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GREEN | 7 out of 10
The 2013 Subaru BRZ is tuned for performance above nearly all else. So it might come as a little surprising that it achieves Combined EPA ratings of up to 28 mpg—and up to 34 mpg on the highway.
Thanks in part to the Toyota direct-injection system that it's fitted to; its light 2,800-pound curb weight; and its relatively tall high-gear overdrive (2,300 rpm at 70 mph with the automatic), the BRZ is surprisingly fuel-efficient, especially on the highway.
BRZ models with the automatic transmission are rated a bit higher (25 mpg city, 34 highway) than those with the six-speed manual (22/30)—in part perhaps because the manual is geared a bit lower.
But even more impressive is that in a first drive of an automatic BRZ, including about 280 miles of varied conditions—none of it steady or sedate—we saw an average 30 mpg.
One note for those interested in pinching pennies: The BRZ requires premium fuel.
Conclusion
If you want a sports car but can't bear the thought of guzzling gas, there's no need to shy away from the Subaru BRZ.
