so predictably when chucking the car into a bend. It's simply delightful, as the new BRZ transcends the confines of numbers like few other vehicles.

SPECIFICATIONS	2022 Subaru BRZ (Limited)	2022 Subaru BRZ (Limited)
BASE PRICE	$33,255	$31,455
PRICE AS TESTED	$33,255	$31,455
VEHICLE LAYOUT	Front-engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door coupe	Front-engine, RWD, 4-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE	2.4L port- and direct-injected DOHC 16-valve flat-4	2.4L port- and direct-injected DOHC 16-valve flat-4
POWER (SAE NET)	228 hp @ 7,000 rpm	228 hp @ 7,000 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET)	184 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm	184 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm
TRANSMISSION	6-speed automatic	6-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST)	2,878 lb (56/44%)	2,822 lb (56/44%)
WHEELBASE	101.4 in	101.4 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	167.9 x 69.9 x 51.6 in	167.9 x 69.9 x 51.6 in
0-60 MPH	6.6 sec	5.9 sec
QUARTER MILE	14.9 sec @ 97.0 mph	14.3 sec @ 99.8 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	111 ft	107 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.94 g (avg)	0.93 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	25.8 sec @ 0.71 g (avg)	25.7 sec @ 0.71 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON	21/30/25 mpg	20/27/22 mpg
ON SALE	Now	Now