The Scion FR-S hit the scene in 2013, alongside its Subaru BRZ cousin, to rave reviews and heaps of praise. It was a return to the roots of sports cars, thanks to its small-displacement engine and focus on reducing weight and enhancing handling. Heading into the 2015 model year, the FR-S has significantly cooled off due to lack of changes since its debut.
What's New for 2015
For the 2015 model year, there are only minor nips and tucks to the FR-S. These changes include a shark-fin antenna for a smoother look, enlarged exhaust tips that are more flush with the bumper, re-tuned rear dampers and a stiffer front suspension for better handling, and a faux carbon-fiber dash insert.
Choosing Your Scion FR-S
Buyers of Scion models are accustomed to single trim levels, and adding items a la carte to their base models. The FR-S is no exception to this rule, as it only comes as a customizable base model. The sole choice to make from this standpoint is whether to go with the standard six-speed manual transmission or the optional six-speed automatic.
Under its hood, the FR-S has only one offering, and it is a 2-liter boxer-four supplied by Subaru. This engine tosses 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of twist to the rear wheels.
FR-S
The FR-S is available in just a single trim level with fairly long list of standard features. From there, buyers can select any number of optional items to add to their model. This allows buyers to add only what they want, helping them better customize their own vehicles. Standard features on the FR-S include 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome exhaust tips, projector-beam headlights, LED taillights, power windows and door locks, aluminum pedals and scuff plates, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, cruise control, a Display Audio system with 300 watts, a 6.1-inch touchscreen, eight speakers, Bluetooth, AM/FM/CD capabilities and a USB port, and carpeted floor mats. With the manual transmission, the FR-S starts at $24,900, while the automatic equipped model starts at $26,000.
Like its BRZ platform mate, the FR-S is significantly slower with the optional automatic transmission, so avoid this $1,100 option if possible. Also, use care when ticking those option boxes, as a loaded FR-S with a manual gearbox can quickly head past the $30,000 mark with all of the options selected.