Compare the2023 Subaru BRZVS 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Subaru BRZ has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The BRZ has standard Whiplash Protection Seats, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Protection Seats system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The BRZ Auto has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The BRZ Auto’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 BRZ 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the BRZ its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The MX-5 Miata has not been tested, yet.

There are over 16 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the BRZ’s warranty.

The BRZ’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (228 vs. 181) and 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 151) than the MX-5 Miata’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru BRZ is faster than the Mazda MX-5 Miata (manual transmissions tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the BRZ lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

The BRZ has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the MX-5 Miata (13.2 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A standard “hill holder” feature keeps the Subaru BRZ with manual transmission from rolling backwards on a steep slope. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a hill holder feature.

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

The BRZ’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 BRZ stops much shorter than the MX-5 Miata:

For better traction, the BRZ has larger tires than the MX-5 Miata (215/45R17 vs. 195/50R16). The BRZ Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the MX-5 Miata (215/45R17 vs. 205/45R17).

The BRZ Premium’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the MX-5 Miata Sport’s standard 50 series tires. The BRZ Limited’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the MX-5 Miata Club/Grand Touring’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the BRZ Premium has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the MX-5 Miata Sport. The BRZ Limited’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the MX-5 Miata Club/Grand Touring.

The Subaru BRZ’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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the BRZ’s wheelbase is 10.5 inches longer than on the MX-5 Miata (101.4 inches vs. 90.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the BRZ is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than on the MX-5 Miata.

The BRZ Limited handles at .99 G’s, while the MX-5 Miata pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The BRZ has standard seating for 4 passengers; the MX-5 Miata can only carry 2.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the BRZ easier. The BRZ’s trunk lift-over height is 27.1 inches, while the MX-5 Miata’s liftover is 32 inches.

The BRZ Limited Auto 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.

The BRZ’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.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the BRZ’s exterior PIN entry system. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The BRZ’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The MX-5 Miata Sport/Club’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The BRZ 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 BRZ’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The MX-5 Miata’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

The BRZ’s standard 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 BRZ’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.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the BRZ Auto has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru BRZ and the Mazda MX-5 Miata, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BRZ was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023 and 2 more times in the last 11 years. The MX-5 Miata hasn’t been picked since 2019.