Toyota GT86 vs Mazda MX5 | evo DEADLY RIVALS 

These kind of cars make me think the last true pertrol-heads live in Japan. Driving for the driving instead of showing off your shiny sportscar to your trophy-wife. Who else makes cars like these that are just dripping with the love for cars and driving and nothing else?

The GT86 is generally considered a light car so it's pretty insane that the MX5 is a massive 200kg lighter, especially considering it's a convertible. But I love the philosophy of both, two great driver's cars.

The lack of weight, the instant throttle response only a NA engine can give and that Japanese reliability make these two the best sportscars currently available.

200kg of weight isn't the only thing that makes the MX5 quicker. It also has very short gearing, the 6th gear is 1:1 ratio, while the GT86 has stupidly long gearing. Kudos to Mazda for making the 4th gen lighter and smaller than the 3rd gen, actually, as light as the 1st gen!

I bought my GT86 after test-driving those two cars. I like the open-airing from MX5 but the body roll disappointed me at corners. GT86 literally moves horizontally without any body roll at corners. What a machine for the money.

"The Mazda gets out of shape in the chicane"????? The car is driving itself? The driver gets the car out of shape... What did I just hear.

Who drives a GT86 on the track and keeps it "tidy?" Someone who pays for their own tires!

Its all about the tires.

The dashboard on the Mazda is miles better looking than that Toyota. It actually looks classy and of good quality.

YEEES!!!! Sports cars for normal (not millionaire) people! Now you need to pick a tyre, stick it on both cars and see how they go both in terms of fun and laptime again :D

Excellent comparison. I love these comparison videos more than single car reviews.

mazda gave the MX 5 some body roll so it would eat up some road imperfections and still keep control. It's meant for the roads and as we all know some of the windy roads are not always the smoothest. Stiffer suspension and you would jump around more on uneven roads. I find this in my Tiburon, hits a bump and she jumps a around a bit. The Mazda also also down on horse power as they went more for a responsive feel and a flatter torque band, so you have power all the way through the torque band. When you shift you will end up in the mid range of your torque band, and this is where the BRZ, 86, FRS lack. They seem to have a dead zone at around 4500 rpm's. So while you may look at them on paper (197 vs 155) and think the 86 is better in real time numbers the mazda is faster zero to 60. Also as mentioned by some posters here, the mazda has better gearing. The weight is a huge factor as well. Add all these things together and you will have more fun in the mazda (on road) as you row through the gears and feel like you are going faster than you really are. You actually are faster. It's for sure the car I would choose, as it performs more lively through all the gears, no dead spot. This coming from a guy who was hot for the other trio of hardtops here. BRZ, 86, FRS. One other thing, I saw another race comparison on these two cars, by a professional. Different track, and his time was substantially faster in the Mazda, (club edition with BBS wheels and upgraded brakes) not as close as here. Of course if you are a drifter......the 86 wins hands down, but who drives like that. Only good for track days.

Just stumbled across this today - love the format! Subbed for more 👌

I think i'd go for the mazda. I really like the looks of that thing!

The mx5 has way too much body roll! Needs thicker sway bars, lowered a little and be a little stiffer.

Great commentary during the hot laps....keep doing it in your other videos too +EVO , it makes them more involving....(thumbs up)

love em both

My 2 favourite current cars! Really, to choose between them is a case of whether you want a roof and some token seats or whether you want a roadster.

FRS/86/BRZ is a much more solid deal. Costs less, and its more practical, with better performance.

Maybe on a gray day the GT86 just beats the MX-5 for fun, but then when the sun is out the MX-5 let the wind get in your hair and the contest is not even close anymore.

Best review untill now Youngsta, keep it up :)

More of these please... God bless EVO

the interior of the mazda looks so much nicer

This is a delicious bit of film ❤️ Those long drifts are what made me love the 86!

great stock to stock comparison. some good tires on that 86 means a lot, it seems

Fantastic cars, fantastic review. I like this guy more and more.

Great video!

great vid, keep it up!

I'd like to see a gt86 vs rx8 video from you guys!

nice video. I would love to see a comparison of the gt86 to a stock Mazda RX8 in the track.

Wow now that was a close comparison!

I've got an 86 but still have a soft spot for the 5. Great vid. Ta.

The 86 would smoke it with proper performance tires and a drive that stays off the grass lol

What ? MX-5 is cheaper than GT86? MX5 is way more expensive than GT86(FRS) in North America ! Especially in Canada.

That's a great description of how the cars handle.

Great vid. Id go with the MX5, the GT86/BRZs are bordering on being dangers on wet UK B roads plus as others have said, the Mazda can put its top down and IMO is a nicer place to sit. lm just not sure which track day will allow that much sideways action, except maybe a drift day on a small pre wet track.

This is the first review that i see when for someone the mx5 isnt the most fun xD. Good video

Nice review. I like this reviewer.

I also drove both and I think the GT86 is more sporty and direct. The steering of the MX5 feels, compared to the GT86, very light and synthetic. What do you think?

Gotta love a small, simple, easy to handle car. Both are great.

Misha (Boosted Boris) recommends putting STI wheels on the 86 which will give you a wider wheel with a better choice of tires.

both are great cars, personally i would choose mx5, i'm a suckers for drop tops

every turn mazda took it looked like it was gonna flip gt86 took corners alot better

Great review. Very accurate and informative. Awesome job mate!

Superb video.

The commentary sounded like Jeremy Clarkson's son doing a Chris Harris impersonation.

MX5 looks like it's higher up and has a lot more body roll, but seems to handle itself well regardless, I think that leads to it being more fun too, all the body roll.

Damn good video!

Nice Review thanks ;D

Both sweet little cars! I hate the people complaining about the cars being under powered, WE GET IT.

+chrisJ. I wish it was apple sauce, instead it is corn glue. I have a 1969 Baja Bug and we cleaned the carb spotless. Ran it once then while waiting 2 or 3 weeks for the body shop, looks like rubber cement in there. Had to clean it out again

I wonder what corner speed the mx5 will happen to maintain when equipped with slightly wider tires. Maybe the same as the GT86 has. Would that 200kg difference matter in that regard?

I work for a group that sells Toyota and Mazda . The Mazda is clearly quicker to around 60 then the Gt86 takes over. The Gt86 is more fun because you can feel the slide coming and react . The mx5 gives less warning . both superb.Also the Mazda engine has no torque dip like the GT86.

Mad driving skills!!!

I think I'd go for the GT86. I really like the look of that thing!

great review! I'd take the Toyota cause to my eyes it just looks miles better, but thats of course totally subjective

I'd go for the Miata, just because is has a lot of character to it. It has a history, and my god it looks awesome!

I think you have it the other way around. the mx5 sport (the base) comes with an open diff. the 86 comes standard with an lsd. or is it different in the uk?

I've owned my 86 for two years and always have it near its limits and it's never understeered on me. Nitto invo s make it handle better than the Prius tires.

If I wanted a 2 seater convertible, I’d get a Honda S2000 for cheaper. If I wanted faster acceleration, I’d get a Nissan 370Z or Hyundai Genesis Coupe. But if I wanted a really balanced 4 seat light weight sports coupe, I’d get a manual BRZ/GT86.

Tires seems like a trivial thing to match for a fair comparison. You're going to have to get new ones eventually anyway. It's not something that would violate "stock" classification in any organized racing that I know of.

since ive driven both, i much prefer to spend a little less money on the IMO better MX-5, and with the extra money invest in some suspension upgrades for it, which to be honest isnt much...a bit higher rate springs and stronger sway-bars...you can have all that (installed!) easily for under a grand...and it wont sacrifice comfort or reliability....OR for the same price you can get a used Porsche Cayman! which will cost you a lot more later tho...(insurance, maintenance etc)..

I quite like this host's rather deadpan yet very informative approach. As for the cars, I'd be overjoyed with either one, but I think the Toyota has more of the X factor for me...I just want it .

wow that was close!

I clocked 7.2sec 0-62 in the GT86 while driving an auto in manual mode.

How can he have so much fun without bursting in smiles and laughs??? Lol

I need both

finally someone did it

he is so happy in these cars unlike the 911,m3,gt3

I'd rather the GT86,It may have no convertibles but I'd rather have 2 extra seats for my 2 kids or put my books, clothes there etc. But the Mazda Mx5 does look more better!

It's such a shame I can't get the 2.0 model here in Japan. I test drove the 1.5 and it is lovely, but I am sure I'd get bored soon.

Can't go wrong with these 2 really can you

Shouldve used the same tires for the timed laps. Anyways id get the gt86

the ND seems all over the place with that body roll

You guys need to include the weights in the specs.

This drifting everywhere is getting really annoying... As someone who has raced for years I never cared for oversteer, I would much rather have a neutral handling car, going fast is what excites me, if it gets sideways I'm just loosing time.

MX-5 for me. It has better interior and you can have it as a convertible when you want it to.

If ever there was a car that was crying out to be lowered, it's the MX5. 20-30mm would give it a much better 'stance', but all the same I like the fact they've made the suspension nice and supple, so often manufacturers give road cars overly firm 'sport' suspension.

Damn look at the body roll on the Miata...

Chris Martin is that you?

shit that's close. I'd call that even, a tenth of a second is enough for driver "error" to make a difference

So much arguing, they're both amazing :)

With the MX-5 having the ability to drop the top at anytime makes it the winner for me.

Getting gt86 this weekend 🤗😎

2+2 and cargo space the Twins for DD, MX5/Roadster weekend/summer warrior

Totally different cars,each have it's own driving style but i like them both!!!

Man, Mazda sure does like to make the Mazda Miata into a rolly polly.. It rolls into corners like a damn 80's car!

in terms of fun factor: price ratio I absolutely agree, japan has all the cards.. but I can't help but think that a bmw m2 is going to be incredible.. 2x as much (or 3) but still..

Would have to go with the Mazda Mx5/fiat 124 over the 86/BRZ. Nice warm spring/summer day, little bit of overcast cloud. Belting down your favorite windy country roads with the top down. How could you beat that. And yes it leans in the corners a bit, but a couple of suspension mods can help that.

£2300 could be a set of coilovers a remap exhaust and filter and then it would wipe the floor completely with the GT86 I wonder if mountune would do the same factory wanted stuff as they do for ford as the MZR and Duratec are the same engine give or take a few parts

honest question about the mx5, and I can't quite tell from the video, but does the mx5 have just a tad more body roll than a lifted wrangler, or just a tick less? also, if you roll down the windows, can you touch the pavement when your hard into a turn with just your hand, or can you actually get your elbow to drag?

What happened to the company logos under the videos in the side by side lap segment to make it clearer which is which?

I think we might agree on the fact that these two cars are equally fast in real conditions. I like them both and they are both great, it would be a difficult choice. For me Toyota is more practical for all-year driving. But Mazda must offer a great ride in summer too!

well mazda was .1 s faster bacause of driver error and if you look at the amount the mazda rolls you can see another reason for such a slight win, stiffen up the shocks with the extra 2,5k you have to brz/gt86 and you get even more fun and better lap times out of it

hi, i am afraid to get the automatic and lose the thrills of driving. i need to know the shifting speed in the automatic. is it laggy? is it reliable to play with shifting all the time? plz give us your experience/info.

cost of ownership? especially when replacing tires.

they may be close, but i think the MX5 wins because when you are not on track you can just drop that roof down and go out for a drive in the sun. Its a real feel good car

Yes, but you can’t put the roof down on your GT86 can you?

I don't think you didn't go through one corner without drifting. How am I supposed to know how the mx5 handles cause I might trade in my 86 for it if you just drift. I'll lose my lisence we can't do that here

Those are 2 really awesome cars. Good job Japan!