View 2022 Toyota GR86 Premium vs. 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Photos

Michael SimariCar and Driver

The Mazda MX-5 Miata and Toyota GR 86 don’t exactly align as direct competitors—one is a two-seat convertible, the other a four-seat coupe—but they share intentions. Both are lightweight, rear-drive, purist sports cars that are an attainable means to tail-out fun. But which one is better?

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40 Photos

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Base prices for the GR 85 Premium and MX-5 Miata Club are very similar ($31,325 for the Toyota and $32,165 for the Mazda), but options pushed the Miata to $37,260.

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One obvious Miata advantage: the ability to throw back the top from the driver’s seat.

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Both these machines have reputations as “momentum cars,” but their current iterations are legit quick: both cars hit 60 mph in 5.4 seconds.

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In the corners, the GR86 hangs on a little harder than than the MX-5, generating .97 g of lateral grip, compared to .95 g.

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On a wet autocross course, both cars were tail-happy riots.

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Neither car’s four-cylinder engine makes particularly inspiring noises, but they’re happy to rev and well-matched to each car’s chassis.

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Despite the Miata’s Brembo front brakes, the GR86 recorded a shorter stop from 70 mph—154 feet, compared to 159 feet.

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The GR86’s rear seats might be tiny, but they’re still more useful than no rear seats at all.

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Practicality isn’t a high priority in a car like this, but the Toyota offers just enough of it to enable realistic daily-driver status.

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The GR86 won this round, but we’re glad for both cars’ continued existence—manual transmissions, rear-wheel-drive, and engineered for fun.

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club and 2022 Toyota GR86 Premium

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

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