Compare the2023 Jaguar F-TypeVS 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The F-Type offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the F-Type and MX-5 Miata offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the F-Type has Rear Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The MX-5 Miata’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The F-Type’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the F-Type and the MX-5 Miata have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

The Jaguar F-Type weighs 1188 to 1579 pounds more than the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

Warranty

The F-Type comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The MX-5 Miata’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

The F-Type’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the MX-5 Miata’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Jaguar pays for scheduled maintenance on the F-Type for 5 years and 60,000 miles. Jaguar will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the MX-5 Miata.

Reliability

The battery on the F-Type is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the F-Type’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The MX-5 Miata’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The F-Type P450’s standard 5.0 supercharged V8 produces 263 more horsepower (444 vs. 181) and 277 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 151) than the MX-5 Miata’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The F-Type R’s standard 5.0 supercharged V8 produces 394 more horsepower (575 vs. 181) and 365 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 151) than the MX-5 Miata’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the F-Type’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The F-Type has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the MX-5 Miata (18.5 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The Jaguar F-Type comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the MX-5 Miata.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Jaguar F-Type, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the MX-5 Miata.

All wheel drive, available in the F-Type, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is not available with all wheel drive.

The F-Type’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the F-Type’s brake rotors are larger than those on the MX-5 Miata:

	F-Type	MX-5 Miata
Front Rotors	15 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	14.8 inches	11 inches

The F-Type’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MX-5 Miata are solid, not vented.

The F-Type stops much shorter than the MX-5 Miata:

	F-Type	MX-5 Miata
70 to 0 MPH	137 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	116 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the F-Type has larger standard tires than the MX-5 Miata (F:255/35R20 & R:295/30R20 vs. 195/50R16). The F-Type R’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the MX-5 Miata (F:265/35R20 & R:305/30R20 vs. 205/45R17).

The F-Type’s 255/35R20 front and 295/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the MX-5 Miata Sport’s standard 50 series tires. The F-Type’s tires are lower profile than the MX-5 Miata Club/Grand Touring’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the F-Type has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the MX-5 Miata Sport. The MX-5 Miata’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Jaguar F-Type’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mazda MX-5 Miata only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The F-Type has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The MX-5 Miata’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The F-Type has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The F-Type’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the F-Type’s wheelbase is 12.3 inches longer than on the MX-5 Miata (103.2 inches vs. 90.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the F-Type is 3.5 inches wider in the front and 4.9 inches wider in the rear than on the MX-5 Miata.

The F-Type R Convertible handles at .98 G’s, while the MX-5 Miata Grand Touring pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The F-Type R Convertible executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the MX-5 Miata Grand Touring (24 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 26.4 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

Cargo Capacity

The F-Type Convertible has a much larger trunk with its top down than the MX-5 Miata (7.3 vs. 4.6 cubic feet).

With its convertible body style and remote trunk release lockout, the F-Type offers cargo security. The MX-5 Miata’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the F-Type Coupe offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a power trunk.

Servicing Ease

The F-Type uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The MX-5 Miata uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The F-Type has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When three different drivers share the F-Type, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a memory system.

The F-Type’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The F-Type’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The MX-5 Miata has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The F-Type’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The MX-5 Miata’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

On a hot day the F-Type’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the MX-5 Miata can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The F-Type’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The MX-5 Miata Sport/Club’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The F-Type has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The F-Type has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The MX-5 Miata has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Grand Touring.

The F-Type’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the MX-5 Miata Grand Touring.

When the F-Type is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The MX-5 Miata’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the F-Type keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the F-Type’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The F-Type’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the F-Type’s passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation which can trigger allergies or asthma. The MX-5 Miata’s air conditioner doesn’t offer a filtration system.

The F-Type’s optional Park Assist can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Jaguar F-Type comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Mazda MX-5 Miata isn’t available as a coupe.