It almost makes no sense for us to be reviewing the Subaru BRZ – especially as it seems like it was only yesterday when we penned 900 or so words on the Toyota GR86. These two cars, as you know, are essentially identical, save for the badging. And why waste time, and effort, to describe a car that delivers the exact same experience?

The answer is simple: the GR86 is not only one of the best cars we’ve driven this year, it’s one of the best cars we’ve driven, period. It’s a near-perfect sports car, where every single aspect works to create a harmonious whole. Swapping those Toyota badges for Subaru ones mean we get to spend even more time with the car, and that makes a whole lotta sense to us.

But before we give our CTRL+C/CTRL+V keys a workout, we should explain that there are a few significant differences between the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86. And we’re not just talking badges. Unique suspension tuning gives the BRZ a driving characteristic all its own. Where the Toyota and it’s Prius-sourced tires encourage its driver to kick the tail out, the Subaru seeks to extract every last ounce of mechanical grip. It’s easy to give all the credit to the BRZ’s Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, but the Subaru also achieves this grip via revised spring rates, different sway bar thicknesses, and even different sway bar mounting points.

And with that out of the way, what more is there to say besides, “the Subaru BRZ is phenomenal.” Keyboard racers will still balk at the 228 horsepower coming from its 2.4-liter boxer four, but for street and canyon driving, it’s more than adequate. 184 lb-ft of torque and an excellent 6-speed manual gearbox make it easy to keep the car feeling quick. And to repeat a thought from earlier, it’s perfectly balanced to the excellent chassis.

The BRZ isn’t set up for sliding, but those who find joy in dancing from apex to apex will find a lot to love. Turn-in is sharp, bordering on telepathic, with the Subaru feeling flat and well-composed through every bend. And though we hear that heavy track use can make the brakes cry, the BRZ’s stoppers are more than up for spirited street duty.

The result is a car that not only instills confidence, but goads you into taking that next corner just a bit faster. It’s a car that lets you build up to its limit, and doesn’t punish you too severely if you go past yours.

Inside, the BRZ’s cabin feels just like the GR86, albeit with some nicer material wrapping the seats. Things don’t feel premium, but it’s all still nice, and feels about right for its price point. Seating position, support, and control layout remains superb, which is all we really want from a sports car. What shocked us, though, was the ungodly amount of tire noise that came into the cabin. We don’t recall the GR86 being this loud, so it’s probably safe to place the blame on the Subaru’s stock Pilot Sports. It’s far from a deal breaker, but if you’re gonna be putting a lot of commuting miles on one of these, you may want to spring for a quieter set of wheels and tires and keep the sticky stuff for track days.

But if the only “flaw” we could find was a bit of tire noise – from a dedicated sports car, no less – we consider this car to be a complete and total win. The Subaru BRZ effortlessly blends the rawness of a ‘90s Japanese sports car with the refinement – and safety – of a contemporary machine. In other words, the Subaru BRZ, and its Toyota GR86 sibling, remain one of the best, more pure driving experiences you can buy.

Feeling deja vu in the Subaru BRZ