BRZ & 86 Supercharger vs Turbo: Forced Induction Guide

The 2013–2019 Subaru BRZ, Scion FR-S and Toyota 86 are some of the best-handling cars ever sold for the money — and every owner eventually runs into the same wall: the FA20 flat-four makes only about 200 horsepower and dips in the mid-range. Forced induction is the single biggest fix. This guide compares the three real ways to boost a gen-1 86/BRZ — a positive-displacement supercharger, a centrifugal supercharger, and a bolt-on turbo kit — using kits we stock and ship every week from our Tampa, FL shop.

Why does the BRZ, FR-S and 86 need forced induction?

The gen-1 86/BRZ needs forced induction because the naturally aspirated FA20 makes roughly 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft (205 hp / 156 lb-ft on 2017–2019 manual cars) and suffers a well-documented torque dip around 4,000–4,400 rpm. The chassis, steering and balance are world-class, but the flat-four runs out of breath exactly where you want to lean on it. A supercharger or turbo doesn't just add a peak number — it fills the hole in the curve so the car finally pulls the way it looks like it should.

Bolt-ons like an intake, header and cat-back exhaust wake the sound up but add only single-digit horsepower on the FA20. Forced induction is the first mod that delivers a genuine, felt-in-the-seat difference: a properly tuned kit takes a stock 200-hp car into the 250–300 horsepower range — a 30–50% gain — while keeping the light, balanced character that makes these cars special. That's why nearly every serious 86/BRZ build we assemble in Tampa starts here.

Supercharger vs turbo: what's the difference on an 86/BRZ?

A supercharger is driven by the engine's crankshaft via a belt, so its boost is tied directly to engine speed; a turbocharger is driven by exhaust gas, so it builds boost as flow increases. On the FA20 that difference shows up as three distinct personalities:

Positive-displacement supercharger (Edelbrock E-Force / Eaton TVS)

A roots-style, positive-displacement blower makes near-full boost almost off idle. On the 86/BRZ that means the mid-range torque dip disappears entirely and throttle response stays crisp and instant — it feels like a bigger-displacement engine. It's the most streetable, most predictable path and the easiest to live with daily. Peak boost is modest (around 6 psi), so ultimate top-end power trails a turbo, but drivability is the best of the three.

Centrifugal supercharger (KraftWerks / Rotrex C30)

A centrifugal supercharger spins an impeller like a turbo compressor but is belt-driven, so boost climbs with rpm and peaks up top. The KraftWerks Rotrex C30 kit makes strong, progressive power that rewards revs, runs cool and efficient, and produces that unmistakable centrifugal whine. It splits the difference between a roots blower and a turbo: more top-end than the Edelbrock, more linear and lag-free than the HKS.

Turbocharger (HKS GTIII-RS)

A turbo has the highest power ceiling of the three because it's not stealing crank power to make boost. The HKS GTIII-RS Pro Kit is a complete bolt-on turbo system that can push the FA20 well past 300 horsepower with supporting fuel and tuning. The trade-off is a little more heat, some spool-up lag versus a blower, and the most involved installation. For a track or big-power build, it's the one with the most room to grow.

Edelbrock E-Force Stage 1 Supercharger (Top Pick)

The Edelbrock E-Force Stage 1 is our top forced-induction pick for a daily-driven 86/BRZ because it combines an Eaton TVS positive-displacement blower with a self-contained oiling system and, in this configuration, a handheld tuner with Edelbrock's calibration — making it the closest thing to a turnkey boost kit for the FA20. It bolts an intercooled roots blower directly over the intake, fills the torque dip, and is engineered to run on pump gas.

KraftWerks Rotrex Belt Supercharger Kit

The KraftWerks 30mm belt supercharger kit uses a Rotrex C30 traction-drive centrifugal blower to deliver progressive, rpm-linked boost with strong top-end power on the 86/BRZ. Centrifugal design makes it efficient and cool-running, and the traction drive is famously quiet aside from the signature whine. This version does not include tuning, so plan on a professional calibration (EcuTek or similar) as part of the install — a service our Tampa team handles routinely.

HKS GTIII-RS Turbo Pro Kit

The HKS GTIII-RS Turbo Pro Kit is the highest-ceiling forced-induction option for the 86/BRZ, a complete bolt-on turbo system built around HKS's GTIII-RS turbocharger. Because a turbo isn't belt-driven off the crank, it has the most headroom of the three to make big power — comfortably north of 300 horsepower on the FA20 with supporting fuel and tuning. The Pro Kit includes the turbo, manifold, downpipe, intercooler and plumbing; it is the most involved install and requires a professional tune.

86/BRZ forced induction comparison chart

Here is how the four gen-1 86/BRZ boost options compare at a glance. All prices are current at NLP Performance and update live on this page.

How to choose the right boost kit for your 86 or BRZ

Choose based on how you drive. If the car is a street daily and you want instant response with the simplest ownership, the Edelbrock E-Force with tuner is the answer — it fills the torque dip and comes calibrated. If you want the most top-end thrill and a lower entry price and you already plan to have the car tuned, the KraftWerks Rotrex centrifugal is a favorite. If your goal is maximum power and you're building toward the track, the HKS GTIII-RS turbo has the highest ceiling.

Whichever route you take, budget for supporting mods. The FA20 runs a high 12.5:1 compression ratio, so a quality tune is non-negotiable on boost — it protects the engine and unlocks the power. Most builds also add higher-flow injectors and a fuel-pump upgrade as power climbs, plus quality gaskets. Browse our full supercharger and turbocharger collections, and if you're unsure which kit fits your exact car, our Tampa team will confirm fitment before you buy.

Installation, sound and living with a boosted FA20

All three of these kits are serious installs. Plan on a full day or more of labor: the intake manifold comes off, plumbing and an intercooler go in, and the fuel and tune are dialed in on a dyno or with a load-based street tune. The Edelbrock E-Force is the most self-contained of the group because its blower and oiling are packaged as one unit and the calibration is included; the KraftWerks Rotrex and HKS turbo add a few more steps because they need a standalone or piggyback tune sorted before the car makes full boost.

Character is part of the appeal, too. A roots blower gives a subtle supercharger hum and instant shove; the Rotrex centrifugal adds a rising whine that swells with rpm; the HKS turbo trades a touch of low-end for a hard top-end hit and turbo spool. None of them changes the 86/BRZ's greatest strength — the light nose and neutral balance stay intact, so you gain grunt without turning the car into something it isn't. That combination of a fixed torque curve and unchanged handling is exactly why forced induction remains the most popular big upgrade we sell for this platform.