While rivals bury the manual, Subaru does the exact opposite
Subaru of America just confirmed: the 2027 BRZ keeps its stick shift, RWD layout, and 228-hp boxer. The price tag? Barely budged.
While rivals are quietly shoving the manual gearbox into a museum, Subaru is doing the exact opposite. Subaru of America has announced pricing for the 2027 Subaru BRZ rear-wheel-drive coupe — and yes, the six-speed stick is still on the menu. The coupe arrives at U.S. dealers this fall, and the Limited trim with the manual starts at $36,140. A year ago, the same car cost from $35,860, so the bump is almost symbolic — just $280.
The 2027 lineup has slimmed down to two trims: Limited and tS. Under the hood sits the familiar naturally aspirated 2.4-liter Subaru Boxer flat-four pushing out 228 hp, still sending every bit of torque to the rear wheels. No compromises here: the 6-speed manual is standard across the BRZ range. Want an automatic? It’s only available on the Limited — a 6-speed unit with paddle shifters, priced at $36,990.
The big technical hook this model year is the next-generation EyeSight suite. Subaru has fitted a wide-angle monocular camera with an expanded field of view, and the list of driver aids now reads like something from an executive sedan: adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert. The tS also gets rear parking sensors — a small touch, but in tight American mall parking lots it saves more than just bumpers.
Limited is the trim that nails the balance of comfort and character: Ultrasuede upholstery with red leather accents, dual-mode heated seats, and the 8-inch Subaru Multimedia Plus system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The tS, on the other hand, is a track-day story. The priciest BRZ in the range stickers at $38,770 and brings STI-tuned Hitachi dampers, Brembo brakes with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear calipers, 18-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. Inside — blue accents, contrast stitching, an STI-branded start button and a dedicated welcome graphic on the cluster. A modest sports car? Hardly. More like the last of the Mohicans, refusing to grow up.