There are vehicles that can be considered sports cars, but also relatively affordable. A few soldier on. Tops on the list of vehicles that do would be the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Toyota GR86, which are priced from around $30k and weigh less than 3,000 pounds. For pure driving enjoyment, there’s nothing quite like the joy of a tossable lightweight sports car.
Let’s take a closer look at the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata and the 2025 Toyota GR86.
2025 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. The 2025 Mazda MX-5 starts at $30,715, including the destination charge.
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.
High quality: The Miata has been around for three decades, which means they’ve had plenty of time to get it right, not just in terms of how it drives but also to ensure it’s always ready to be driven. There is not much downtime for this 2-seater.
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 2,366 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.
2025 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. The 2025 Toyota GR86 starts at $31,135, including destination.
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 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, while the lighter Mazda produces 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque.
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 and 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
| 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata | 2025 Toyota GR86 | |
| Starting Price | $30,715 | $31,135 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 181 hp @ 7,000 rpm | 228 hp @ 7,000 rpm |
| Torque | 151 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 184 lb-ft @ 3,700 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual |
| Fuel Economy | 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway/29 mpg combined | 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined |
| Also Available | 6-speed automatic; RF with retractable roof | 6-speed automatic |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | Not rated | Not rated |
| Max Seating Capacity | 2 | 4 |
| Wheelbase | 90.9 inches | 101.4 inches |
| Overall Length | 154.1 inches | 167.9 inches |
| Width | 68.3 inches | 69.9 inches |
| Height | 48.6 inches | 51.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 30.8 feet | 35.4 feet |
| Headroom, 1st row | 37.4 inches | 37 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd row | N/A | 33.5 inches |
| Legroom, 1st row | 43.1 inches | 41.5 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd row | N/A | 29.9 inches |
| Shoulder room, 1st row | 52.2 inches | 53.6 inches |
| Shoulder room, 2nd row | N/A | 51.7 inches |
| Cargo volume | 4.6 cubic feet | 6.3 cubic feet |
