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Remember when the Toyota Prius was the brunt of many car jokes? Well, a lot has changed. Would you buy a Toyota Prius or a Subaru BRZ if you wanted a cool car? Kelley Blue Book (KBB) ranks the Prius well ahead of the BRZ in cool. Which do you think is the coolest model?
KBB says, "Picking just ten vehicles to fit on a list of cool cars is tough these days because there are easily double that number, if not more. No matter how you define cool, there's probably something to suit your tastes and your needs on this list, whether it's a sleek hybrid, a burly pickup, a sports car, or an electric vehicle (EV)."
We want to know their definition of cool cars because they score the Toyota Prius as the number one coolest new affordable car you can buy. They say, "The Prius has transformed from a once-frumpy-but-practical car into a stunning, sleek lift-back sedan that's also more efficient than ever."
Has KBB gone mad? Here are their ten coolest cars under $30,000. We would pick any of them ahead of the Toyota Prius.
The Toyota Prius is number one, followed by the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Ford Bronco Sport, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Honda Civic Si, Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR86, Ford Maverick, Toyota Tacoma, and last the Chevrolet Bolt EUV.
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What does KBB say about the #7 2023 Subaru BRZ?
KBB says, "Fun is clearly the point of the near-twin sport coupes from Subaru and Toyota, the 2023 Subaru BRZ and the 2023 Toyota GR86. Being at least in part Toyotas, the GR86 and BRZ are gifted with easy-to-use cabin layouts, plenty of equipment, and reasonable starting prices of just $28,400 (GR86) and $28,595 (BRZ) in base form."
"The two also share a 2.0-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine rated at 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, plenty of zip to enjoy their fantastic handling and balance. The GR86 even comes with a 12-month National Auto Sport Association membership, including entry to one High-Performance Driving Event."
What is the price of the 2023 Subaru 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.
Why you should wait for the 2024 Subaru BRZ tS.
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The 2024 Subaru BRZ gets even cooler with the new 2024 BRZ tS. It gets its suspension tuning from Subaru Tecnica International.
Subaru says, "The BRZ tS comes equipped with STI-tuned front and rear Hitachi dampers to maximize its lightweight, ultra-low center of gravity and precision handling, resulting in greater flexibility and better control and stability."
There's more cool coming. The new BRZ tS comes with a high-performance Brembo braking system, gold-painted 4-piston front calipers, gold-painted 2-piston rear calipers, and larger pads and rotors, enhancing stopping power, fade resistance, and pedal feel.
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The BRZ tS also has 18-inch wheels mounted with 215/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires for superior grip and quicker turn-in, says Subaru.
The 2024 Subaru BRZ tS trim level will be available at Subaru retailers early next year. Pricing will be announced later this year. Stay tuned.
If you want the coolest new model under $30,000, KBB says its number one pick is the Toyota Prius. What model from the ten above would be the coolest new vehicle, in your opinion? Let us know in the comments below.
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Denis Flierl brings over thirty years of combined auto industry and automotive journalism experience to Torque News readers. He is an accredited Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) member. The last twelve years have been spent with Torque News, covering Subaru vehicles and the latest news. Check back daily for his expert Subaru analysis. You'll find the latest stories on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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Photo credit: Subaru, Toyota
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KBB has lost touch with…
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KBB has lost touch with reality if they think the prius is "cooler" than the BRZ. Lightweight, RWD sports car with a manual transmission is a good as it gets. In no universe is a hybrid with a CVT even a contender in the cool category. Sure the prius is a lot loss dorky than it used to be, but cooler than a dedicated sports car it is not.