2019 Subaru BRZ

Pros: Lithe, agile handling; true sports-car personality; nice selection of standard equipment; good fuel economy for a sports car; relatively affordable pricing

Cons: Some enthusiast drivers will wish for more power; low-slung body and long doors make for tricky entry and exit; barely usable back seat; no options available

CG Says: The 2019 Subaru BRZ now has over-the-air updates for the navigation system and there is a new limited-edition Series Gray model with unique trim. BRZ is a rear-wheel-drive sporty/performance coupe with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that develops 200 horsepower with a 6-speed automatic transmission or 205 hp with a 6-speed manual. Like its near twin, the Toyota 86 (formerly Scion FR-S), the 2019 Subaru BRZ attempts to blend the pure enthusiast appeal of a finely honed rear-wheel-drive sports car with the accessibility and everyday practicality of a compact economy car. It succeeds on most counts. The typical sporty-coupe demerits–most notably a somewhat stiff ride and a tiny back-seat area–are here, but they’re tempered by the BRZ’s respectable fuel-economy numbers and sprightly all-around performance.