Fiat 124 Spider Vs. Mazda MX-5 Miata

A few years ago, Fiat and Mazda announced a collaboration on a roadster based on the MX-5 Miata. The 124 Spider is the result of this joint project. I would like to begin with the 124 Spider, the newest of the two vehicles being compared in this post. Compared to its Miata counterpart, the 124 Spider is 5.5 inches longer and powered by a 1.4-liter turbo four-banger producing 160 horsepower and 184 foot-pounds of torque. It has more of an Italian flair to it, as noted by its design. The Fiat 124 weighs in at 2436 pounds, 104 pounds heavier than the Miata. The interior is identical to the Miata's except for the badges and seat covers. It will be offered in two trims: Classica and Lusso. The Classica trim comes with all the standard features: six-speed manual gearbox, 16-inch wheels, halogen headlights, power mirrors, power windows, power locks, push-button start, cruise control, air conditioning, cloth seats, and a six-speed audio system. The Lusso trim features the Tech package (Mazda's 7-inch touchscreen, backup camera, and proximity key, also optional on the 124 Classica), a standard six-speed automatic gearbox, automatic headlights, silver-colored roll bar, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic climate control, heated leather seats, and 17-inch wheels. Safety tech includes auto-dimming mirrors, a garage-door opener, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross- traffic detection, and rear parking sensors. The Miata's Italian cousin will hit showrooms this summer, with pricing yet to be announced. I expect the 124 Spider to have a higher starting price over the Miata. Additionally, the high-performance Abarth variant of the 124 with more power, less weight, and better handling was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

Next, the Mazda MX-5 Miata (ND), the vehicle the 124 is based on, is the best generation of the iconic lightweight Japanese roadster yet. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter normally aspirated four-pot with 155 horses and 148 pound-feet of torque. Like the 124 Spider, the MX-5 Miata comes standard with a six-speed manual, while a six-speed automatic is optional. Both the Miata and 124's frames consist of mostly aluminum, keeping each vehicle's weight relatively low. 0-60 times vary between 6.4 and 5.9 seconds. Unlike its predecessor, the 2016 Miata has electric steering instead of hydraulic steering, giving it a greater road feel. Pricing for the MX-5 Miata ND begins at $25,735 for the Sport, $29,420 for the Club, and up to $30,885 for the Grand Touring.

As of now, I don't know which vehicle I would prefer between the Fiat 124 Spider and the current Mazda MX-5 Miata. They each have their pros and cons that match them up pretty evenly. I generally don't like Fiat as much as Mazda as brands, but both the Miata and 124 are impressive roadsters. Also, the Miata is the best-selling sports car of all time, and Mazda will continue to build on that success with the ND model.