Compare the2023 Audi TTVS 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
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Audi TT has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help 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 TT has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The TT has 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 TT 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, blind spot warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Audi TT weighs 701 to 1054 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 TT comes with a full 4-year/50,000-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 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The TT’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the MX-5 Miata’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The Audi TT’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the MX-5 Miata’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The MX-5 Miata’s redline is at 7500 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The TT has a 6300 to 6500 RPM redline.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the TT has a standard 140-amp alternator. The MX-5 Miata’s 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the TT is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the TT’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 TT 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (228 vs. 181) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 151) than the MX-5 Miata’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The TTS’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 107 more horsepower (288 vs. 181) and 129 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 151) than the MX-5 Miata’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the TT (except RS)’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 TT has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the MX-5 Miata (14.5 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The TT has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission and Drivetrain

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

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Audi TT, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the MX-5 Miata.

The TT offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer an SMG.

All wheel drive, available in the TT, 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 TT RS’ 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 TT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the MX-5 Miata:

	TT 45 TSFI	TTS Coupe	MX-5 Miata
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	13.3 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	12.2 inches	11 inches

The TTS Coupe’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 TT RS offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The TT stops much shorter than the MX-5 Miata:

	TT	MX-5 Miata
70 to 0 MPH	151 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	103 feet	116 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	122 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the TT has larger standard tires than the MX-5 Miata (245/40R18 vs. 195/50R16). The TT’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the MX-5 Miata (255/30R20 vs. 205/45R17).

The TT 45 TSFI’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the MX-5 Miata Sport’s standard 50 series tires. The TT’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the MX-5 Miata Club/Grand Touring’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TT 45 TSFI has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the MX-5 Miata Sport. The TT’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the MX-5 Miata Club/Grand Touring.

The Audi TT’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.

The TT has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the MX-5 Miata; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The TT offers an available 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 TT 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the TT’s wheelbase is 7.7 inches longer than on the MX-5 Miata (98.6 inches vs. 90.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the TT is 3 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the MX-5 Miata.

The TT 45 TSFI Roadster handles at .99 G’s, while the MX-5 Miata Grand Touring pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The TT 45 TSFI Roadster executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the MX-5 Miata Grand Touring (24.7 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.4 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

The TT Roadster has a much larger trunk with its top down than the MX-5 Miata (7.5 vs. 4.6 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

The TT 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.

The TT has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 9% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 11th.

Ergonomics

The TT’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 TT’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.

If the windows are left open on the TT the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower 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 TT’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The MX-5 Miata’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The TT’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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the TT to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The TT has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The MX-5 Miata has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Grand Touring.

The TT’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 TT’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 TT 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.

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the TT’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 quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi TT has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The MX-5 Miata doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

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

Recommendations

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

Consumer Reports performed a comparison test in its March 2016 issue and the Audi TT 45 TSFI Coupe won out over the Mazda MX-5 Miata Club.