Tyler is an automotive journalist and content contributor at How-To Geek with over three years of experience covering the automotive industry. His work focuses on delivering clear, well-researched, and engaging content that helps readers better understand the vehicles they drive and the technology behind them.
Before entering automotive media, he spent five years as an academic editor, developing a strong foundation in research methodology, factual accuracy, and structured analysis. This background informs his journalistic approach today, ensuring that every article balances technical insight with accessibility for a broad audience.
Tyler specializes in automotive journalism, content strategy, and SEO-driven publishing, with a particular interest in performance, reliability, and the cultural role of cars. He approaches automotive writing with a distinct philosophy: vehicles should be engaging and expressive, not merely functional tools. This perspective shapes his coverage and allows readers to connect with cars beyond basic specifications.
For decades, the Mazda Miata has been the default answer to one question: what is the world’s most beloved affordable sports car? Its lightweight design, approachable price, and reputation for driving fun made it the undisputed champion of entry-level performance. But recent sales trends suggest that crown may be slipping. Toyota’s own budget-friendly sports coupe is now outselling the Miata, signaling a shift in what buyers want from a modern enthusiast car.
This change highlights more than just brand loyalty. Toyota’s sports car blends everyday usability with performance appeal, attracting both traditional enthusiasts and first-time buyers who want something fun without sacrificing practicality. Meanwhile, the Miata remains a purist’s choice, one that prioritizes driving feel over space and versatility.
The growing popularity of Toyota’s offering reveals how the affordable sports car segment is evolving. Today’s buyers are looking for performance wrapped in broader everyday value, and Toyota’s success shows that practicality and passion no longer have to compete, they can coexist.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA, CarEdge, RepairPal, J.D. Power, and Cars.com.
The Toyota GR86 outsold the MX-5 in 2025
It isn’t the first year Toyota has come out ahead
The MX-5 is perhaps one of the most iconic sports cars ever built, putting smiles on people’s faces for decades. Toyota introduced the 86 as a means to take the fight to Mazda. These two ultra-affordable sports cars have been locked in battle ever since. In 2025, though, Toyota managed to continue its lead when it came to sales, with the Mazda trailing behind.
Toyota GR86 vs. Mazda MX-5 sales
|
Model |
Sales 2024 |
Sales 2025 |
YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Toyota GR86 |
11,426 |
9,940 |
-13% |
|
Mazda MX-5 Miata |
8,103 |
8,727 |
+7.7% |
In 2025, the Toyota GR86 outsold the Mazda MX-5 by more 1,000 units, once again coming out ahead of the little roadster. Preferences aside, that is a really impressive feat. What is more impressive is that this isn’t the first year that the GR86 has outsold the MX-5. In fact, if sales volume is the main metric, Toyota has been winning the affordable sports car war for some time now.
However, 2025 represented a pretty steep drop in sales for the GR86, with the total number of models sold falling below 10,000 for the first time in years. Sales of the Mazda MX-5 have been pretty up and down over the last couple of years, but 2025 represented a pretty decent increase over 2024’s numbers. The combination of these two factors means the competition was closer than it has been in a while between these two sports cars.
Toyota’s reputation for reliability and the GR86’s added practicality help put it ahead
The GR86 is a better daily driver
While both cars are affordable and a ton of fun to drive, the GR86 is the slightly easier car to live with. It has more space on the inside for you to make use of compared to the MX-5’s rather cramped environs. On top of this, the GR86 benefits from Toyota’s fantastic reputation for reliability and generally low ownership costs.
GR86 vs. MX-5 interior practicality
Both the MX-5 and the GR86 are two-door sports cars. However, the Toyota is a 2+2 coupe, meaning that it does come with a set of back seats. While these are exceptionally cramped, and your passengers aren’t likely going to want to sit there for long, it is nice to have the option. On top of this, you can fold the rear seats down to give yourself a pretty generous cargo area. While this isn’t the main appeal of a sports car, it does make the GR86 the better car to drive on the daily.
GR86 costs of ownership
- Reliability score: 79/100 (J.D. Power)
- Average ten-year maintenance costs: $4,804 (CarEdge)
- Depreciation over 5 years: 23% (CarEdge)
Toyota has a fantastic reputation with the public. The GR86 scores reasonably well when it comes to reliability, though the Toyota badge on the front of the car meaning even more than these scores to most people. CarEdge also estimates long-term ownership costs on the little sports car to be much lower than average, with its maintenance and depreciation costs being among the lowest on the market.
Both are fantastic sports cars in their own right
While it is always interesting pitting these two sports cars against one another, the truth of the matter is that they are both excellent cars. If you’re looking for a small and simple sports car that delivers fantastic levels of engagement, then you can’t go wrong with either option. They may have slightly different approaches, but they both are successful in their own right.
GR86 vs MX-5 performance
|
2026 Toyota GR86 |
2026 Mazda MX-5 |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
2.4-liter naturally aspirated flat-four |
2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four |
|
Transmission |
6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic |
6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic |
|
Horsepower |
228 HP |
181 HP |
|
Toruqe |
184 LB-FT |
151 LB-FT |
|
Curb weight |
2,838 lbs |
2,454 lbs |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.4 seconds |
5.5 seconds |
|
Top speed |
140 MPH |
139 MPH |
Both of these two sports cars have the same overall idea. Keep weight as low as possible, keep everything mechanical, and focus on driving enjoyment above all else. They are both rear-wheel drive and come standard with manual transmission, and they both feature naturally aspirated engines. Both achieve their goals fantastically.
There are obviously some differences between the two. The Toyota makes some slight compromises for the sake of usability, with it being heavier overall. It makes up for this with some extra power, though. The Miata feels a little purer, keeping its weight way down and relying less on power, but obviously sacrificing some practicality in the process.
In our opinion, this is less an argument over which sports car is the better sports car, and more a debate over which suits you best. Regardless of which one you go with, you’ll end up with an incredibly fun car that will never stop putting a smile on your face.