BRZ vs WRX: What Would I Get Today?

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54) 01/26/2016 at 10:12 • Filed to: subaru, subaru wrx, subaru brz

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In March 2014 I was forced to get a new car, and got my Subaru BRZ. As a rally fan I’ve always liked the WRX, but the 2014 models were gone, and the new version for 2015 wasn’t being made yet. But what if it was? If BRZ vs WRX was a choice I had to make today, which would I choose?

Read on Right Foot Down or continue below

Thanks to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I had the opportunity to find out. To make this comparison as fair as possible, I asked to check out a base model WRX they had on their lot – the least equipped model they had. This is comparable to my BRZ Premium – since there is no BRZ base model, the Premium is also as basic as they come. But most importantly, both cars are The One True Subaru Color, World Rally Blue.

Compare and Contrast

Though rather different in execution, the two cars have quite a bit in common. Spring rates and such are tuned for their particular applications, many suspension components are shared with each other, as well as the non-sporty Impreza (the WRX was split off as a separate model from the Impreza a few years ago). They share the FA20 motor, though the WRX has a turbo that many wish the BRZ had. And, of course, they’re both sporty cars offered by Subaru. At times it’s made me wonder why, exactly, Subaru has offered not one, but two sporty cars in their rather small selection.

But despite some common DNA, they are very different cars. The BRZ is a true dedicated sports car. It’s rear wheel drive, an anomaly in Subaru’s otherwise all wheel drive lineup. It’s smaller, shorter, lighter, and lower than the WRX. The back seat is useless for humans who have heads and legs, which is just about everybody. The BRZ isn’t as powerful as the WRX, and though many people think it’s underpowered, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The handling is where it’s at with the BRZ. Its center of gravity is so low there’s virtually no body roll, even with summer tires on the track. I keep up with and even catch up to much “faster” cars in the corners all the time. There are few amenities inside, but sports cars don’t need creature comforts like controls on the steering wheel.

The WRX has grown up since the days when we can only drive it in Gran Turismo. It’s transformed from a wanna-be rally car into a genuine sports sedan. The seats are comfortable and more supportive than the BRZ’s. In fact, everything seems nicer than the BRZ. It’s even come a long way since the next most recent generation. I sat in one at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in 2014. I’ve always liked WRXs, but the shifter in that car was so vague and rubbery that it would have ruined the fun for me, or at least caused me to install a short shifter almost immediately. No need for that in the new WRX. It’s not quite as short and crisp as my BRZ, but it’s quite close.

On The Road

Photo credit: Subaru

OK, enough theory. How do they drive? The BRZ is an adventure every time I get into it. It rides low to the ground, because sports car, and since I’m not as young as I used to be it’s sometimes a little bit awkward to get in and out, as much as I hate to admit it. The BRZ has one of the best electric power steering systems I’ve used. It’s light, but precise, and transmits a good amount of feedback through the steering wheel. Part of that is due to the stiff suspension, which is tuned for optimal performance. Unfortunately, the ride quality suffers as a result. A lot. People complain that the ND Miata has a lot of body roll, but that suspension travel is what makes it compliant enough to not beat you up as you drive it. The BRZ doesn’t have that. But on a smooth road, autocross course, or the track, it handles like a dream. Power is adequate for any and all street driving, but traction and stability control seem to cut it regularly when driving on either the stock Prius tires or my snow tires. Interference is minimal during the summer when I run wider, stickier Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I can reduce or turn off these systems to prevent that, but then the tail wags a bit. It’s fun, but it’s not fast, and it might attract unwanted attention from law enforcement if I’m unlucky.

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I sit a bit higher in the WRX, and I have to reach down lower to shift. It’s not a big deal. The WRX is a bigger, heavier car, and you feel the extra 500lbs over the BRZ. But that’s not a bad thing, because it also feels quite solid. It also doesn’t feel slow, because it’ll scoot to 60 a second and a half faster than the BRZ. That’s its 68hp turbo advantage talking. I wasn’t overwhelmed by the power, but I was impressed. (Terrible pun fully intended.) With all wheel drive there’s no tail happy drama during acceleration like the BRZ – it just goes. This is both good and bad, depending on your point of view. Steering feels just as precise as the BRZ, with just a little bit less feedback through the wheel. The WRX’s ride is firm, but more comfortable than the BRZ. It soaks up most of the bumps instead of beating you up with them. I didn’t have the opportunity to really romp it on the back roads, but I suspect that when I chuck it into a turn, it would lean a little, but not excessively. I didn’t push the brakes hard, either, since it was a street drive, but being a brand new car they felt – well, brand new.

Creature Comforts

People have bashed the BRZ’s interior for being low quality. I disagree, but when I sat in the WRX, I began to see their point. The BRZ isn’t bad, but the WRX is just better. The steering wheel feels better. The seats wrap around you more. There are more displays of useful information on the dashboard and center console. The climate controls are much higher quality, and the extra display on top of the dashboard lets you see its status without taking your eyes off the road (as well as a nifty boost gauge). But you won’t need to use them much because automatic climate control is standard, even on the base model. You need to upgrade to the BRZ Limited to get it there. The climate controls and infotainment system are also tastefully surrounded by glossy black plastic, not the cheap “Space Invaders” plastic of the BRZ.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I tried using the BRZ’s built-in navigation for a year, but after the last time it took me to the opposite side of a major city from where I needed to be, I gave up and started using !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! exclusively. Since most of the time I stream my music through Pandora, my fancy infotainment system generally serves as nothing more than an amplifier and music display for my phone.

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New for the 2016 WRX is Subaru’s StarLink system. This is a huge upgrade over the clunky infotainment system in the BRZ. It supports Pandora directly, meaning that as soon as my phone connects full Pandora functionality will be available through StarLink. Other services, like Aha, iHeartRadio, and Stitcher are also supported. Unfortunately for me, StarLink only works over Bluetooth with Android phones. I’d still have to plug my iPhone into the USB port in the center console. (Bluetooth still works for making phone calls and such.) But since navigation isn’t included on the base WRX as it is on the BRZ, I’d be running Waze anyway, and when I do that I prefer to leave it plugged in to charge anyway. Since I didn’t have a cable with me, I didn’t get to truly put StarLink to the test.

The extra space of the WRX seems worth the weight penalty. There’s a little more room in the front to spread out, as well as two cupholders AND a center armrest/console. It’s either/or in the BRZ. The back seats aren’t just usable, they’re actually comfortable. This is a bad selfie I took, sitting behind the driver’s seat set up for me to drive. I don’t just fit, I’m comfortable. I’m six feet tall, and I have enough legroom. My head barely brushes the headliner. This was an even bigger surprise to me than the massive improvement of the shifter.

The WRX also addresses the other major practicality issue I have with the BRZ -the trunk. I’m not expecting something cavernous in a sports car. That would be silly. But the BRZ’s trunk is so short that I can’t even fit normal size paper bags in it. I have to either pack the paper bags to only half capacity and crumple them, save the planet and bring my own reusable bags, or kill the planet with plastic. On the downside, the WRX’s trunk lid hinges protrude massively into the usable trunk space, while the BRZ’s hardware is all external. But at least the WRX’s hinges are covered by trim panels so that the arms don’t crush the contents of your trunk the way they did in my Saturns. The back seats fold down in both cars, as you’d expect, but the WRX has a 60/40 split to allow another passenger. The BRZ is all or nothing, but let’s face it, no one is going to be riding in the back of a BRZ anyway, so this isn’t really an issue.

The Bottom Line

After experiencing both cars, I finally understand why Subaru offers both. They’re completely different experiences. The BRZ is a true sports car, built for fun and performance without compromises. The WRX is a sports sedan, with concessions to comfort and practicality but still a fun car in its own right. The shape of the back window even has a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! like a BMW, the standard of sports sedans. Subaru isn’t quite in BMW’s league of luxury, but they’re not trying to be, and the WRX costs significantly less than an equivalent 320i Xdrive.

So which would I choose today? As much as I’ve enjoyed nearly two years of BRZ ownership, I wouldn’t hesitate to take the WRX over it today. The more comfortable ride makes it a much better daily driver. It’s a better fit for my needs, especially now that I live with a fiancee and two boys who can’t fit in the back of the BRZ. This doesn’t mean giving up the fun, either, as the WRX is a very fun car to drive, and now I’d be able to take more people along for the ride. A little extra power wouldn’t hurt on the track, and though I’d lose some speed in the corners compared to the BRZ, I’m not racing, so who cares? For 99% of my needs, the WRX is clearly the better choice for me. In fact, if I didn’t have other major expenses looming I’d be negotiating to buy the WRX that I tested.

Real life makes it imprudent and impractical for me to change cars under my current life circumstances. I will continue to drive and enjoy my BRZ. It’s a good car, and at this point I have it lightly modified exactly the way I want it. But after experiencing the new WRX, I think it’s only a matter of time before a different World Rally Blue Subaru occupies my driveway.

(Big thanks to Bob Waite and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for tempting me with providing a WRX for me to review!)

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yitznewton > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 10:20

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I’m 35, and after tweaking something in my knee shoveling snow, I can relate (S2000) to the difficulty getting in and out. For me I had decided on the flat-cornering, light RWD car, S2000 vs. GT86. Ultimately it came down to the sweet spot of stock mania that the S2000 has, over the newer, warrantied aspect of the GT86.

TractorPillow > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 10:24

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Definitely agree about WRX being the winner here. I wanted to like the BRZ but I made the mistake of driving an Elise to the dealership to test drive it, and the BRZ just couldn’t compare (I like as few amenities as possible). When I was last car shopping I would have bought a WRX if they still sold a wagon.

Also, you are correct, WRB is the only Subaru color. Good article, enjoyed it.

Rico > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 10:26

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That is way more space than I expected especially with the front seat back a bit for your legs.

Rico > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 10:28

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Great comparison article

Justin Hughes > yitznewton 01/26/2016 at 10:29

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Don’t blame you there - the S2000 is awesome.

Justin Hughes > TractorPillow 01/26/2016 at 10:30

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Thanks!

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > yitznewton 01/26/2016 at 10:30

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Riding shotgun with a good S2K driver willing to ride that sweet spot in an autocross is a bat shit insane experience. I had a soloII champ as a business professor with r comp tires and was just...overwhelmed.

cazzyodo > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 10:31

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It’s funny...when I was doing my search almost 3 years ago now I went to Subaru fully convinced I would want the BRZ. I test drove the FR-S and then got the BRZ experience...but my uncle reminded me of the WRX so we went out with that. I loved it.

It was raucous, strong, handled well but then could compose itself and be a solid DD without compromise. I was so enthralled by it I worked on negotiating for one. I almost bought this:

Then I drove the ST I currently own. The ST was a complete package and I’m not disappointed by it. I got a better deal, the Recaro seats I wanted and more. I have no doubt that I’d love both, no matter what I chose, so I can’t be upset. But the WRX stole my heart away from the BRZ.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 10:31

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If I were trading the FR-S in today I’d be very tempted to consider the new WRX, although in the proper breaking-the-mold color; red. ;)

That being said, as a 27 y/o with no kids, the FR-S meets pretty much all my needs. They’re surprisingly more spacious than most would thing, you just have to fold the rear seats down or utilize them for storage. A bit more space would be nice, but it will do for now.

Justin Hughes > Rico 01/26/2016 at 10:32

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Way more than I expected, too. I’m used to the small back seat of the older Imprezas. This is not the same.

Justin Hughes > Rico 01/26/2016 at 10:32

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Thanks!

Justin Hughes > cazzyodo 01/26/2016 at 10:33

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Any ST is a sweet ride as well.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 10:34

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I wasn’t overwhelmed by the power, but I was impressed. (Terrible pun fully intended.)

I thought it was pretty great

ContactPatch > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 11:44

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Went from a ‘13 BRZ into a ‘16 WRX and never looked back. While I love the looks of the BRZ, handling and steering feel. Beating the hell out of that motor just to get anywhere faster than a late 90s minivan killed the deal for me. Granted I live in a land with very few curves in the road and overly crowded HPDE track days.

Justin Hughes > ContactPatch 01/26/2016 at 11:46

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Since you’ve probably pushed yours harder than I did, how would you say the WRX’s handling compares to the BRZ? In other words, how much worse? It seemed rather good to me, but cars like the BRZ, Miata, S2000, etc. are in a league of their own.

thedangler > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 11:54

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I agree with you completely - I’m in a slightly different camp, cross-shopping a WRX with a 4Runner. Completely different beasts, but would be coming from a 4dr Wrangler, with a Saab 9-5 before that. I love SUVs, I love fun sedans. I test drove the BRZ in FR-S form before the Jeep, but I just felt too confined inside of it. I drove a new WRX a month ago and I’m smitten by it.

Occasionally I need to tow a small trailer, and every month or two I’ll have an occasion where the Jeep gets stuffed to the gills, but I think I can make a sedan work. It’ll just take a little bit more planning effort (need to borrow a family member’s SUV for the trailer) and maybe taking 2 cars instead of 1 when I have more than 3 people plus bags/stuff.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 12:48

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Yeah this is a question I really want answered. I have always liked the idea of the WRX and it's added practicality. But I don't want to give up the handling of my Miata. Obviously the solution will be own both, but I am just curious how it compares to that category.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 12:52

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Interesting that the WRX gets the win in your book versus the BRZ. Makes sense with the added practicality with minimal losses. Is the pricing comparable on the two though? And would you say that it is definitely the 2016 improvements that make it better? By this, I am wondering if an older WRX would still be a winner for the same reasons.

WRXforScience > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 13:08

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I traded in a 2010 WRX for a 2014 BRZ, and within 2 months 3 of my WRX driving friends did the same. We are all autocross addicts and occasional track day racers.

The 15+ WRX is much better than the 09-14's we all drove; however, the BRZ can be driven straight onto the track (tires, pads, and fluids help but I’ve done a track day without them), whereas the WRX needs some upgrades (brakes just won’t hold up, and the understeer is fun sapping).

If you need a backseat or awd (I live in Texas, so winter isn’t a factor), the wrx is foryou, but if you don’t then the BRZ is more fun and a better autocross/track day car.

The WRX is the better car but the BRZ is the better sports/race car.

B_dol > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 13:08

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The BRZ is a sports car , the WRX a sports sedan. I’ll always choose the less practical, no apologies version of the two.

*Disclaimer - I owned an FR-S for 50K miles and sold it for an even more impractical car.

Justin Hughes > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/26/2016 at 13:40

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The BRZ starts at $25,395, and the WRX at $26,595. I think you get a LOT more than $1,200 worth of improvements with the WRX.

I’m less sure about a 2014 WRX (previous generation) against my 2014 BRZ. On the plus side, wagon, which I love, as well as the boxer burble in the exhaust. The interior of both is comparable, while the new WRX is better than both. I HATED the manual shifter in the 2014. It felt like a baseball bat in a barrel of coconuts. The new WRX shifter felt like a slightly lighter version of the BRZ’s. If that’s not good enough. an STi short shifter is available.

Justin Hughes > WRXforScience 01/26/2016 at 13:42

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I would agree with that. The BRZ is definitely a better autocross car. I’d at least upgrade the brake pads and fluid on any car I take to the track, and I did on my BRZ. Understeer sucks, but there are driving techniques around that, as well as mods.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 14:06

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hmm the BRZ seems expensive compared to the FRS. Have you done a comparison between the twins to see if it really is worthwhile picking one over the other? I feel like the only reason for BRZ is the Blue color haha.

JDIGGS > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 14:16

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Lol DUDE DON’T PACK YOUR GROCCERIES SO HIGH.

Space is idiotic on this car because I can fit 10 cases of Mexican Cokes and groceries. Because the Seats do not Fold in my sti GD, this car actually has easily double the storage space. When you don’t use the back 2 seats for passengers you end up with more room than any sedan has with passengers.

Honestly I’ve wanted to punch out so many people for the groceries ‘HEY GUYS I KNOW THE OPENING OF MY CAR IS NOT HUGE BUT I HAVE A HUGE STORAGE SPACE INSIDE, I GUESS IF I CAN’T FIT THROUGH THE OPENING BECAUSE I’M SUPER SMART THAT MEANS THEIR ISN’T ADEQUATE SPACE.” Ok not trying to troll you but instead of highlighting this as a problem you need to give the proper respect due here.

I can’t believe anybody would trade said car for a regular stock wrx unless you live in Alaska.

Justin Hughes > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 01/26/2016 at 14:24

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The FR-S is comparable in price. I can’t look it up right this second because Scion’s web site is down! I got a good deal on my BRZ, so it was actually cheaper than a basic FR-S. That, rather than the color, was the main reason I went with the Subaru. Though since I was getting a Subaru anyway, I HAD to get that color!

There’s no significant difference in the cars. Infotainment systems are whatever each respective manufacturer feels like offering. They have slightly different spring rates, and the FR-S is supposed to handle more neutral than the BRZ, but I’ve never had any problem getting my BRZ’s tail out when i want to.

Justin Hughes > JDIGGS 01/26/2016 at 14:31

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I admit to staging this picture to prove a point. But it’s a recreation of a problem I actually ran into when the clerk packed my groceries efficiently and the bag didn’t fit.

The trunk is definitely usable. That’s a big reason why I got a BRZ instead of a Miata. My recurve bow fits in the back of the BRZ if I fold the seat down. I’ve gone away with my lady for the weekend and brought everything we needed. Heck, by sending the largest items with friends, we even managed to cram it full of gear and take it to Pennsic.

I didn’t mention winter driving at all. Yes, AWD is better for that than RWD, but I wasn’t even going there.

Arrivederci > B_dol 01/26/2016 at 14:43

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What did you buy? Lotus Elise?

Arrivederci > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 14:45

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I’ve considered the same jump myself. Found a nice, very lightly used WRX for sale nearby, looks zackly like this one:

Justin Hughes > Arrivederci 01/26/2016 at 15:06

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Lightly used is probably what I’d want if I were to jump ship. More difficult to find, though, since they’re more popular than BRZs.

B_dol > Arrivederci 01/26/2016 at 15:11

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BMW Z4M coupe. 2 less “seats”, 10 less mpg and more expensive parts. Its not a huge departure in practicality though, the trunk is plenty big.

Arrivederci > B_dol 01/26/2016 at 15:23

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I’ve tried to look at those as well, but man, they are holding their value very well. Z4M roadster not nearly as much.

Buzz Skyline > banjo cat ghost of oppo past 01/26/2016 at 15:48

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I guess I’m slow today. What is the pun?

PushToStart > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 16:13

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I like your tails, did you do that yourself or buy new ones?

Justin Hughes > PushToStart 01/26/2016 at 16:38

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Thanks! That’s just VHT Nite Shades tint on the stock lights. I remember when people used to use that stuff to change their lights to interesting colors. Now I have to use it to make them red like they’re supposed to be!

PushToStart > Justin Hughes 01/26/2016 at 17:30

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Yeah, the stock ones don’t bother me a whole lot, but they looks much better all red. I really like these but they’re pretty expensive I think.

ContactPatch > Justin Hughes 01/28/2016 at 11:15

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BRZ wins hands down in the handling department. WRX wins in the confidence of handling department (if that make sense). I am much more comfortable throwing my WRX into a corner than the BRZ. I will say this, my opinion are very skewed. I have owned Cobras, Supras and CTS-Vs but I always end up back in a WRX or STi. Pretty much owned every turbo awd model Subaru has offered here since 01. I’m a bit of an addict (and no I don’t vape)

icelandr > Justin Hughes 01/28/2016 at 15:35

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love my wrx base, but I will select something with a tad bit more sound deadening and a quieter heater fan motor next time.

Highly enjoyed driving a coworkers BRZ while trying to decide my route, but owning a ‘73 Datsun 240Z, the BRZ made no sense to my needs. I already had the car the BRZ was trying to be, and it was 500 lbs lighter.

The WRX base that you pictured is either a 16 or not a true base as the buttons on the wheel and the media center is highly different than my 15 base model.

Justin Hughes > icelandr 01/28/2016 at 15:50

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It’s a 2016. It also has the optional fog lights installed, which aren’t standard on the base.