2016 Scion FR-S: What's Changed

• Most significant changes: Standard backup camera, new audio system with 7-inch screen and new interior trim
• Price change: The base price has increased $405 to $25,305 with the standard manual transmission. The optional automatic transmission remains $1,100, and the destination charge (not included in the base price) is unchanged at $770.
• On sale: June
• Which should you buy, 2015 or 2016? 2016; the addition of a standard backup camera and a new audio system with a larger screen could sway shoppers

Scion’s lightweight, rear-drive coupe — a kissing cousin of the Subaru BRZ — wasn’t intended to be a volume product, but sales have been falling this year at the same time that those of the Scion tC and xB are rising. The modest changes for 2016 probably won’t do much to change that, and Scion will introduce two new models this fall, the iM hatchback and iA sedan, that may draw more attention from the FR-S.

However, the FR-S has built up enough of a loyal following that Scion has confirmed there will be a second generation.

Related: Research the Scion FR-S

The powertrain setup is unchanged from the FR-S’ 2013 debut with a 200-horsepower, horizontally opposed four-cylinder made by Subaru and a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

The only significant changes are a standard rearview camera and the standard audio system goes from a 6.1-inch screen setup to 7 inches. Our editors have spent considerable time in the FR-S and the BRZ, and welcome the camera as visibility isn’t the car’s strongest point, especially in parking lots.

As with other coupes that emphasize performance over practicality, the FR-S won’t appeal to the masses because it has a stiff, noisy ride, limited backseat space, requires premium gas and comes with summer tires that can make winter driving challenging in the snow belt.

The FR-S’ combination of spirited acceleration, agile handling and sports-car demeanor is hard to beat at its price level, and it stands out from the nondescript herd of cars with its assertive personality.

Unless you can get a 2015 model at an incredible discount, the higher resale value of a 2016 will more than cover the higher initial cost.