SUBARU’s BRZ has never been as popular as its Toyota 86 near twin. Nor has the rear-wheel-drive coupe seemed entirely comfortable in a wholly all-wheel drive range, the marketing masterstroke spruiking the virtues of increased traction of which its maker has long hung its hat upon.

At least the BRZ has had sporting partners in the WRX and WRX STi models, though. For the last half-decade, and until the long awaited Supra arrives, the 86 has not. But until Mazda recently chopped the price of the MX-5, neither the Subaru nor Toyota have really had any rivals either.

Otherwise not a whole lot has changed in the market of sub-$40,000 two-door sports coupes since the ‘Toyobaru’ launched in 2012. Not much has changed, it would seem, for this Subaru BRZ beyond redesigned headlights and a fresh front bar, plus a new infotainment system.

Under the skin, however, there have been enough tweaks to considerably alter how this vehicle drives in an attempt to boost its standing in the back half of this decade.

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