As 2026 approaches, everything is becoming more expensive. Especially cars! The Subaru BRZ has historically been one of the few affordable options for rear-wheel-drive sports cars, starting at under $29,000 when the second-generation coupe debuted for the 2022 model year. Now, it starts at $37,055. No, this is not a joke.
The Disappearance of the Premium Grade
This price increase isn’t just about inflation or tariffs. What Subaru has done here is eliminate the base grade of the BRZ. Unfortunately, it was called the “Premium.” For 2025, the BRZ Premium started at $34,380. The other two grades – the Limited (which is above the Premium) and the tS – started at $37,055 and $39,555, respectively. It seems the destination delivery fee has increased by $25, but these prices have not gone up. We have to adjust for inflation, right?
Justification Based on Sales Performance
Reading Subaru’s press release, the justification for discontinuing the entry-level grade is not explicitly stated but is implied. Subaru states that only one in ten BRZ buyers chose the Premium over the past year. This translates to about 210 out of the 2,107 BRZs sold through August 2025.
Hard-to-Swallow Entry Cost
So, of course – the BRZ that most people tend to buy remains in the catalog, and its price hasn’t increased. Good news for now. Still, the rising entry cost for what was once a ticket to affordable fun is hard to swallow. Now, even the cheapest BRZ you can buy comes equipped with Alcantara seats. That’s great, but there are likely BRZ fans who purely want a no-frills, rear-wheel-drive sports car, probably with a 6-speed manual transmission. The only options they care about are mechanical.
What About Its Toyota Sibling?
As for the BRZ’s sibling, the Toyota 86, it’s unclear what it will cost for the next model year or whether Toyota will eliminate grades like Subaru did. However, for 2025, the 86 started at $31,595, and the higher Premium version was $34,195. If these prices remain the same, Toyota would have a clear value advantage heading into 2026. Considering the GR Corolla’s price is now firmly in the $40,000s, this would be good news.