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The 2013 Scion FR-S takes Toyota's youth-oriented brand into an entirely new direction, one that's notably sportier than anything Scion has previously offered. This rear-wheel-drive coupe is all about balance, not sheer numbers. Size and weight have been kept in check, while a low center of gravity provides nimble handling. Development was a joint effort between Toyota and Subaru, and you'd be hard pressed to spot the differences between the Scion FR-S and its Subaru equivalent, the BRZ. Mechanically speaking, they're identical twins, with only a few subtle exterior differences to distinguish one from the other.

Top Five Pros for the 2013 Scion FR-S:

  1. They might look alike, but both the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are very good-looking sport coupes. There is a notable lack of wild wings and excessive fender flares, which give them a solid, yet cool and understated appearance.
  2. Apparently there was a great deal of engineering debate about whether the FR-S (and BRZ) should be rear- or all-wheel drive. We think the rear-drive approach works out well (at least initially); it's less expensive and lighter to build too.
  3. A Subaru-developed direct-injected 200-bhp 2.0-liter flat-4 cylinder engine is mounted under the hood. Purists will insist on the 6-speed manual, yet the 6-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters) proved equally fun during our test drive.
  4. Look around and it's hard to find direct competition for the FR-S (other than the BRZ...). Otherwise, the competition is either much larger, heavier and, in some cases, significantly more expensive. Scion and Subaru have carved out a unique niche in the sports car world with these coupes.
  5. The rear seat is useful, albeit for short distances. And for those times when you need to haul extra cargo instead of people, the seat backs fold flat for extra trunk space.

A few things we could live without...

  • Is there enough room in the market for the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ? Since they're so similar, we'd have to wonder whether they'll cannibalize each other's sales. With a starting price of $25,660 (including destination), the FR-S is a little cheaper than the BRZ's entry-level sticker of $26,280. Then again, the Subaru has slightly more upmarket plastic in its cabin.
  • We'd love to see all-wheel drive and forced induction added to the range. It's hard to say whether Scion would go down this performance path, considering the brand's emphasis on affordability. Extra power and grip don't come for free – though we think they'd be worth the price (and Subaru more than likely does too).
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