Compare the2023 Subaru BRZVS 2021 Volkswagen GTI

The Subaru BRZ has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GTI doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The BRZ has standard Whiplash Protection Seats, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Protection Seats system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The GTI doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The BRZ Auto’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The GTI doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the BRZ and the GTI have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the BRZ 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the GTI. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GTI ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The BRZ’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the GTI’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 16 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru BRZ is faster than the Volkswagen GTI (manual transmissions tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the BRZ lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The GTI doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The BRZ stops much shorter than the GTI:

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the BRZ is 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the GTI.

The BRZ’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.5% to 44.5%) than the GTI’s (60.4% to 39.6%). This gives the BRZ more stable handling and braking.

The BRZ Limited handles at .99 G’s, while the GTI SE pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Subaru BRZ may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Volkswagen GTI.

The engine in the BRZ is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GTI. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The BRZ Limited Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The GTI doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the BRZ’s exterior PIN entry system. The GTI doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Car-Net can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The BRZ has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the GTI Autobahn.

The BRZ was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2022. The GTI hasn’t been picked since 2021.