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The best gearbox
You'll have noticed by now that our cars were equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. And here to, picking a winner was tough; even the Subaru, by a carmaker not known for the precision of its manual gearboxes, showed some nice things during this day of rowing up and down the gears. However, in the end, the MX-5 RF's showed itself superior. The Mazda's gearbox is still an industry standard today. The shorter throw and the precision of the stick are partly responsible for the fun-to-drive feel of the pocket-sized sports car.
The best engine
Both the MX-5 and BRZ are equipped with naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engines that aren't afraid to climb high into the stratosphere of the engine regime, except that this time, the Subaru coupe's superior power and torque (47 hp and 33 lb-ft) propels it far ahead of the Mazda. The exercise would have been much more equal with the previous-generation BRZ, but not now. Where the new Subaru 4-cylinder flat block really shines is above 4,500 RPM, where the mill screams loudly, but seems to come alive again.
We can't wait to see what the aftermarket industry has in store to make this second-generation coupe sing even more.
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The best handling
How does the Subaru BRZ fare against one of the best small sports cars in history? Quite well, in fact, as the Japanese coupe's very rigid platform holds up just fine against a car designed to withstand the twists and turns that come with a removable hardtop roadster/coupe. The BRZ even has better tires, Michelin Pilot Sport 4s that are wider and lower than those of the Mazda coupe. This means you have to push harder to make the BRZ's rear end start to twerk a little.
What's clear is that both cars are very comfortable on a twisty road.
The best comfort
The longer wheelbase of the Subaru has its part to play in the comfort of the car, but that's not all, as the seats also need to be welcoming to the occupants. Of course, we're not talking about the BRZ’s back seat here, because even young children won't particularly appreciate the very limited space there.
So advantage BRZ then, even though the model is clearly the least comfortable car in the Subaru lineup. The seats are much more enveloping then in the MX-5, although note that Mazda offers optional Recaro buckets if your heart is set on its peppy roadster.
As for soundproofing, well, we’ll yell it a tie above all the racket. Both cars are noisy at highway speeds, especially when the road surface is concrete.
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The best entertainment
In both coupes, the best entertainment is found behind the wheel (if you know what I mean). But hey, since we have to name a winner, for the best infotainment system we hand the palme d’or to the Subaru, even though the older MX-5's is probably the most reliable.
The graphics are less sad in the BRZ and the Subaru's screen is touch-sensitive, which is not the case in the Mazda. In fact, you have to navigate through the numerous menus with the help of a wheel located between the passengers. Even worse, it often happens that during the ride, the driver's forearm touches this wheel, which often changes the radio station or the song. The knob is very easy to use, but its location is a problem... in some situations at least!
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The verdict
If you're looking for a sports car that can survive a day on a closed circuit, the BRZ - or Toyota's GR 86, because the same - is the best sports car here. In fact, the BRZ is, give or take a few details, the best car period. That’s a statement that should please the engineers assigned to this second-generation coupe, because the Mazda MX-5 is certainly no slouch and has been a deliverer of driving joy like few others since its arrival in 1990.
There's one more not-insignificant detail to consider: pricing. The BRZ coupe in Sport-tech version costs $32,495 before preparation fees and taxes, while the MX-5 RF, in GT format, costs $43,400 before fees and taxes. That’s quite a gap, and ten grand is a lot of money for folks buying a non-luxury model; there are those who should consider the savings, which they can simply pocket or spend on performance parts.
But, in the end, the most important thing is to have fun behind the wheel of one of these sports cars, both of which, as you might have guessed, consume a lot less fuel than big cars.
The competition
Chevrolet Camaro
Dodge Challenger
Ford Mustang
Nissan Z
Specifications sheet of 2022 Subaru BRZ Manual
Specifications sheet of 2022 Subaru BRZ Sport-tech Auto
Specifications sheet of 2022 Subaru BRZ Auto
Specifications sheet of 2022 Subaru BRZ Sport-tech Manual
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