U.S. News & World Report noted that auto reviewers say the 2013 Scion FR-S proves that thrilling performance doesn't have to cost a fortune as they named the FR-S their 2013 Best Sports Car for the Money.
The 2013 Scion FR-S beat out its competition to earn the Best Sports Car for the Money from U.S. News & World Report according to an announcement from Scion parent, Toyota, on Feb. 21.
According to U.S. News, their Best Cars for the Money Awards highlight cars that professional car critics love that are also great values for the consumer.
“The Best Sports Car for the Money award is a testament to the incredibly fun and accessible sports car experience offered by the Scion FR-S,” said Scion Vice President Doug Murtha. “We are proud the FR-S continues to impress industry enthusiasts and drivers, while also representing the passion behind the Scion brand.”
U.S. News relies on a variety of expert sources to evaluate the vehicles in each of the 21 categories including the combined the average price paid and total cost of ownership data from TrueCar.com combined with the U.S. News Best Car rankings data.
The U.S. News Best Car rankings are based on the opinion of the automotive press about a car's performance, interior features and interior comfort, as well as reliability data from J.D. Power and Associates and safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The winning cars have the best combination of critical acclaim and long-term value as determined from those evaluations, according to U.S. News & World Report.
According to U.S. News, their ranking is based on their analysis of 6 published reviews and test drives of the Scion FR-S plus information from the other resources.
To evaluate the FR-S, U.S. News & World Report judges looked at the sports coupe’s safety record, reliability and opinion from industry experts. Additionally, the expected five-year total cost of ownership and average vehicle price at the time of publication contributed to overall scores.
According to U.S. News, reviewers agree that the 2013 Scion FR-S has shaken up the affordable sports car class. Separated at birth from its competitor sibling, the Subaru BRZ, the Scion FR-S brings a surprising amount of performance and value to enthusiasts.
Autoblog wrote , “Is the FR-S one of next year's enthusiast bargains? Absolutely, and that is a conclusion we consider irrefutable.”
This reviewer, following our test drive earlier this year, said the 2013 Scion FR-S is "authentic, affordable and fun to drive".
Reviewers almost universally say it all starts under the hood in the FR-S. The FR-S’ engine is mounted low and as far back in the engine bay as possible. Combined with its low center of gravity and a performance-tuned suspension, critics say these attributes make the FR-S one of the best-handling sports cars on the market.
Although it has significantly less power than its rivals like the Ford Mustang and Nissan 370Z, its light weight, slick transmission choices and affordable price make the FR-S a lively, enjoyable drive giving it an advantage over the competition.
Reviewers also said that although the FR-S is nimble enough for weekend track days, it still offers more interior comfort and practicality than some competitors.
Like most sports cars, its back seat is tiny, but the seat folds flat to increase utility, and test drivers love the comfortable, supportive front seats and driver-focused cabin.
According to U.S. News, the FR-S also stands out with better safety ratings than most cars in the class.
The FR-S costs $25,255 MSRP with a six-speed manual transmission or $26,355 MSRP with a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Dynamic Rev Management technology.
The 2013 Scion FR-S seats four and has rear-wheel drive.
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission are standard, while a six-speed automatic transmission is optional. The FR-S comes in just one trim level, and is all-new for 2013.
Standard on the FR-S are 17-inch alloy wheels, a limited-slip differential and 2.0-liter flat boxer engine that produces 200 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.
The 2013 Scion FR-S has been so popular that, with a small build planned for 2013, finding one at a dealership to buy has become a challenge.
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