Jump Links
- A History of the Subaru BRZ
- Subaru's 2025 Sports Cars
- 2026 BRZ Trims And Pricing
- How Much Are Used BRZs Worth Today?
- Summary: The Era Of Affordable Sports Cars Is Closing
Sports cars don't all need to have outrageously high power outputs to be fun, and Subaru proves that. Subaru sports cars like the BRZ and WRX aren't all that powerful, and yet a combination of low centers of gravity, either rear- or all-wheel drive, manual transmissions, and more allow the driver to feel connected to the car. Over the last decade or so, the BRZ has been a staple among relatively affordable coupes. It offers a supremely fun driving experience while starting far under the price of most comparable sports cars.
However, it's with a heavy heart that we have to say the cheapest BRZ trim is being discontinued after the 2025 model year; the cheapest Subaru sports car is getting a few thousand dollars more expensive. In this article, we'll discuss the two Subaru sports car models on sale, the history of the BRZ, the two-door sports car's pricing for this year and next year, and how much they're worth on the used market.
All specifications and information have been sourced directly from the manufacturer. Prices are correct at the time of writing, and exclude destination, taxes, options, and other fees — automakers reserve the right to change prices at any time, without notice.
A History of the Subaru BRZ
A Collaboration Between Giants
Subaru
Subaru and Toyota (and Scion, which was technically still Toyota at the time) teamed up as an unlikely pair to create one of the most beloved cheap sports cars of all time. The 2013 model year brought consumers the BRZ, 86, and FR-S. Subaru's BRZ has always been slightly more expensive, and holds its value better as a result. Under the hood was a 2.0-liter flat four-cylinder connected to the rear wheels via your choice of either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. It made 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque for a slow 0–60 mph sprint of about 6.4 seconds, according to independent testing. It was never about straight-line speed, though. The BRZ exists to give drivers an attainable entry price to RWD sports cars; it's low to the ground for great handling, and the aftermarket support is endless today.
Subaru's 2025 Sports Cars
Subaru is known for its all-wheel-drive hatchbacks, wagons, and SUVs over the last few decades, but there are two models that stand out from the rest. In the brand's current lineup of family-friendly cars like the Impreza, Outback, and Forester, the BRZ and WRX are a couple of sports cars that balance the rest of the lineup's somewhat tame demeanor. They're still not the most extreme examples of sports cars on the market, but they provide a more engaging experience with a decent amount of power. These are ready for your next track day, canyon run, or rally race on a smaller budget than other brands extend.
2025 Subaru BRZ
Subaru
*Optional on the Limited trim
The current Subaru BRZ is a car built for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts. Every single trim gets a standard manual transmission, with only one, the Limited trim, getting the option to install a six-speed automatic from the factory. Like we've said before, it's not all that powerful. Its lack of power leads to a slower zero to sixty time, so it probably won't win any straight-line races. However, that's not the point of this car. If you let go of your feelings about on-paper figures to just enjoy your time behind the wheel, you'll see how it's not always about power.
We had a chance to drive the 2024 BRZ tS, which is unchanged for the 2025 model year, and our driver found it small, simple, and thrilling on the track. The BRZ is a bit more expensive than the Toyota counterpart, though. While the 2025 BRZ starts at $33,210 at the time of writing, the GR86 still starts below $30k. We'll get more into pricing later, though. For now, let's leave off on the fact that Subaru's fast cars don't really exist; you don't buy a Subaru BRZ for speed, you buy one for its relatively affordable price, low center of gravity, and thrills as you toss it around on the track or in the canyon.
"It's easy to read about the BRZ's specifications and decide if it's too slow or too impractical. Perhaps those people have never piloted one on a curvy road, because specs don't make smiles, good cars do. If you stop worrying about 0–60 times and just focus on enjoyment, there aren't many cars that outshine the Subaru BRZ tS."
- Jared Rosenholtz, Editopr-At-Large, CarBuzz
2025 Subaru WRX
Subaru
The BRZ might be a fun RWD option with two doors, but what if you want some more interior space, taller ride height, and all-wheel drive? A performance Subaru to make the most seasoned Portland resident jealous is the WRX. It's equipped with another 2.4-liter flat four-cylinder, but this time it's tuned for 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Three of the four available trims have a standard six-speed manual, while the "Subaru Performance Transmission" is standard on the GT variant. It's not a typical CVT, since it has an eight-speed manual mode and paddle shifters.
We drove the WRX tS this year, too. Our driver found it easy to drive with customizable drive settings, nearly impossible to commit a mistake on the track due to the impressive grip of all-wheel drive, but not quite to the level of a proper STI.
"...the adaptive dampers felt perfect in their Sport setting, limiting body pitch and roll to a minimum around Sonoma’s steep elevation changes. We wished for a bit more power climbing up the track’s opening hill, but the WRX still feels plenty quick on the road. Perhaps owners will tune the boxer-four to produce more than 12 psi of boost pressure."
- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz
2026 BRZ Trims And Pricing
Dropping The Base Trim
Subaru
As exciting as the BRZ is on track, part of why it's so good is its price. Unfortunately, that price is going way up for the 2026 model year. At the beginning of 2025, you could have bought a brand-new BRZ with an MSRP of just $31,095, but today, that price is up to $33,210 for the base (Premium) trim level. Starting with the 2026 model year, the Premium trim will be no more. The cheapest sporty Subaru will be discontinued due to a lack of sales or interest from consumers.
Add on the $1,195 destination charge, and you won't leave the dealer without having spent at least $37,055 before options and other fees for the lowest trim. If you have money to blow, though, you could opt for the new limited-edition Series.Yellow for a minimum of $39,360. It's unlikely that they'll be sold for anywhere near that price, since the United States is only getting 350 units, and Japan only has 300 to sell. The RWX will also have a Series.Yellow edition.
*All prices exclude a destination charge, options, and other fees
How Much Are Used BRZs Worth Today?
See How Well The BRZ Holds Its Value
Subaru
Every car depreciates as soon as it's driven off the lot. Some cars hold their value better than others, but there's not much you can do about it once you sign the title. With that being said, how does the BRZ hold up? According to Kelley Blue Book, new models lost quite a bit of value after just three years; to be specific, the 2022 BRZ lost 44% of its value on average over the last three years. It follows a fairly linear curve, but the 2022 models currently have a resale value of about $19,599 on average around the country. Yours could be worth more or less depending on condition, mileage, number of owners, and many more factors.
Summary: The Era Of Affordable Sports Cars Is Closing
Save Money By Buying Used
The Subaru BRZ is a masterclass in combining restrained horsepower with high volumes of fun. Since its debut for the 2013 model year, this Subaru has captured the hearts and minds of enthusiasts everywhere. The BRZ has been relatively affordable for most of its life, but that's about to change. While the 2025 model had a Premium trim that started a couple thousand dollars below the next possible option, the 2026 model is dropping that base trim in favor of the more expensive versions. If you have nearly forty thousand dollars to spend on a 228-horsepower coupe, we think it'll still be fun to drive. You might be better off just finding a used example, though.
Sources: Subaru, Kelley Blue Book
