Stops harder than a Porsche 911? (Subaru BRZ tS 2024 Review)

The Subaru BRZ range has been upgraded for 2024 with all manual models receiving forwards AEB as standard along with a handful of other safety upgrades - along with a $3500 price hike.
Sitting at the top of the 2024 range is the new tS grade, which adds hard-core upgrades like a big brake kit front and rear, a firmer suspension setup and other select upgrades inside the interior, all for an additional $3600 over the regular S grade.
Though not as cheap as it used to be, the BRZ tS represents solid value with a list price of under $50,000 - especially when many hot hatches are now over $70,000.
Production specialist Tom Place takes a manual-equipped tS for a spin to see if the latest upgrades have provided a solid improvement to the BRZ formula and if the changes have come at the expense of everyday livability.
Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
1:24 - Changes for 2024
1:50 - Prices
2:20 - tS changes
3:29 - Driving
6:28 - Daily driving
7:16 - Braking
8:43 - Safety
9:47 - Interior
12:51 - Boot
13:51 - Running costs
14:32 - Verdict
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[@francfurian8215]

Excellent review 😊

[@chasingcars]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Zoranurai13]

Gotta say it looks good. Especially in today’s car market

[@SheerMagnetismDarling007]

Totally 👍

[@ryanm.3681]

What a beautiful car. In my humble opinion, this is a masterpiece. I need to get one now (while I can) and hang onto it for as long as I can. Too bad its not a hatchback.

[@anthonybriggs5873]

TS manual 🙌🏼

[@MrFrescocotone]

Edcellent car and excellent review. I think the upgrades are worth the price!

[@chasingcars]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@green_comet83]

Geez, that cabin noise exhausted me just watching this review, I can't imagine having to deal with it day to day.

[@chasingcars]

It was quite loud, but the lack of sound insulation is also part of why it's so light - TP

[@grecoconduris6716]

Do you like this car and it’s a first time I’ve seen this presenter, I like him as well

[@steveallen1340]

I haven’t driven this car but I’m guessing that if it can stop like a 911, which has a lot of weight at the back, then the 215mm tyres are probably a wise choice by Subaru. I know a lot of people like to fit wider but maybe not necessarily.

[@chasingcars]

It’s certainly not a major issue, it’s just the next potential point of improvement if someone was keen to do so.

[@SheerMagnetismDarling007]

Good old Subaru 🇯🇵 🇦🇺

[@kazsiddique1]

Be good to state what Aeb is with it being said 100 times

[@wombatcombat3770]

Only thing I don't like about the tS is the seat colour, especially in WR blue. I was very disappointed that the blue accents is only exclusive to NA market only. Seat covers or second hand from eBay.

[@J_S209]

I bought one and wanted the blue at first but ordered white simply because of the interior and the gold brakes just looked gaudy with the blue. I love the noise of the car and but it does roar mainly because of tyres and the frameless doors. The car is firm but supple, it’s not a spine jolt experience. Driving it in traffic is challenging because it is quite small and SUV’s, twin cab utes and trucks simple don’t see it and you have to be careful we’ll you place it. The manual will get dragged off at the lights unless you thrash it but once moving it has a great torque curve, it caries speed very nicely.

[@wombatcombat3770]

@@J_S209 The noise driving on the freeway is horrendous, not as bad as driving a corolla hybrid from Perth to Kalgoorlie. I will probably do a full sound deading layer next year if it doesn't kill the warranty. I agree. SUV, utes, hiluxs, dominated the streets. Trying to make a left or right turn from the stop sign is super dangerous. Besides the clutch being terrible, the BRZ tS super fun to drive. Very confident to take sharp corners at 60 and I can bet my life on the brakes. Subaru Eye Sight might be a bit too invasive. It locked my car up when someone was slowing down to turn into a shop, even thou I have maybe half a meter to spare.

[@J_S209]

@@wombatcombat3770 Eye sight is great! You’ll find all cars are the same these days, it’s amazing Subaru got integrate it into a manual car, the cruise control works very well with a manual. It’s my first manual car in years and the clutch is fine, it’s the easiest gearbox I’ve ever driven.

[@wombatcombat3770]

​@@J_S209 I haven't touched the cruise control, but yes, its pretty cool they managed to make it work on a manual. Japanese space magic. The head unit is actually good compared to some touch screens like the Honda Jazz. That screen has a white faded tint or maybe its sun damaged. I don't get why people complained about no wireless connection and the disconnect using wired. Its a USB-A, put a USB in it with your songs and cycle it with random. I brought a Sandisk Traveller 256 GB mini USB for 111 RM (37 AUD). Plugged it into the hand rest compartment and songs for days! I never plug my phone into modern cars as it is a privacy nightmare. They are pretty much mobile phones. (No pun intended)

[@J_S209]

@@wombatcombat3770 You need to be able to use the cruise without looking so you can use it at night, the stalk isn’t illuminated … about my only gripe with the car!

[@mosca3289]

Does everyone else know what AEB is?

[@sjb2471]

Autonomous emergency braking

[@sjb2471]

In many ways, this is the perfect affordable sports car. I wanted one and wanted to love it, however what I couldn’t deal with was the road noise. I didn’t expect it to be a Lexus limousine level of quiet, but as someone who drives on freeways a lot, I test drove it extensively and knew I couldn’t heave dealt with that amount of road noise for long stints. I have to wonder how hard it would be to dampen it even just a little bit?

[@TrojanRabbit521]

Switch to Bridgestone is easy solution. The stock tires are terrible on certain asphalt types. Next put in aftermarket subwoofer and turn up good music 😁 I love my BRZ enough I’ll buy another if anything happens

[@francfurian8215]

Turn off the false engine noise being piped into the cabin. Cheers😊

[@kev60625]

Did you turn off the fake engine noise? Switching tires would be a big improvement. You can add sound deadening fairly easily, the doors only have one tiny piece it. So that would help a lot

[@sshah2545]

Fake noise turned off helps a lot. The other thing to do is to get a decent exhaust. It doesn’t need to be too loud or shouty, but once you can hear the engine more than road noise it makes a big difference

[@kev60625]

@@sshah2545they want a quieter car and you are recommending an aftermarket exhaust that will make the car louder? Huh?

[@williamc4353]

300 hp would be perfect

[@fightnight14]

Bee are zed

[@ETERNITY777]

😁 THANK GOD ITS NOT ELECTRIC 🤪

[@bandicoot2016]

I own botha Tesla M3LR an MX5 and a Porsche Cayman, and they're sll great cars but completely different. Embrace EVs, especially ones like the Ioniq 5N. They're coming whether you like it or not.

[@ETERNITY777]

@@bandicoot2016 🤪 NOBODY WANTS EV CARS LOOK AROUND ON THE STREET WHATS DRIVING OPEN EYES 👀👁👁👁👁👁👁👁👁👁

[@whatthe6532]

Now you’ve got me thinking……. What if…. Hmmmmm

[@whatthe6532]

@@ETERNITY777I am the nobody of whom you speak. I too have a Porsche product but hardly ever give it a thought( my wife uses it) and almost always drive my electric car around the city.

[@richiesworld1]

​@@ETERNITY777 such nonsense.

[@kellyaustin7487]

Never put the 911 and the BRZ in the same conversation ever again 🤫

[@TrojanRabbit521]

Chased 911 on mountain road. Could brake a bit later stay even in corners no hope on straights. However if you can’t often exceed speed limits is gives lightweight sports car feel with more playful attitude. Porsche is much more serious about driving

[@Bobtubeau]

Hairdressers across Australia are very excited for this one.

[@chasingcars]

Not the MX-5?

[@richiesworld1]

Damn Bob, did you time travel to bring us that gem?🤔

[@maxregal8889]

Hairdressing must be about the only profession left where the practitioners know how to drive a manual. Long may they prosper.

[@Bobtubeau]

@@maxregal8889 it's all in the wrist

[@Bobtubeau]

@@richiesworld1 yes, from the future. These jokes are back in again.