We love affordable, lightweight sports cars. So much so that four Mazda Miatas and a Subaru BRZ have passed through our garage. The only modern ones that haven’t are the Toyota GR86 and Fiat 124 Spider. Anyway, we’re here to help you pick the best one for your needs. Having had so much experience in this tiny segment of vehicles, we have the know-how and correct insight! Let’s dive in.
Subaru BRZ vs. Mazda Miata: The Important Bits
Let’s start under the hood. The latest BRZ has a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated boxer-four with 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. On the other hand, the Miata has a smaller 2.0-liter I-4 with 181 hp and 151 lb-ft. Both have a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. However, we suggested ignoring the latter even exists. For the best experience, these cars MUST have a stick shift to take full advantage of their engines’ 7,500-rpm redline. Power goes exclusively to the rear wheels.
In terms of efficiency, the Miata wins with an EPA rating of 26/34/29 mpg city/highway/combined with the manual. Opting for the automatic increases the highway rating by 1 mpg. In real-world driving, the Miata consistently overperforms with our current 2024 Club RF frequently averaging over 30 mpg in mixed driving and 40+ mpg on long highway stints. That BRZ falls significantly at 20/27/22 mpg with the manual or 21/30/25 mpg with the auto. In real-world driving, our manual-equipped Limited averaged around 25 mpg.
Although both sports cars have fully independent suspension, the Miata diverges with a more sophisticated control arm setup for the front. Meanwhile, the BRZ employs MacPherson struts. However, the BRZ comes standard with a sportier calibration and a Torsen limited-slip rear differential, while the tS trim adds STI-tuned Hitachi dampers. In the Miata, the automatic models and the base Sport use a softer setup and an open differential. To get the sport-tuned setup with Bilstein dampers and an asymmetric limited-slip rear differential, you must select a Club or a manual-equipped Grand Touring.
For additional stopping power, the BRZ tS includes upsized front and rear Brembo brakes. The Miata Club offers Brembo brakes as part of the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package. However, it’s only for the front.
Exhilaration, Standard
Make no mistake, the Subaru BRZ and Mazda MX-5 Miata possess some of the highest fun quotient of any sports car today. Instead of outright performance, these two put fun above all else. As a result, they’re incredibly engaging yet approachable. Incredible agility and direct steering meet telepathic responsiveness. Of the two, the BRZ feels more planted with less body roll and better stability. On the other hand, the Miata has more body roll baked in, allowing it to better communicate with the driver.
In terms of acceleration, the BRZ feels quicker since it makes peak torque at 3,700 rpm. Meanwhile, the Miata needs slightly more revs, delivering peak torque at 4,000 rpm. However, the Miata’s curb weight makes it feel livelier. With the manual transmission, the soft top weighs 2,336 pounds while the RF weighs in at 2,467 pounds on the Club trim and 2,469 pounds inthe Grand Touring variant. Even with the automatic, the Miata remains one of the lightest cars on sale at 2,405 pounds for the soft top and 2,513 pounds for the RF. In comparison, the BRZ weighs just over 2,800 pounds regardless of transmission.
The BRZ’s added weight doesn’t make it feel heavy, though. It still feels agile and tossable on a winding road. Additionally, the 2.4-liter engine’s higher output and lower torque peak make it easy to drift, rotate around turns, and use the accelerator to fix your line mid-corner. The Miata can do the same thing, too, but you need to retain as much momentum as possible and keep the engine at a higher RPM due to its lack of torque and stickier tires.
Subaru BRZ vs. Mazda Miata: Sports Car Living
For such fun machines, the BRZ and Miata remain surprisingly civil on the daily commute. Both ride quite well on broken pavement despite their stiff suspension. Most importantly, both cars have a friendly clutch that’s easy to modulate in traffic and deliciously accurate shifters that are super satisfying to use. Furthermore, their short gearing means you only need to downshift once to bring the engine back into its powerband.
Where things fall apart for both cars is in everyday comfort. The BRZ has wide, supportive seats and a reasonably spacious interior, but suffers from excessive noise. Meanwhile, the Miata has a tight cabin that’s just as noisy as the BRZ’s. Plus, it has narrow seats that can feel uncomfortable on longer drives and lack adequate height adjustment. Even the available Recaro option falls short because it lacks lower back support and cushioning.
In terms of usability, the BRZ wins hands down. A larger trunk and rear seats that double as additional cargo space make it viable for Costco runs. The Miata’s small size means space remains a premium. A smaller trunk and a lack of small-item storage make it less practical. Both cars also lack usable cup holders, while the Miata doesn’t even have a glovebox. But then you don’t technically get these cars for their versatility. If we’re honest, the BRZ’s surprising space is just icing on the cake.
On the plus side, the Miata’s interior feels more premium with nice materials. Meanwhile, everything you touch in the BRZ feels…cheap. Blame all the hard plastics for that.
Just the Basics
If you’re looking for cutting-edge tech in your affordable sports car, you won’t find it with these two. The BRZ has an eight-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the other hand, the Miata has an 8.8-inch display that only becomes a touchscreen when using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additionally, the Club and Grand Touring have wireless smartphone integration. The Miata’s upper two trims also come standard with a nine-speaker Bose premium audio system, which sounds quite good even with the top down. Meanwhile, the BRZ has an eight-speaker audio system that’s boomy and muddled, especially at higher volumes.
Both cars feature a standard suite of driver assistance features, EyeSight on the BRZ and iActivSense on the Miata. Neither version is that advanced, though, because they don’t include any lane centering and steering assist functions. The BRZ, however, includes adaptive cruise control with both transmission options, while the Miata only includes it with the automatic transmission.
Classically Timeless
On the design front, both the BRZ and Miata feature a traditional cab rearward layout. A long nose and low roofline give them that old-school sports car look. They look timeless, too. Introduced in 2015 as a 2016 model, the ND Miata still looks new. The minor design tweaks from 2024 freshened it up nicely without detracting from its timelessness.
On the other hand, the Subaru BRZ looks youthful and aggressive. Yet it remains clean and svelte, adding to the design’s ability to stand the test of time. Essentially an evolution of the first-generation model, the latest BRZ manages to stay familiar yet new at the same time. Like the Miata, it’s aging gracefully, still looking new and tasteful after its debut in 2022 (provided it’s stock).
Primary or Second Car?
Choosing between the BRZ and Miata boils down to your needs and personal preferences. Love open-air motoring and/or a livelier personality? Go Miata. Want something with a little more power and a tighter, more buttoned-down feel? Get the Subaru BRZ. Both offer a visceral drive that not many vehicles can match. Even against pricier and more capable performance cars, these two offer more fun per dollar driving at all speeds.
Either way, these affordable, fun machines give you so much car for the money. If you want one, act quickly because these two may be living on borrowed time. In a world dominated by SUVs, the Miata and BRZ represent a breath of fresh air. Simple, exciting, and lightweight, these sports cars remind you to enjoy the drive. To feel the connection between man and machine. Get them while you can and enjoy every moment driving one of these icons.
