The 2017 Subaru BRZ.

I have long been a fan of the Subaru BRZ, nearly identical cousin to the Toyota 86.  Its driving dynamics and pure fun for the money make it one of the great cars of our time...the spiritual successor to the original 1970 Datsun 240Z. 

That affection may have been somewhat obscured in my review, a year and a half ago, of the 2016 Subaru BRZ Series.HyperBlue (yes, that was really its name), in which I praised the car and cursed the Starlink infotainment system, which was a source of constant frustration. Well, they worked the bugs out of the '17, at least in the head unit (the Starlink app is still getting brutal reviews at the app store, and we didn't even go there this time around).

2017 Subaru BRZ Limited.

2017 is a big year for the BRZ, bringing the first substantial changes since the model's introduction five years ago.   Revised, more aggressive styling, five more horsepower from the 2.0-liter boxer four, with more low and midrange torque than before, updated coil springs and dampers, a larger rear stabilizer bar, more reinforcements for the shock tower braces, the transmission cross-member plate and the wheel housings make the car much stiffer and as a result, improve the precision handling of an already very precise car.

2017 Subaru BRZ Limited interior.

Gas mileage remains a solid 21 city/29 highway and the price for the Limited is on the right side of 30 grand at $27,645.  That buys all the things we've been discussing as well as tire-pressure monitoring, an anti-theft alarm and immobilizer system, 17-inch alloy wheels, 215/45 R17 summer performance tires, automatic climate control with filtration, LED front fog lights, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering, power locks, windows and mirrors, keyless access with pushbutton start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, Alcantara-trimmed upholstery and heated front seats and exterior mirrors. 

Our tester had only one option package, the performance package, which adds a Brembo performance braking system, SACHS front struts and rear shock absorbers and 17-inch high luster dark gray finish alloy wheels.  Toss in $820 destination and delivery charges and the bottom line is $29,660.  In this day and age, that's a bargain price for this level of pure driving fun.