The 2022 Subaru BRZ has been released, showing its newly redesigned exterior, and even more importantly, the promise of reliable, upgraded performance over the previous model year. This includes the introduction of a new, bigger engine that is not unfamiliar to Subaru fans, giving us the confidence in the new model year that we are hoping for, with the performance upgrades that make it worth buying over the last generation of the BRZ. But, the new one may let buyers down if they’re expecting this new engine platform to come with some big power boosters.

The 2022 Subaru BRZ

The 2022 Subaru BRZ will come as a newly redesigned sports car inside and out while maintaining everything that car enthusiasts loved about the affordable roadster while also improving on a few things. One way that the car was upgraded was the drivetrain. Its affordable, rear-wheel-drive platform makes it a great lower-powered option for drivers who are looking for a reliable daily driver and fun weekend roadster all wrapped into one. According to Edmunds, next year’s BRZ will have a starting price of $28,995, making it just as affordable as previous model years, even with all of the upgrades.

Drivetrain options for the 2022 Subaru BRZ

Fans and potential buyers of the 2022 Subaru BRZ have heard the rumors of the new model year’s upgrades to the performance and power, and those claims aren’t wrong. It makes sense that the BRZ, which is known for having a smaller engine, would follow in the footsteps of other consumer-focused sports cars in maintaining a smaller, fuel-efficient engine but boosting power with the addition of a turbocharger. There are performance upgrades to next year’s engine, giving the car a 2.4-liter 4 cylinder, rather than the previous generation 2.0-liter 4 cylinder. While it is still offered with the option for a manual transmission, there are still no turbocharged options. The 2022 Subaru BRZ will remain naturally aspirated.

What to expect from the new 2.4-liter engine

The 2.4-liter engine that’s new for the 2022 Subaru BRZ isn’t new to the brand, as it originally came from the popular Subaru Ascent — giving us hope that, even though it has been slightly modified, it will be just as reliable as the Ascent. Modifications to the engine itself and exhaust give it a more aggressive, sportier sound and deliver more power mid-range than the 2.0-liter of the previous generation. While it still isn’t pushing out impressive four-digit horsepower numbers as some supercars and hypercars do, it handles its power well, expertly navigating corners and turns.