Car And Driver 10Best Cars For 2023 - Subaru BRZ Is A Top Pick But Has 2 Flaws

Car and Driver announced the 2023 Subaru BRZ is again one of Car and Driver's 10Best Cars for 2023. C & D says they picked the ten cars "that live up to their purpose while delivering incredible value and a great driving experience."

The automotive car site awarded the Subaru BRZ for the second year. Along with the Toyota GR86, it's packed for its affordability, performance, and sports car capabilities.

Car and Driver says, "These cars are built not for bragging rights but to entertain the human behind the wheel. They embrace the concept of enough, drawing attention to the space left unfilled by extra pounds and a daunting monthly payment. They're utterly wonderful."

To get the award, C&D says every car on the list had to go on sale by January 31, and they set a price cutoff "not only to remain relevant but with the expectation that an expensive car had better be damn special."

The Car And Driver 10Best Cars For 2023

Car and Driver picked the BMWi4, Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, Chevrolet Corvette, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Porsche 718 Boxter/Cayman, Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86, Toyota GR Corolla, and Toyota GR Supra.

C&D has good things to say about the 2023 BRZ rear-drive sports coupe. It starts with the 2.4-liter Subaru Boxer engine. "The Subaru-based naturally aspirated 2.4-liter flat-four is gloriously rev-happy, making its 228 horsepower at 7000 rpm but still offering a chunky 184 pound-feet of torque at 3700 rpm. Pitted against a mere 2843 pounds of weight in the Subaru BRZ Limited, that's enough oomph to deliver a 5.4-second run to 60 mph and a 13.9-second quarter-mile at 101 mph."

They also say, "With rear-wheel drive, a standard six-speed manual transmission, and a limited-slip differential, the BRZ and GR86 have all the right ingredients for a rollicking good time."

C&D like the BRZ because it's affordable, under $30,000

What is the price of the 2023 BRZ?

The 2023 Subaru BRZ comes in two trim levels with two transmission options. The BRZ Premium with a 6-speed manual gearbox has a starting price of $29,615. BRZ Premium with an automatic transmission starts at $33,115. The Limited (6-speed manual) has a starting MSRP of $32,115. The Limited with an automatic transmission starts at $33,255. Pricing includes destination and delivery fees.

What C&D doesn't like about the BRZ

Car and Drivers says the BRZ sports coupe's interior is "a little basic" with its "eight-bit graphics" for the instrument cluster and center touchscreen. They also state they dream about the BRZ with a turbocharged engine with 300 horsepower.

We are still determining why because they say, "more power would mean a beefier drivetrain, bigger wheels and tires, and additional weight. Those things lead away from why these cars are so great. They're light, sharp, unfiltered, and inexpensive. Long may they remain so. We don't need anything more."

Why doesn't the BRZ have a turbocharged engine?

When the next-generation BRZ launched, Dominick Infante, Subaru Director, Corporate Communications, told Road and Track the non-turbocharged engine was critical in preserving the sports car's low center of gravity, keeping it lightweight, and continuing its affordability.

Subaru of America's Car Line Planning Manager, Todd Hill, said the BRZ sports coupe is already perfectly balanced with the boxer engine sitting low in the chassis, and a turbo would change it.

Even though the BRZ has a naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter Boxer engine, not a turbo, and a basic interior, Car and Driver still picks the 2023 Subaru BRZ as one of its 10Best Cars for 2023.

Our take: It's a great sports car value and fun to drive.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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