Skip advert
Advertisement

Subaru BRZ tS 2015 review

Not the full blown Subaru BRZ STi we wanted, the BRZ tS is tweaked by Subaru's performance arm for a sharper drive but won't come to the UK

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Subaru BRZ
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

It’s a shame Subaru doesn’t have any plans to offer the tS’s upgrades on UK BRZs for the time being, as they do a good job of adding further appeal to the two-door coupe. It doesn’t get any more power, but the chassis and suspension upgrades work a treat. A turbocharged BRZ hasn’t be ruled out, but again, there aren’t any plans to bring it to the UK.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Coming off the back of a masterful class win in the WRX STI at the Nurburging 24-hour race this May, Subaru’s motor sport divison and customising arm, Subaru Tecnica International (STI) has just launched the limited-edition BRZ tS. In Subaru speak, that means “tuned by STI.” 

The new BRZ tS inherits strategic suspension parts and chassis upgrades using feedback from the company’s race development program. There’s no power boost over the standard BRZ, but all the parts featured on our test car will ultimately be offered in the UK.

That’s right. STI wants to strengthen its overseas presence and create a performance brand that's as easily recognizable as BMW’s M or Mercedes’ AMG are in the UK.

But don't expect Subaru to turn up with an export-ready BRZ tS anytime soon. STI will first launch its parts catalogue, streamlining and reinforcing the Subaru Performance Tuning parts business in the process. Complete cars like the BRZ tS could appear in the UK within the next 18 months. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Focus

2017 Ford

Focus

20,705 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,697
View Focus
Leaf

2021 Nissan

Leaf

15,169 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £11,197
View Leaf
Corsa

2021 Vauxhall

Corsa

26,624 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £10,997
View Corsa
1 Series

2024 BMW

1 Series

20,879 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £21,676
View 1 Series

So what is the BRZ tS all about? The coupe was developed to show what STI can do to enhance handling, not performance. It retains the same Subaru-built 2.0-litre Boxer engine pumping out 197bhp, but our STI contact would not rule out a possible turbocharged BRZ STI within the next two to four years.

Advertisement - Article continues below

On the outside, everything with the tS is subtle. It doesn’t look all that different from the standard car, apart from larger wheels, bespoke lip spoiler and twin sports exhausts. The STI also gets red accents around the front airdam and rear diffuser as well as tS badging on the bootlid.

A quick glance under the bonnet and you'll find a new ‘flexible V-bar setup’. Comprising two braces in an inverted V-shape attached between the tower struts and bulkhead, the tweaks work to improve front-end rigidity and steering response. It also incorporates underbody flexible draw stiffeners that link the underside of the floor and the side frame to add even more initial turn-in response.

The V-bar, stiffeners and Bilstein dampers absorb minor road imperfections while reducing body roll and allowing all four tyres to maintain larger contact with the road.

Shod with larger 18-inch Michelin tyres, the rubber is wider and grippier than the stock BRZ’s 17s. Four piston Brembo brakes shorten braking distances significantly and enhance driver confidence, while the combination of suspension and chassis revisions also reduce pitching and brake dive during fast cornering.

These changes allow you to brake later and enter a corner faster with less understeer than in the standard BRZ. The tS feels even more adjustable, and permits easier mid-corner corrections without feeling too unruly.

Interestingly, STi has fitted larger exhaust pipes which generate a beefier exhaust note, especially over 4000rpm. But to enhance interior comfort, they have incorporated sound-absorbing materials in the dashboard and tyre housing, which reduces wind and road noise entering the cabin.

If you’re a fan of the WRX STI interior then you’ll like the BRZ tS’s cockpit. It still falls someway short of the brilliant Audi TT, but boasting bespoke two-tone red and black Recaro full bucket seats, special STI gauges and leather steering wheels and gear shifter with cherry red stitching, the tS is an aesthetic step above the stock BRZ.

Limited to just 300 units and available in Japan only for the time being, the BRZ tS starts at 3.99 million yen (around £20,700) for the 6-speed manual and 4.07 million yen (£21,150) for the 6-speed automatic. That’s quite a bit less than the standard BRZ in the UK, so expect a slight price increase when it arrives here in 2016.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,075 off RRP*Used from £14,448
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025