By: Krish Persaud
December 17, 2025
Some sports cars feel like they exist because the segment demands it. The 2025 Subaru BRZ Murasaki Edition feels like it exists because someone inside Subaru still cares. Finished in Galaxy Purple Pearl and limited to just 100 units for Canada, our test car happened to be the very first one built. That detail changes the way you approach it. You do not treat it like a press car you will hand back in a week. You slow down, pay attention, and start to understand what Subaru was trying to preserve here.
We spent a full week with the car, using it the way an owner actually would. Commuting, quick errands, long highway stretches, and late-night backroad drives when the roads finally emptied out. The BRZ immediately feels small in the best way. Low, compact, and tightly wrapped around you, it never feels oversized or intimidating. Every input feels like it has a direct line to the chassis, which is something modern cars rarely manage anymore.
Power comes from Subaru’s naturally aspirated 2.4-litre FA24D BOXER four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque. On paper, it still will not impress spec-sheet shoppers. Behind the wheel, it feels far more usable than older BRZ generations. Throttle response is sharp, the midrange finally has some substance, and you no longer feel like you need to wring its neck just to keep pace with traffic. Revving it out is still rewarding, but now it feels like a choice rather than a requirement.
The manual transmission is the heart of this car. Pulling away from a stop is smooth and predictable, with a clutch take-up that feels natural instead of abrupt. Once moving, every shift feels mechanical and deliberate in a way that is becoming rare. I found myself downshifting purely for the satisfaction of it, not because the car needed it. Heel-toe downshifts come easily thanks to well-spaced pedals, and after a day or two it becomes instinctive. That ease of interaction is what makes the BRZ enjoyable at normal speeds, not just when driving hard.
What surprised me most was how quickly the car earns your trust. Turn in and the chassis settles immediately. Push a little harder than planned and it never feels edgy or nervous. It grips, rotates, and communicates clearly, encouraging you to stay committed rather than backing out. The steering has real feedback without artificial weight, and the car always feels like it is working with you. On real roads, that confidence matters more than outright grip numbers, and it is what makes the BRZ genuinely fun instead of just capable.
Ride quality is firm, as expected from a focused coupe like this. You feel rough pavement, expansion joints, and imperfect asphalt, but never in a way that feels punishing. Over the course of the week, it proved livable without losing its edge. It is tuned for engagement first, comfort second, and that balance feels intentional rather than compromised.
Inside, the cabin stays refreshingly simple. The seating position is low, the controls fall naturally to hand, and the grey and Ultrasuede trim gives the Murasaki Edition a distinct personality. Subaru still markets this as a four-seat coupe, though in reality only the front seats are truly usable. The rear seats work better as occasional seating or extra storage, which is likely how most owners will use them anyway.
The infotainment system does its job, but it feels dated for a 2025 vehicle. Screen resolution and interface design lag behind what many competitors now offer. The audio system delivers decent clarity, but low-end bass is noticeably lacking, which becomes obvious once you start turning the volume up on longer drives. It does not ruin the experience, but it reminds you that this car prioritizes driving over digital polish.
According to Natural Resources Canada, the BRZ is rated at 12.0L/100km in the city and 8.8L/100km on the highway, for a combined rating of 10.5L/100km. Over our week with the car, we averaged 9.6L/100km in mixed driving. That feels entirely reasonable for a naturally aspirated sports coupe, especially one that encourages driver involvement as much as this does.
Pricing for the 2025 Subaru BRZ Murasaki Edition starts at $39,295 CAD before freight, PDI, and fees. With those added, expect pricing to land in the low $42,000 range. It is a premium over the standard BRZ, but the limited production run, unique exterior colour, Brembo brakes, and suspension upgrades give this version a clearer sense of purpose rather than feeling like a cosmetic exercise.
There is also a small collector-style gift included with the purchase of the Murasaki Edition. It is subtle and symbolic, the kind of item you place in a display case rather than use daily. It reinforces the idea that this car was meant to be remembered, not just driven and traded in a few years later.
After a week behind the wheel, the BRZ Murasaki Edition left a lasting impression. It does not chase horsepower wars or oversized screens. The infotainment feels dated, the rear seats are mostly symbolic, and the audio system lacks low-end punch. None of that overshadows what matters most. The steering feel, cornering balance, and sheer ease of driving well are what stay with you. Being the first built example of a 100-car run only sharpened that feeling. Cars like this are becoming rare, not because they are hard to build, but because they require restraint. The BRZ Murasaki Edition works precisely because it refuses to be everything for everyone.
