2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. Its Competition

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Aaron Cole Aaron Cole Managing Editor

The Mazda MX-5 is closely related to the Fiat 124 Spider but don’t share engines.

We prefer the available features in the Fiat, but like the MX-5’s engine far more.

We’d give the nod to the Mazda on drivability alone, but if an automatic transmission and long drives sound more appealing the Fiat is worth a test drive.

The Toyota 86 (and by extension, Subaru BRZ) are lightweight, affordable sports cars inspired by the Miata but lack a roofless model.

The Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro are available as soft-top convertibles, but their prices reach far past the Mazda’s in top trims.

The BMW Z4 is the priciest of the bunch and the newest—it should be available in spring 2019.

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Browse Used Listings		2019 BMW Z4 Roadster2019 BMW Z4
Browse Used Listings		2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo 1LE first drive2019 Chevrolet Camaro
Browse Used Listings		2019 Ford Mustang2019 Ford Mustang
Browse Used Listings		2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition2019 Toyota 86
Browse Used Listings		2019 Fiat 124 Spider2019 FIAT 124 Spider
Browse Used Listings
Quick Specs
6.0
The 2019 Mazda MX-5 keeps the crown of “affordable and fun” with a more potent engine this year.
6.8
The 2019 BMW Z4 serves notice that in a crossover-coupe era, the top-down sports-car driving experience still is second to none.
5.8
It may look like a muscle car, but the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro is a sports car that can outperform rivals that cost much more.
6.0
The 2019 Ford Mustang finally gets it: Muscle-car power doesn’t have to come with muscle-car handling compromises.
5.2
If you value driving fun over pure power, there’s hardly a vehicle more up to the task than the 2019 Toyota 86.
6.2
Agile handling and a composed ride balance out the 2019 Fiat 124 Spider’s slightly laggy turbo-4 engine.
MSRP From     
$25,730$49,700$25,000$26,395$26,655$25,440
Gas Mileage     
26 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy25 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy14 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy14 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy21 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy25 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy
Engine     
Premium Unleaded I-4Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4Turbocharged Gas I4Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4Premium Unleaded H-4Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4
EPA Class     
Two-SeatersTwo-SeatersSubcompact CarsSubcompact CarsMinicompact CarsTwo-Seaters
Style Name     
Sport AutomaticsDrive30i Roadster2-Door Coupe 1LSEcoBoost FastbackManual (Natl)Classica Convertible
Drivetrain     
Rear Wheel DriveRear Wheel DriveRear Wheel DriveRear Wheel DriveRear Wheel DriveRear Wheel Drive
Passenger Capacity     
224442
Passenger Doors     
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Body Style     
ConvertibleRoadsterCoupeFastbackCoupeConvertible
Transmission     
Automatic w/ODAutomatic w/ODManualManual w/ODManual w/ODManual w/OD
Detailed Spec Comparison
 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 BMW Z42019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 Chevrolet Camaro2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 Ford Mustang2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 Toyota 862019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 FIAT 124 Spider