Being a Subaru the engines are boxers. Not better or worse, but different
Subaru's current 3.6L "EZ" flat-6 can boast the same power output and fuel consumption as the competition's 3.5L DOHC V6 engines from ten years ago!
I hear the "FA" engine in the BRZ/86 is a huge improvement over the old "EJ" family though.