Subaru BRZ vs Volkswagen GLI: Specs Compared
Also searched as Volkswagen GLI vs Subaru BRZ specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Volkswagen GLI is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 30 mpg combined versus 28 mpg for the Subaru BRZ, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $650 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Volkswagen GLI leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2022–2027
Volkswagen GLI
Compact Cars · 11 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Subaru BRZ | Volkswagen GLI |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 28 mpg | 30 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 24 mpg | 26 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 33 mpg | 37 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,700 | $2,050 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 321 g/mi | 297 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI | SIDI |
| Transmissions | Manual 6-spd, Automatic (S6) | Automatic (AM-S7), Manual 6-spd |
| Drivetrains | Rear-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Regular |
| EPA class | Minicompact Cars | Compact Cars |
| Years covered | 2015–2027 | 2022–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 26 | 11 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Subaru BRZ vs Volkswagen GLI: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Volkswagen GLI burns about $2,050 of fuel annually against $2,700 for the Subaru BRZ. That $650 yearly gap compounds to roughly $3,250 over five years and $5,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City and highway economy: the Volkswagen GLI leads in both cycles — 26 mpg city and 37 mpg highway against 24 and 33 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Powertrain choice: the Subaru BRZ is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI & PFI), the Volkswagen GLI with 1 (SIDI). Across 26 recorded Subaru BRZ configurations and 11 for the Volkswagen GLI, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Subaru BRZ is offered with Rear-Wheel Drive, the Volkswagen GLI with Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Minicompact Cars and Compact Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Volkswagen GLI emits 297 g/mile of CO2 versus 321 g/mile for the Subaru BRZ. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
BRZ vs GLI: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Subaru BRZ or the Volkswagen GLI?
The Volkswagen GLI is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 30 mpg combined versus 28 mpg for the Subaru BRZ, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $650 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Volkswagen GLI runs about $2,050 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,700 for the Subaru BRZ — a difference of roughly $650 per year.
What engines do the BRZ and GLI offer?
Subaru BRZ: SIDI & PFI. Volkswagen GLI: SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Subaru BRZ as Minicompact Cars and the Volkswagen GLI as Compact Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More BRZ comparisons
More GLI comparisons
Comparison id: subaru-brz-vs-volkswagen-gli