There is a lot to be said for a simple, no-nonsense sports car,->ke506 one that offers a pure driving experience and not much else. It's something that Mazda->ke53 has been doing so well with the MX-5/Miata->ke1185 for so long that the car doesn't really have any direct competitors. But the makers of this video->ke278 were determined to pick something to compare it to, and the 2014-2015 Subaru BRZ was the most logical choice. The cars are made with somewhat different philosophies, but pricing is very close, and both are made with an eye to delivering the best driving experience for your money.

The video is sort of two separate reviews, one conducted while driving on the street and one from a professional driver on the track. The fact that they draw different conclusions about the cars is telling, and different people are certainly going to like different things about the two cars. But there are a few important points that aren't at all subjective, the 2016 Mazda MX5 Miata is faster; faster to 60, faster in the quarter mile and faster around the track. The Miata is just better at getting its power to the ground and is lighter to boot.

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For those who don't have the means to own a second car just as a toy, there isn't going to be much to compare here. The BRZ->ke3973 is not the most practical car in the world, but it has back seats and more cargo space than the Miata and is much more likely to be chosen as an only car. That said, it is precisely for this reason that the BRZ is a car made with more compromises than the Miata, and those who have that bit of extra money to buy something just for the pure joy of it will probably be looking first at the Miata. This is the central problem with comparing two cars that aren't built for quite the same purpose, the results are entirely too subjective.

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Read our full review here.

2014-2015 Subaru BRZ

Read our full review here.