2024 Subaru BRZ tS Review

Benefitting from a range of performance upgrades from Subaru’s STI performance division, the flagship BRZ tS promises to be the most extreme, dynamic and capable member of the BRZ range.

Just how well does the most extreme take on Subaru’s sports coupe perform on a mix of performance and daily driving, then, and is it worth the upgrade over the regular BRZ?  Let’s take a closer look at the MY24 Subaru BRZ tS to find out.

Toyota BRZ tS Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

The range-topping Subaru BRZ tS is priced at $48,690 for the manual variant, with the BRZ tS automatic priced at $49,690.

For reference, prices for the regular BRZ automatic stand at $44,790, with the BRZ S manual and automatic priced at $45,090 and $46,090, respectively.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

You could save money by using one of OnlineAuto’s car agents to assist you in finding the best car for you. As one of the leading car buying services in Australia, our team have access to a range of dealerships across the country to help find you the best deal.

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Subaru BRZ tS Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Subaru BRZ tS Have?

Atop the regular BRZ, the flagship BRZ tS picks up a range of performance-focused upgrades.

The list of features for the BRZ tS is headlined by an upgraded STI suspension package, grey 18-inch alloys, upgraded four-piston front and two-piston rear brakes with gold calipers courtesy of Brembo and some Bordeaux interior highlights.

The BRZ tS also picks up features from lower grades including ultrasuede and leather upholstery with heated seats, keyless entry & start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, adaptive cornering LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, a digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera.

Opting for the BRS tS automatic also adds a set of rear parking sensors and rear autonomous emergency braking.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The entire Subaru BRZ range, including the flagship tS, comes packaged with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display with DAB+ radio, Bluetooth and satellite navigation all bundled in.

It’s certainly not the most high-definition display on the market and even looks like an aftermarket unit from certain angles, though, it gets the job done and responds quickly to inputs via the shortcuts plastered around the display.

Does the Subaru BRZ tS have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

The MY24 Subaru BRZ tS’ infotainment system comes fitted with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, though you’ll need to connect your phone via a USB cord to get access to your contacts, send messages, make calls and access your multimedia on the fly.

There is Bluetooth connectivity, though, so if you’re looking to play music wirelessly inside the BRZ tS, you can - though the hands-free features of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will be unavailable until you can plug your phone into one of the two USB-A ports.

Is the Subaru BRZ tS Fun to Drive?

For the money, the Subaru BRZ is one of the most impressive performance coupes anywhere on the market.

Upgrading to this, the ‘tS’ performance flagship of the range adds even more performance to the mix, though the engine remains unchanged.

That means there’s a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated Boxer four-cylinder petrol under the bonnet pushing out 174kW of power and 250Nm of torque to the rear wheels via your choice of a six-speed automatic or manual transmission.

The tS picks up an STI-tuned suspension package and upgraded Brembo brakes that offer even more performance in the corners and outstanding stopping power.

On the road, the BRZ tS feels like a road-going go-kart, with impressive - but not outlandish acceleration -  that makes it approachable for all levels of drivers.

The package really excels when you throw it into some corners, with the upgraded suspension package keeping things flat even under harsh punishment, while you can feel the body pivoting and rotating around a corner.

The BRZ tS’ steering is razor sharp and responsive to minute inputs, offering healthy feedback that makes you feel like you’re driving a six-figure sports car.

The BRZ tS without a doubt one of the best vehicles you can learn the basics of performance motoring inside, offering a tonne of fun, even at low speeds that make it a user-friendly sports coupe.

The tS makes for a worthwhile upgrade for anyone looking to push the limits, particularly on the track where you can really explore its full potential.

Is the Subaru BRZ tS Comfortable on a Daily Drive?

As you might imagine, a low-slung sports coupe designed primarily for speed isn’t going to be the most comfortable package on a daily drive.

Having said that, if you live in a town or city with relatively smooth roads, you could definitely use the BRZ tS on a day-to-day basis.

That’s primarily because the BRZ remains user-friendly on a dawdle around town, with its zippy acceleration, sharp handling and small proportions making it well-suited to the urban jungle.

The suspension package is undeniably rigid, though, which means you’ll feel even the most minute of road irregularities underfoot; all that handling prowess doesn’t come without a cost.

This means that if you’re living regionally or have some rough road surfaces around, the BRZ and especially the tS with its STI-tuned suspension is incredibly unforgiving on country roads.

The BRZ’s race-ready nature means that the gears are quite short meaning that, at highway speeds, the engine revs sit above the 3,000rpm mark, though the sound insulation helps to keep things quiet inside the cabin.

All up, as a fit-for-purpose sports car, the BRZ tS is a great all-rounder whose daily driving nature hasn’t been lost compared to the standard BRZ package.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The BRZ’s 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated powertrain is pretty average when it comes to fuel economy figures. Having said that, it’s unlikely fuel efficiency will be top of mind for buyers in this space.

Officially, the BRZ tS is rated at 9.5L/100km on a combined cycle, which is quite thirsty for a four-cylinder engine - though this is a performance unit.

Around town, the BRZ tS returns city consumption figures of 13.3L/100km which drop to 7.3L/100km when you stick to the highway.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Practicality and a small, sports coupe package are two things that have never really co-existed.

Those responsible for designing the BRZ tS, quite rightly, spent the majority of their time ensuring it can tear the track to pieces, with the interior left as a bit of an afterthought.

Having said that, there is a decent amount of space in the front of the cabin for tall drivers to get comfortable in the driver or passenger seat thanks to the incredibly low-slung driving position.

The driving ergonomics are fantastic, with the short-throw manual gearbox lever sitting close by and ready for action and great adjustment in the steering wheel and front seats that pick up substantial side bolsters.

The flagship BRZ tS picks up Bordeaux highlights for the ultrasuede and leather upholstery, as well as an STI badge on the red start/stop button and gear lever, while the rest of the cabin remains familiar to the normal BRZ.

The design is strictly business, which means there aren’t a tonne of practical touches and storage options, though a basic array makes the BRZ tS a viable daily driver.

Storage options are headlined by a pair of cup holders tucked away in each of the door sills, a glovebox and a split-fold storage tray that sits underneath your elbow.

While the Subaru BRZ tS is technically billed as a four-seater, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone with two feet and a heartbeat that can squeeze into the second row which, should be deemed as more of an extended cargo shelf than a useable second row.

Legroom is non-existent in the rear of the BRZ while headroom for anyone taller than a child is pitiful, though a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts mean you can put it to use on a run with young ones.

All things considered, though, the fact the BRZ package can accommodate tall drivers is pretty much all you can ask for in such a specialist, performance-focused package.

The redesigned cabin makes for a far more practical offering than the first-gen BRZ while the luxurious touches and unique tS-specific upgrades make it feel like a worthwhile upgrade inside.

How Big is the Subaru BRZ tS’ Boot?

While the BRZ tS doesn’t boast massive cargo space figures, it’s a very useable boot - particularly with the rear ‘seats’ folded down where you’ve got access to a hefty amount of storage for a sports car.

Officially, the BRZ tS’ boot measures in at 201L, though the single-piece rear seats fold down nice and flat, granting you access to a surprising amount of cargo potential.

If we owned a BRZ, we’d be inclined to leave the rear seats folded down which effectively doubles the amount of useable boot space and means you can even squeeze in some sports equipment or luggage for a school or airport run.

Is it Safe?

The latest generation BRZ range has picked up some major improvements over the previous model when it comes to safety, though it is yet to receive an official ANCAP safety rating.

Also, in recent times Subaru has given manual variants of the BRZ a range of active safety features that previously weren’t on offer, though it still misses out on a few key pieces of safety tech.

As standard, the BRZ tS manual picks up autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure alerts, lead vehicle departure alerts and a rear-view camera.

Opting for the BRZ tS automatic adds a reverse autonomous emergency braking system as well as a set of rear parking sensors which is something to keep in mind, particularly if you’re living in the urban jungle.

What Warranty Does the Subaru BRZ tS Come With?

Subaru offers the BRZ tS with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, as well as five capped-price services.

Service intervals stand at 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever elapses first, with servicing costs for the BRZ tS Manual standing at $2,527, rising slightly to $2,612 in the case of the BRZ tS Automatic.

Our Verdict: Is the Subaru BRZ tS Worth it?

You can’t help but admire the BRZ tS for its unapologetic approach to performance motoring, as well as the simplicity of a package purely designed for driving engagement.

Behind the wheel, the BRZ tS is intoxicating to drive and makes you feel like a far better driver than you probably are, rewarding new and experienced drivers alike with its lightweight, rear-wheel drive platform.

Is the tS worth the price premium? We think so, particularly if you’re looking to take your BRZ to the track thanks to the upgraded suspension and heavy-duty brakes.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can take the stress out of the process and help find you the best possible price.

Five Subaru BRZ tS Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. 12-month/15,000-kilometre service intervals

3. 9.5L/100km combined cycle fuel economy figures

4. 201L boot

5. Five capped-price services included