Why a rainy-day drive reveals the truth about these rear-wheel drive sports cars
For years and years now, the Mazda MX-5 and the Subaru BRZ have coexisted on the market, representing one of the fiercest rivalries we’ve seen since the WRX STI and the Mitsubishi Evo were pitted against one another on the streets. Unlike the Impreza/Evo rivalry, however, enthusiasts seem far less polarized in their opinions of these compact roadster/coupes; most generally harbour respect for both, or for neither. I believe that’s because, these days, we’re no longer as spoiled for choice as we once were when it comes to genuinely affordable, fun-to-drive sports cars, and the MX-5 and BRZ are two of the last of their kind to carry on the torch of enthusiast-focused engineering. Enthusiasts respect them both because they understand what it would mean to lose these kinds of cars entirely.
More often than not, when those who do understand the smile-per-dollar value of cars like the Mazda MX-5 and the Subaru BRZ picture themselves behind the wheel, they imagine sunny days and warm, sticky tarmac. Of course, that’s because ideal, dream-like conditions bring out the best of what these cars are capable of—they reveal the intangible, emotionally ingested brilliance of their designs and engineering. But what happens when reality strikes, and an atmospheric river unleashes itself upon your locale, flooding the lakes and slickening the roads? Does the idea of a compact convertible, or a two-door sports coupe, begin to look like an irrational pipe dream, overly driven by emotion, and without consideration of enough logic?
As an adoring fan of both the MX-5 and the BRZ, I decided to take advantage of an imperfect Saturday, filled with rain and misery and dark skies, setting out on the road with an old friend to prove to ourselves that cars like these don’t only provide grin-inducing excitement during midsummer sunsets and on dry desert canyon twisties, but that they have the capacity to offer a genuinely exhilirating experience behind the wheel no matter how grey the weather, or even the world, may seem at the time.
Cole Attisha
Let’s get this out of the way: Was either one actually better than the other?
When I initially made plans with a dear old friend, Luka, with whom I once bonded over a mutual ownership of ND2 Mazda MX-5s, to head out for a drive on a Saturday in January on the Pacific Northwest Coast, I had no idea what the weather would look like, nor where our destination would even be; I just wanted to get a sense of which one I actually liked better. I would drive the 2025 Mazda MX-5 RF, equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, graciously provided to me by Mazda Canada. Luka would drive the 2025 Subaru BRZ tS—my own car—also equipped with a six-speed, because I wanted to compare my own thoughts about the nuances between the two cars with his.
When that fateful Saturday arrived, the weatherman had forecasted an atmospheric river above, and Mother Nature delivered on that promise. Regardless, we were determined to set out on our drive, and Luka had the idea of heading east out of Vancouver to a quaint shorefront enclave called Belcarra. So we set off, and we drove. At first, we eked our way out of inner-city traffic, taking advantage of our cars’ short wheelbases to slip through the cracks of gridlock. Then, we cruised along the Trans Canada Highway, rather boringly, until we made it to Port Moody—the last town on the way to Belcarra. From there, the roads turned windy; they had been well-maintained, and they were devoid of traffic. When we had finally arrived at Buntzen Lake, just north of Belcarra, having been lucky if we had even reached the speed limit once the entire distance, we were both smiling, laughing, and we couldn’t take our eyes off the cars.
Cole Attisha
How could I then stand there and ask, “So, which one is better?” How can you quantify and rank the feeling of joy? We were both there, standing in front of a beach entirely submerged by a tidal anomaly, drenched from head to toe in rain, freezing cold, giddy like teenagers who had just been on a double date with their high-school crushes. Both cars elicited these feelings in us, so both had achieved their highest purpose. Like nonprescription antidepressants, the Mazda MX-5 and the Subaru BRZ gave light and cheerfulness to a dreary day, during a dreary time. While there are certainly nuances to both, and I can now more confidently say which one I’d rather take for a drive, and which one I’d rather buy (which I’ll get into), I can’t in good conscience say that either one of these sports cars is the winner over the other. As Robin Williams would have said, probably: We don’t drive MX-5s and BRZs because they’re cute; we drive them because we are members of the human race.
So what’s the difference, then?
Both the Mazda MX-5 and the Subaru BRZ reveal a part of yourself, and of life, that seems to be fading in the modern world. They remind us to get in touch with our spirituality and emotions, and ultimately strive for a groundedness in life that both cars excel at complementing. These front-engined, rear-driven, manually-shifted sport two-doors are about as close as contemporary cars come to delivering old-school analog enjoyment. Philosophically speaking, they both unite in achieving the same goal: providing a memorable, emotional experience. Physically speaking, though, and in nuanced terms of how they drive, there are notable differences between the two cars that signify altered purposes in the practical sense—that is, they each offer a distinctly unique driving experience, and each is clearly tailored not only to a different lifestyle, but also different driving styles.
Cole Attisha
“The Mazda MX-5 is the more exciting car to drive out of the two”
The Mazda MX-5 RF feels like it’s powered by an angry wasp’s nest, with its 2.0-litre four-cylinder pumping out 181 buzzpower and 151 lb-ft of stolen honey. Thanks to its short gearing and a curb weight of just over 2,500 lbs, the Miata feels like it accelerates more quickly than the BRZ, and accelerating between stoplights can feel like a full-tilt runway launch, even without breaking the speed limit. Around the bends, the MX-5’s built-in body roll communicates momentum shifts to the driver with rapid pace, even with winter tires installed, but this also makes the Miata feel somewhat twitchy and unpredictable when cornering angles are more acute than obtuse.
All things considered, it became apparent quite quickly that the MX-5 is the more exciting car to drive out of the two, which can be attributed mostly to its gearbox—one of the most intuitive I’ve ever experienced in a manually-shifted car—its convertible roof, and its charismatic road manners that keep you constantly on your toes.
Cole Attisha
“The Subaru BRZ tS, on the other hand, is calculated and precise”
The Subaru BRZ tS, on the other hand, is calculated and precise. I’m sure I’m unavoidably biased when I say this, because this BRZ is actually my own car, but having actually driven a handful of Porsche 911 GT3s, it really does feel like a “poor man’s GT3,” as I’ve heard it referred to by other enthusiasts. Thanks to its STI-tuned suspension, paired with Brembo brakes and Michelin tires, the tS package helps the BRZ corner as if it’s on rails, and, at least in my opinion, its steering offers superior control compared to the MX-5.
While the BRZ is undoubtedly more planted and predictable on the road, especially when wet—a feeling that Luka and I mutually agreed upon—its clutch pedal offers far less tactility than the MX-5, resulting in rougher shifts, even despite the satisfyingly short throw of its shifter. The BRZ, however, makes far more power than the MX-5, providing up to 228 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque from its 2.4-litre Boxer engine. Although it weighs about 300 lbs more than the MX-5, once that FA24 is strung out into higher RPMs, it sings the song of the Subaru gods, minus the whoosh of a turbocharger, and pummels the BRZ’s Torsen limited-slip rear differential with almost 50 more horsepower than what the MX-5 offers.
Cole Attisha
The real verdict: Which car is best for who?
Overall, when it comes to road manners, the Mazda MX-5 is more emotionally satisfying, and the Subaru BRZ tS is more capable and controlled. The way I see it, the MX-5 is undoubtedly the one that I’d rather take for a drive, especially when there’s no destination in mind, but the BRZ is the one I’d rather live with. With actual cupholders, rear seats that aren’t perfect but still enough to enable the possibility of transporting four people in total, usable cargo space, and enough torque so as not to require near-redline shifts to keep up with traffic all the time, the BRZ, to me, is the superior daily driver, whereas the MX-5 is the superior weekend toy. As much as I loved the ND MX-5 I once owned, my BRZ makes life much easier than the MX-5 ever did, but I still can’t shake the feeling that, at times, when I’ve found a brilliant road and driving turns from traffic-navigating chore to poetic canyon carving, I still miss the MX-5’s sprightly character.
So, really, the only advice I can give you when it comes to comparing these two cars is: don’t. If you must choose one, choose the one that serves a purpose more closely aligned with your lifestyle—your wants and your needs. Need a somewhat practical daily driver that you can drive like a go-kart? Sounds like the BRZ is for you. Looking for a fun weekend toy that awakens your spirit and reteaches you what it means to be “present?” The MX-5 will do that. But then again, both cars will do both things, albeit to varying degrees. The BRZ, too, will awaken your soul if you drive it hard, and the MX-5, too, will get you where you need to go on a daily basis, and quite reliably so.
Ultimately, they’re both winners in their own right. Both cars serve a similar purpose, and both do so with a level of sophistication and excellence that exceeds those of their predecessors. They both deserve credit where it’s due for the mere fact that they still exist at all, and they’re both remarkably refined sports cars—an especially commendable feat, considering their relatively small price tags. The fact is, these cars aren’t products, or consumer goods, or logical modes of transportation. These cars are the antidote to the poisonous reality many of us now live in, where the whole world is uncertain, and we all seem endlessly stressed out. The Mazda MX-5 RF starts at USD 37,850, and the Subaru BRZ tS costs USD 38,380. Feeling like you’re flying, and as if everything’s going to be okay? That’s the kind of priceless value both these sports cars offer.
About the author
Cole Attisha
Staff Writer, Autoblog