The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Mata and the 2024 Toyota GR86 remind us that driving is meant to be fun, not a chore. Let's see how they compare.

With the discontinuation of the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger, 2-door performance cars are getting rarer. But a few traditional and affordable sports cars soldier on, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Toyota GR86, which are priced from around $30k and weigh less than 3,000 pounds. Sure, we still like V8s and EVs, but there’s nothing quite like the joy of a tossable lightweight sports car.

Let’s take a closer look at the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata and the 2024 Toyota GR86.

2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 Miata revolutionized the 2-seater sports car in the 1990s by keeping things simple. It’s a performance car that prioritizes a low curb weight and agile handling over muscular power and torque ratings. The result is a delightfully uncomplicated rear-drive sports car with fun driving dynamics and modern tech. The Miata RF has a stylish coupe design with a retractable hardtop, but the drop-top convertible is more true to form. We expect the 2024 Miata to start at about $29,000.

Mazda MX-5 Miata Highlights

Coupe and convertible bodies — The Miata comes standard as a soft-top convertible, but the Miata RF brings a hardtop coupe design. It gives buyers a choice, while the Toyota GR86 comes exclusively as a coupe.

Good fuel economy — The Miata is considerably more fuel efficient than the GR86. According to the EPA, the Miata is rated at 26 mpg city/35 mpg highway/30 mpg combined mpg with the automatic transmission and 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined with the manual. The Toyota GR86, for comparison is rated at 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway/25 mpg combined with the automatic and only 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined with the stick. The fuel costs will be a lot lower for the MX-5 Miata, especially if you insist on a manual transmission.

Lighter weight — If you’re in the market for a small sports car like this, a low curb weight is probably important to you. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is lighter than the Toyota GR86. In their respective base trims, the Mazda weighs 2,341 pounds, versus 2,811 for the Toyota. The RF hardtop adds only about 100 pounds to the Miata’s curb weight.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the MX-5 Miata models for sale near you.

2024 Toyota GR86

The Toyota GR86 is the spiritual successor to the iconic Toyota Corolla AE86. These cars share some characteristics, notably a small footprint, low curb weight, and rear-wheel drive, which makes for a sportier driving experience. The GR86 is a pure sports car, but it also has a hint of practicality thanks to its 4-seat layout and decent trunk space. We expect the 2924 Toyota GR86 to start at about $29,000.

Toyota GR86 Highlights

More power and torque — The Toyota GR86 makes up for its extra weight with more power and torque than the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Toyota generates 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, while the lighter Mazda produces 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. The Toyota’s flat-4 engine also reaches peak torque lower in the rev range.

Trueno Edition — The retro Trueno Edition is new to the GR86 lineup for 2024. It has a two-tone look with your choice of Halo (off-white) or Track bRed (see how they spelled that?) with black stripes and exterior accents. There’s also a new Performance Package that adds Sachs dampers and Brembo brakes, which come standard on the Trueno Edition. Production is limited to 860 units.

Four seats — The 4-seat Toyota GR86 has a practical edge over the 2-seat Mazda MX-5 Miata. Those back seats are pretty cramped, but having them versus not having them can make a big difference. The Toyota also has a bigger trunk than the Miata, with 6.3 cubic feet of volume versus 4.6 cubic feet, and the rear seats fold to open more space. As such, the GR86 is a sports coupe you can use as a practical daily driver.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the GR86 models for sale near you.

Similarities

These cars are a disappearing breed of affordable, lightweight sports cars, and they have a lot in common with regard to size, price, and performance. They’re both rear-wheel-drive 2-doors, and both are available with an automatic or manual transmission. They also offer similar safety and infotainment tech features. They also have identical warranties.

Conclusion

Which of these sports cars is right for you depends on your needs. If you prefer an open-air convertible with a lower curb weight, you have but one choice: the Mazda Miata. If you like the idea of having a 4-seater with a bigger trunk, the practical benefits of the GR86 make it the right choice. But these two remain similar where it counts most: driving enjoyment from behind the wheel.

Specs

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