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.
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 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata#5 in Subcompact Cars Get Your Price |  2019 BMW Z4#1 in Subcompact Cars Get Your Price |  2019 Chevrolet Camaro#13 in Compact Cars Get Your Price |  2019 Ford Mustang#5 in Subcompact Cars Get Your Price |  2019 Toyota 86#11 in Subcompact Cars Get Your Price |  2019 FIAT 124 Spider#2 in Subcompact Cars Get Your Price |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2019 Mazda MX-5 keeps the crown of “affordable and fun” with a more potent engine this year. |
The 2019 BMW Z4 serves notice that in a crossover-coupe era, the top-down sports-car driving experience still is second to none. |
It may look like a muscle car, but the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro is a sports car that can outperform rivals that cost much more. |
The 2019 Ford Mustang finally gets it: Muscle-car power doesn’t have to come with muscle-car handling compromises. |
If you value driving fun over pure power, there’s hardly a vehicle more up to the task than the 2019 Toyota 86. |
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 | $26,505 | $25,190 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 26 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 21 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy | 25 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Premium Unleaded I-4 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 | Gas I4 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 | Premium Unleaded H-4 | Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Two-Seaters | Two-Seaters | Subcompact Cars | Subcompact Cars | Minicompact Cars | Two-Seaters |
| Style Name | |||||
| Sport Manual | sDrive30i Roadster | 2-Door Coupe LS w/1LS | EcoBoost Fastback | Manual (Natl) | Classica Convertible |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Convertible | Roadster | Coupe | Fastback | Coupe | Convertible |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual | Automatic w/OD | Manual | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 BMW Z4 | 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 Chevrolet Camaro | 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 Ford Mustang | 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 Toyota 86 | 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. 2019 FIAT 124 Spider | |
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