Does Subaru BRZ Come In Automatic? | Trim Choices Explained

Yes, the BRZ is sold with a 6-speed automatic on select trims, while other versions are manual-only.

The Subaru BRZ does come in automatic, but there’s a catch: you can’t get it on every trim. If you’re shopping for a new BRZ, the automatic is tied to specific versions, while the most track-leaning setup stays manual only. That detail matters a lot, because the transmission choice changes price, fuel economy, driver-assist tech, and the way the car feels day to day.

That’s why this question trips up plenty of buyers. The BRZ has a manual-first reputation, so many people assume every trim follows the same recipe. It doesn’t. Subaru still offers an automatic, and for some drivers it makes the BRZ easier to live with in traffic, easier to share with family, and less tiring on a long commute.

If you’re trying to figure out whether the automatic BRZ fits your life, the answer isn’t just “yes.” It’s “yes, on the right trim, with a few tradeoffs you should know before signing anything.”

Does Subaru BRZ Come In Automatic? What The Current Lineup Offers

On the current lineup, Subaru offers the BRZ with a 6-speed automatic transmission on select trims. Subaru’s own BRZ specs and trim comparison shows the automatic as optional on the Limited trim, while the tS is manual-only. On the same chart, the Premium trim is also manual-only.

That means the automatic is there, but it isn’t the default way the BRZ is sold. If you walk onto a lot and see several BRZs parked together, odds are good that many of them will have a clutch pedal. Buyers who want the automatic usually have to narrow their search to a smaller slice of the inventory.

That trim split shapes the whole buying process. You’re not just picking a gearbox. You’re also choosing which wheel design, seat trim, safety package, curb weight, and fuel-economy rating come with it. In other words, “automatic or manual” in a BRZ is really “which version of the BRZ fits the way you drive.”

Why Subaru Still Offers An Automatic

The BRZ is a rear-wheel-drive coupe with a low seating position, sharp steering, and a playful chassis. That usually attracts manual fans. Still, Subaru knows not every buyer wants to row through gears in stop-and-go traffic. Some drivers want the same chassis and engine without the daily work of a clutch.

The automatic keeps the BRZ open to a wider group of buyers. It also adds paddle shifters, so you can still call your own shifts when the road opens up. You lose some of the manual car’s old-school involvement, but you gain ease and convenience where it counts most for daily use.

What Changes When You Pick The Automatic

The biggest change is the driving feel. The manual BRZ feels more direct and more playful. You decide each shift, hold gears exactly where you want them, and get a tighter sense of connection through corners and back roads. For many shoppers, that’s the whole point of buying a BRZ instead of a softer coupe or small sedan.

The automatic version takes a different path. It’s still a BRZ, still rear-wheel drive, still powered by the same 2.4-liter flat-four, and still light by modern standards. But it leans a bit more toward everyday comfort. In traffic, it’s easier. On a long drive, it asks less of you. In mixed use, that can be a bigger win than people expect.

There’s also a numbers angle. Subaru lists the automatic BRZ with slightly better EPA fuel economy than the manual, and the federal FuelEconomy.gov BRZ listings reflect that gap. It’s not a night-and-day difference, but if you rack up miles every week, it’s worth factoring into your budget.

One more wrinkle: Subaru ties driver-assist equipment closely to transmission choice on the BRZ. On current models, EyeSight and related aids are standard equipment, and Subaru’s 2026 BRZ features page spells out that both transmission choices get EyeSight. That wasn’t always how sports cars were equipped, so buyers who want a coupe with modern driver aids may find the automatic more appealing than expected.

What To Compare	Manual BRZ	Automatic BRZ
Transmission type	6-speed manual	6-speed automatic with paddle shifters
Trim availability	Premium, Limited, tS	Limited only
Daily traffic comfort	More work in stop-and-go driving	Easier and less tiring
Driver involvement	Stronger sense of control	Smoother, less hands-on feel
Fuel economy	Lower EPA rating	Higher EPA rating
Paddle shifters	No	Yes
Curb weight	Lighter	Heavier
Buyer profile	Weekend-driver feel and track flavor	Commuting ease with sports-car looks

Which BRZ Buyers Usually Prefer The Automatic

The automatic BRZ makes the most sense for buyers who love the shape, seating position, and rear-drive balance of the car but don’t want a manual in daily life. That includes city commuters, couples sharing one car, and drivers coming from hot hatches or sporty sedans with automatic gearboxes.

It also fits shoppers who care more about the whole ownership picture than lap times. If your BRZ will spend most of its life doing errands, work trips, weekend drives, and the odd highway run, the automatic’s easier nature can outweigh the manual’s extra charm.

Signs The Automatic Is Probably Right For You

• You sit in heavy traffic several days a week.
• You want a BRZ that more than one driver can use.
• You like paddle shifters but don’t want a clutch pedal.
• You want the BRZ look and balance with less effort in daily driving.
• You’re buying the car as a fun daily, not as a project or track toy.

Why Some Buyers Still Stick With The Manual

The manual is still the version many enthusiasts want. It’s lighter, simpler, and more in step with the BRZ’s low-slung, tossable character. On a winding road, the manual lets you shape each corner entry and exit with more precision. That extra involvement is hard to fake with paddles, even good ones.

There’s also the trim issue. If you want the tS, you’re getting a manual. No workaround there. So buyers chasing the sharpest factory setup don’t really face a transmission debate at all.

The manual also tends to hold stronger appeal among shoppers who picked the BRZ on purpose, not as a fallback. If someone cross-shopped the BRZ against muscle coupes, small sport sedans, and used performance cars, the manual often feels like the version that delivers the clearest point of difference.

If Your Priority Is…	Better Pick	Why
Easy commuting	Automatic	Less work in traffic and easier to share
Weekend fun	Manual	More engaging on back roads
Highest trim sharpness	Manual	The tS comes only with a manual
Better EPA mileage	Automatic	Current ratings favor the automatic
Classic sports-car feel	Manual	Closer match for the BRZ’s character

What To Check Before You Buy One

If you want an automatic BRZ, don’t stop at the words “available automatic.” Check the window sticker, trim name, and actual inventory listing. Since the automatic is tied to a narrower trim mix, dealer stock may be thinner than it is for manual cars. That can affect price, wait time, and color choice.

It also helps to test both transmissions back to back. A short drive tells you more than a spec sheet ever will. Some shoppers climb into the manual expecting to love it, then realize their commute would wear them out. Others test the automatic, like the convenience, then miss the manual’s rhythm the second they hit a curvy road.

Use This Simple Buying Filter

• Pick the automatic if the BRZ will be your daily driver in traffic-heavy areas.
• Pick the manual if driver involvement sits near the top of your wish list.
• Pick by trim first if you already know you want the tS or must-have Limited features.
• Check insurance, fuel cost, and local inventory before deciding on the final spec.

So, Is The Automatic BRZ Worth It?

For the right buyer, yes. The automatic BRZ still gives you the low stance, rear-drive balance, and compact coupe feel that make the car special. It just packages that feel in a form that’s easier to live with every day.

If your heart wants a sports coupe but your commute says “be realistic,” the automatic BRZ can land in the sweet spot. If you want the purest version of the car, the manual still has the edge. The real answer comes down to how you’ll use it Monday through Friday, not just how you picture it on a sunny Saturday morning.