• Automatic BRZ uses less fuel
• Still thirsty if you push it hard
• Long warranty adds reassurance

Subaru BRZ running costs are reasonable for a sports car. The combined fuel economy is a claimed 39.8mpg for the automatic version and 36.2mpg for the manual car.

We found 30mpg a more realistic figure, but more is possible if you’re really careful with your right foot. But then, that’s not really the point.

The service intervals aren’t overly long at 12,000 miles but the warranty is remarkable for a sports car – five years and 100,000 miles means you shouldn’t need to fork out for much remedial work.

Tellingly, the BRZ depreciates 3% more over three years and 36,000 miles than the Toyota GT86 it shares the vast majority of its components with.

• Subaru and Toyota build strong cars
• Tried and tested boxer-format engine
• Only one recall and that should be resolved

Reliability isn’t a major issue – both Subaru and Toyota have exemplary records for build quality so there isn’t too much to worry about.

The engine, although new when launched, is a tried-and-tested design that Subaru has been building for decades, so that shouldn’t be a concern either.

There has only been one recall, for cars built between 2013 and 2015, relating to the power steering. Since then the Subaru BRZ has been all-clear.