Does BRZ Come in Automatic? | Transmission Choices Explained

Yes, the Subaru BRZ is offered with both a six-speed manual and an available six-speed automatic transmission on most recent models.

If you like the idea of a light rear-wheel-drive coupe but do not want to work a clutch in traffic, this question pops up early: does the BRZ come in automatic or is it stick-shift only? The answer shapes whether this car fits your daily life as well as your weekend drives.

The good news is that Subaru sells the BRZ with a traditional torque-converter automatic alongside the six-speed manual. You can choose the involvement of shifting yourself or the convenience of letting the car handle gear changes while you tap the paddles when you feel like it.

What Transmission Options The BRZ Offers Today

The current-generation BRZ uses a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated flat-four paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic with steering-wheel paddles. Subaru describes the automatic as quick-shifting and tuned for a sporty feel, not a soft commuter-only unit.

For the 2026 model year, Subaru lists a six-speed manual as standard and an available six-speed automatic on most trims. The automatic pairs with the same 228-horsepower engine and rear-wheel-drive layout, so you are not losing the basic character of the car by skipping the clutch.

On many trims, choosing the automatic also brings Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. Features such as adaptive cruise control and pre-collision braking rely on the car’s ability to manage its own gears, so they tend to appear first or only on automatic-equipped versions.

Six-Speed Manual For Driver Engagement

The manual BRZ is the poster child for simple, engaging driving. The shifter has short throws, the clutch is light, and the gearing keeps the engine in its power band when you run the revs out. For drivers who enjoy heel-and-toe downshifts and full control over every gear, this setup still feels special in a market full of crossovers.

There is a trade-off, though. Stop-and-go traffic, steep hills, and long commutes can make a manual feel like work. If your daily route involves congestion or if you share the car with someone who does not drive stick, the manual can turn from a perk into a headache.

Six-Speed Automatic With Paddle Shifters

The BRZ automatic uses a conventional six-speed torque-converter design, not a CVT. It includes steering-wheel paddles for manual-style shifting and a sport mode that holds gears longer and sharpens throttle response. Many owners find it quick enough for spirited back-road driving while taking stress out of city streets.

Because the automatic can coordinate gear changes with sensors and cameras, it often ties in with modern driver aids. On newer BRZ models, EyeSight adds features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure alerts, and emergency braking, which can boost confidence when you share the car with family or use it year-round.

BRZ Automatic Transmission Options And Trim Differences

Transmission choices on the BRZ depend on model year and trim level. Broadly, most mainstream trims give you a choice between manual and automatic, while some special editions stay manual-only to appeal to purists.

First-generation cars (2013–2020) offered an automatic on many trims alongside the manual, giving early adopters a choice between row-your-own fun and easier commuting. Special variants like some tS editions leaned toward manual gearboxes, but shopper-facing brochures routinely showed both options for core trims.

Second-Generation BRZ (2022–2026)

The second-generation BRZ came back for 2022 with an updated engine and a fresh cabin, and it kept the familiar six-speed pair: manual or automatic. Dealer spec sheets for 2022 and 2023 list both transmissions on core trims, with the automatic often bundled with extra comfort or safety equipment. According to Subaru’s official 2026 BRZ features page, the latest cars keep this layout and offer a quick-shifting six-speed automatic with paddles and downshift rev-matching.

For 2025 and 2026, Subaru continues to offer a six-speed automatic on most BRZ models, while some limited-run versions such as Series.Yellow stick with manual-only layouts. That means a shopper who wants an automatic coupe still has multiple trims and price points to choose from in the showroom.

Fuel economy also differs slightly between the two transmissions. Data from the official Gas Mileage of 2022 Subaru BRZ page shows the automatic rated a bit higher in combined MPG than the manual, which matters if you rack up miles on the highway each year.

Model Year	Automatic Availability	Notes
2013–2016	Available on most core trims	First-generation BRZ with 2.0L engine and optional 6-speed automatic.
2017–2020	Available on many trims	Facelifted first-gen cars; some special editions manual-only.
2022	Available	Second-generation launch year with 2.4L engine and optional 6-speed automatic.
2023	Available	Choice of manual or automatic on main trims; auto often paired with driver aids.
2024	Available	Automatic continues with paddle shifters; more trims gain safety technology.
2025	Available	EyeSight becomes common across the range; automatic suits buyers who want that tech.
2026	Available on most trims	Latest BRZ keeps both transmissions; some series specials remain manual-only.

If you are shopping used, this timeline helps you know what to expect before you even step on a lot. Broadly, if you want an automatic BRZ, you will find one in nearly every model year of the car as long as you stay with mainstream trims rather than rare track-focused editions.

How EyeSight Ties Into Automatic BRZ Models

Subaru’s stereo-camera safety suite has long been linked to self-shifting gearboxes. Early BRZ models with EyeSight used the automatic transmission as the base for features like adaptive cruise and pre-collision braking. Recent updates have brought those systems to some manual versions too, yet automatic-equipped cars still tend to be first in line for new driver aids.

If modern safety tech sits high on your wish list, it is worth checking which trims bundle the automatic with systems like EyeSight adaptive cruise and automatic emergency braking in your region. That way you are not surprised when you compare window stickers or online spec sheets.

How The BRZ Automatic Drives Versus The Manual

On paper, the automatic BRZ often posts slightly slower zero-to-sixty times than the manual. In real traffic, the gap feels smaller than raw numbers suggest. The automatic launches briskly, shifts cleanly, and keeps the flat-four on boil when you floor the throttle.

The big difference comes in how each transmission changes gears under load. With the manual, your timing sets the rhythm of the car. Miss a shift and the engine falls out of its sweet spot. With the automatic, the control unit manages downshifts and upshifts, and sport mode keeps it from rushing to higher gears every time you breathe off the gas.

City Driving And Commuting

For urban use and heavy traffic, the automatic BRZ feels friendly. You creep along in stop-and-go lines without thinking about clutch engagement, and the car glides smoothly over speed bumps and tight parking ramps. The compact size still helps you slip into crowded parking garages, but you do not have to juggle first gear every few seconds.

Drivers who spend most of their time in city centers or dense suburbs often prefer the automatic for this reason alone. The car still feels sharp enough on a quick evening drive, yet it behaves calmly during weekday errands.

Weekend Drives And Track Days

On twisty roads, the manual gives the most direct link between you and the drivetrain. Rev-matching downshifts into a tight bend and grabbing the next gear as the engine pulls toward redline becomes part of the fun.

That does not mean the automatic BRZ feels dull. Use the steering-wheel paddles and sport mode, and the gearbox holds ratios longer, responds quickly to your inputs, and lets you concentrate on steering and braking. For newer drivers learning performance driving techniques, that reduction in workload can help them keep attention on reading the road and picking clean lines.

Driver Priority	BRZ Automatic	BRZ Manual
Heavy traffic commute	Easy to live with; no clutch fatigue.	Can feel tiring with frequent stop-and-go.
Back-road fun	Strong with paddles and sport mode.	Highest engagement for experienced drivers.
Learning performance driving	Lets you keep attention on lines and braking.	Teaches coordination but adds workload.
Safety technology	Often bundled with full driver-assist suite.	Later models gain more features, yet fewer options overall.
Fuel economy	Typically slightly better MPG.	Uses more fuel at highway speeds.
Resale flexibility	Appeals to a wider pool of buyers.	Targets a smaller group who want three pedals.

Running Costs And Reliability For The BRZ Automatic

Automatic BRZ models share the same engine, rear-drive layout, and general hardware as their manual twins. Routine engine service intervals remain the same, and the car’s compact size and relatively simple mechanical layout keep ownership straightforward compared with many turbocharged or all-wheel-drive sports cars.

Where costs differ is in transmission service. A manual needs clutch replacement at some point, especially if driven hard or taught to new drivers. The automatic avoids that job but benefits from periodic fluid changes, which can be more expensive than a simple manual gearbox oil swap. Over a long ownership span, the bills tend to balance out for many drivers.

Insurance and tax costs rarely shift much between the two transmissions because power output and safety ratings stay similar. What can change your premium is the presence of modern driver-assistance tech. Automatic-equipped BRZ models with full safety suites may lead to better rates from some insurers.

Fuel Economy Differences

Official fuel economy data for recent BRZ model years shows a modest advantage for the automatic in combined driving. In EPA-style tests of 2022 models, automatic cars post higher highway and combined MPG scores than the manual versions, thanks to taller gearing and smart shift logic that keeps revs lower on steady cruises.

If you cover long highway distances, that difference can add up across years of ownership. For low-mileage drivers who mainly enjoy local weekend runs, the gap may feel less relevant than how the car shifts and sounds.

Safety Ratings And Driver Assistance

The BRZ has been tested by independent safety organizations with strong results for occupant protection. Later generations add more active safety features on top of that solid crash structure, including systems that watch for potential collisions and apply the brakes if the driver does not react in time.

Automatic transmission models often sit at the center of those safety packages. Adaptive cruise control, lane alerts, and emergency braking all rely on close coordination between throttle, brakes, and gears, so brands usually roll them out on self-shifting versions first and expand to manual cars when engineering allows. Independent groups such as the 2022 Subaru BRZ crashworthiness ratings page document how that structure performs in controlled tests.

Which BRZ Transmission Is Right For You?

If you love the ritual of upshifts and downshifts and rarely face crowded city streets, the manual BRZ keeps you closest to the car’s mechanical side. Every corner becomes a small task to solve with your right hand and left foot.

If you split time between traffic, errands, and fun drives, the automatic BRZ gives you much of the same character with far less effort. You still get a rev-happy boxer engine, rear-wheel drive, and crisp steering, yet you can let the car manage the gearbox during the dull parts of the week.

Both versions share the same chassis and character, so the real decision comes down to how you use the car and who else will drive it. When you shop, test-drive both transmissions on the same route if possible. Pay attention to how relaxed you feel in traffic and how confident you feel when you press on a bit, then choose the version that makes you want to drive more often.