In a 2026 sports car market where manual transmissions are becoming the exception rather than the rule, the Subaru BRZ (alongside its Toyota GR86 twin) stands out for a simple reason: every single trim still comes standard with a six-speed manual. Here's where the platform stands, and how owners are building on that foundation.
One of the Last Manual-Standard Sports Cars
According to a 2026 sports car market analysis, the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are among the very few remaining performance cars where a six-speed manual is standard equipment across every single trim level - not an option, not a trim-specific upgrade, but the default. That puts the BRZ in an increasingly small club as automakers across the industry continue phasing manual transmissions out of their lineups.
Power and Positioning
The BRZ's naturally aspirated flat-four produces 228 horsepower - more peak output than the Mazda MX-5 Miata's 181 hp, though the MX-5's significant weight advantage keeps that comparison closer in real-world feel than the numbers alone suggest. Within its price segment, the BRZ remains one of the purest, most driver-focused options on the market, built around classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive proportions with minimal electronic intervention.
Shared Platform With the Toyota GR86
Because the BRZ and GR86 share their core platform and body structure, most exterior modification parts developed for one are directly compatible with the other - worth knowing if you're shopping for parts and come across a GR86-labeled product, since the underlying fitment is frequently identical.
Popular BRZ Upgrades Right Now
- Custom-fit all-weather floor mats: Protects the cabin from daily wear while preserving the factory footwell fit.
- Steering wheel covers: A popular interior detail upgrade shared across the BRZ/GR86/FR-S platform lineage.
Looking Ahead
With rival manual-transmission sports cars becoming scarcer - the Toyota GR Supra's production run ends in 2026, and the Chevrolet Camaro is already gone - the BRZ's continued commitment to a standard six-speed manual across the entire trim range is likely to become an even bigger part of its appeal to enthusiast buyers going forward.
Browse our full Subaru BRZ collection.
