Mazda MX-5 vs Fiat 124 Spider: can Fiat out-Mazda the Mazda?

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Mazda MX-5 vs Fiat 124 Spider review
It's not hard to see why the Mazda MX-5 is so well loved - it's small, inexpensive and fantastic fun to drive. However, since the new Fiat 124 Spider uses the same platform, which one is better? Chief reviewer, James Disdale gets sideways in both to find out...
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[@catsspat]

Mazda hasn't had a competition for so long, it made its own!

[@hectorsoy]

You said it haha!! And made in the same factory in Japan!!

[@chris_112]

They profit of ever fiat/abart sale

[@alexsiu1280]

Give itself some challenge

[@pauloapb75]

Love the Fiat 124

[@dennismattson8383]

124 US version, Fully loaded Lusso, Every factory Option, Manual, Meteor Gray/Black... BEST / Funnest car I've ever owned.. EVER!!!... My Mustang GT hasn't even been started in 4 months since I got this car.. It's going on the Auction Block.... NO REGRETS !!!!!

[@YouTubenonesense]

If you just look at the numbers the Fiat is superior all around, interior and mechanics, faster, better torque etc. Some people have a problem with Fiat as a brand and if exactly the same car would carry a German badge they would prey in front of the car. I don't like Fiat as a brand myself but honestly 124 Spider it is a stylish good looking car, probably the only Fiat I would buy.

[@patrickoneill1341]

Fix It Again Tony.

[@hockkstraliandiver4283]

I bought the Abarth 124 spider after testing both. The Abarth has totally different character and styling I prefer....Mazda has the best platform for this market sector...that’s why Fiat choose Mazda for their platform.

[@bh2155]

I go with the Fiat it's a stunning ride.

[@onines1]

The Abarth version of the 124 is a game changer.

[@williamoftexas1489]

nope. same exact engine as the base 124

[@cruzin1987]

@@williamoftexas1489 that's not the point. The Abarth gets the LSD and Bilstein shocks.

[@williamoftexas1489]

@@cruzin1987 Well whoop de freakin doo

[@charleslavers4563]

Is the adding of LSD and Bilstein shocks justify the wide differential in cost difference between one over the other? The American species standard 124 has the same power output over the Abarth, so perhaps this would be the better test between these two, to re focus on the worth of the Abarth I’m driving terms. Just for interest my son has the 124 Lusso and had it retuned to deliver 195 bop with increase in torque. The result was spectacular and only cost him 500 euros in in Spain. It also saw off an Abarth traveling down to Gibraltar this year. It’s possibly a case of having the Abarth with adding the features of the 124 GT , which would make the real difference and the purists choice, and make it ore valuable in years to come.

[@hockkstraliandiver4283]

You are not wrong and the engine maybe the “same” but they do not perform the same. I know I tested all the fiat/ Abarth and MX5 before deciding on the Abarth version,

[@asiastreets4032]

The Fiat looks better

[@hugomendes6361]

Fiat 124 Spider

[@jochem1986]

A sliding MX-5 is about the happiest thing on four wheels!

[@monsterous289]

The body roll at the beginning made me think it was drifting

[@GoCotton]

Most English moment ever @ 7:10 :)

[@HeidiAaron]

oh yes oh oh yes that was quite exciting wasnt it?

[@shroomyesc]

I'd buy the fiat, looks like a car and less like an angry wasp

[@cpodurnell3701]

I think from a own for 25 years and Dad still has it, Fiat all day long. Just has something about it that is more timeless.

[@HunterBidensLaptop69]

Contemplating getting the ND Miata but didn’t know if it was worth it without the LSD. This video just changed my mind. I have to buy one now.

[@clairebannister4749]

In answer to your question - NO. In fact my 1.5 was rolling roaded and found to be putting out 143bhp from factory - now remapped to 158 thanks to BBR in Brackley. - perfect.

[@WhenTheUhh]

Why not the 2.0 MX5 then? More torque (and without the lag), firmer suspension, LSD, Recaro Alcantara seats (more upmarket) and so on... Seems like a better choice than the Fiat.

[@BioMoneculaR]

Krutón why not the Abarth 124 then? more torque, firmer suspension, yada yada yada....

[@AleksiJoensuu]

Price goes up though...

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

Looking at a launch Edition 2.0 Mx-5 with retracting fastback (RF) £20,000 Has all the kit on it. I love the Fiat Abarth too and would have both If I could.

[@lucianolucidi8624]

I agree. And the 184hp in red...

[@paulnichols2710]

Whilst the Fiat may not be overly pretty, I would take it over the Mazda. Over the years, the Mazda has become too common and is now rather dull to look at. And to hear a road tester say a Fiat is better built than a Mazda! Well, that is a turn up for the books! Plus more power for my money. It is a no-brainer.

[@dougiequick1]

How long did "more power" last? Till 2019 ND2 iteration extracting 181 hp with minor tweaks involving nothing more than pistons/rods and head work that should have been done originally to the borrowed economy car motor sealing the 124's fate as the slow version...Fiat SHOULD have double downed and gone with a 2.0 Turbo along with better suspension and brakes than ND2...THAT would have been something! Its like Fiat did as little as possible to get the tiny 1.4 to exceed mx5 power...Seriously? That was a short sighted rather lame choice if you ask me

[@clairebannister4749]

my 1.5 turned out to be putting out 143bhp from factory - now 158 thanks to BBR.

[@tigerarmyrule]

Let's face it if you are in the market for a roadster and can go the price for a Porsche or similar then you do but the Spider of MX-5 are great looking fantastic value cheaper options.

[@ProfessorPesca]

Do people actually try and ‘get the car sideways’ on public roads? It seems extraordinarily irresponsible.

[@jadaniil]

If you really can drive well it wouldn't bee any problem for you....

[@ProfessorPesca]

jadaniil You’re right, I’m a terrible driver and if I was cool I would be driving everywhere with the back end hanging out off the side of the road and racing people from the lights like what they do in films.

[@MrTapk]

I do it often but only with space and almost no traffic.

[@JahoSelamaj]

I myself prefer the miata mainly cause of the fiat reliability issues but also the ND a really sleek design, but both are gorgeous in the end

[@reirescu]

if you want a sporty feel then check the abarth 124 spider :D

[@sequoiatree555]

an Alfa Romeo version of these cars...

[@after_midnight9592]

4C spider. Sex on wheels

[@Basics_of_Gameology]

@@after_midnight9592 Way more expensive

[@LifeInElSalvador]

I vote Fiat !

[@adamnorgel7302]

ugly

[@Driftuner]

the gearbox on the 124 is the one from the NC mx5....and i prefer high reving screaming naturaly aspirated engines...so its mazda for me! good to have both though..

[@Tamarocker88]

The housing for the 124 gearbox is from the NC mx5, but the internals are a different build and ratio. It's not the exact same.

[@04poppop]

I don't like Fiat from principal but I can imagine owning this one. Question is how long will last easy days? If car works as it should just keeping service intervals, well I am willing to forget its Fiat badge, because visually this car is move in the time!

[@grimsville2501]

I like the look of the 124 more

[@HRINACAR]

YOU did NOT just drift the 1.1 Fiat - THATS Brilliant :) xp added

[@Rottensteam]

HR in a Car 1.4 liter.

[@HRINACAR]

God, I know that. :)

[@m.goodpickle9609]

Very easy to do on a wet road!

[@Maurice_Moss]

I'd have the 2.0 mx5. I prefer the looks tbh.

[@BennnWJK]

So much body roll on that mazda

[@maximusminimus1346]

the fiats front double grill is hideous. the new mx-5 a tad stubby since its shorter.. but I own a 2006 miata and it has been flawless .... when push comes to shove id take the new mx-5 RF model over both of these cars

[@freezor80]

1.4lt might be easier everyday but if you drove the Mazda Miata MX-5 Club with the 2.0lt, would the Fiat still be your choice?

[@Mitrofansky05]

Yeap, it will be the Abath. ;)

[@GraveUypo]

eh. NA beats turbo anyday. the more experience i get with turbo cars, the less i like them. and the bigger the boost, the worse it is, so this stand to reason i don't REALLLLY mind small turbos, but still i'd rather have the 7500 rpm redline and the instant, predictable and linear throttle response of a naturally aspirated engine. that said a ton for a 120hp car is pretty shit (i should have written that the other way around but oh well) considering the price and what type of car it's supposed to be. i'd take whatever more power i could get with the 2.0 instead. i have a 450kg car that has 99hp and THAT's a better power to weight ratio for the fun stuff. if the mazda had that same ratio it'd be great. i think the 2.0 might be pretty close to that, isn't it?

[@cw3339]

I stick with my 67 124 spider. on the 4 engine.

[@iantownsend5480]

Still can't make my mind up which one I want more the 1.5 or 2.0 mx5

[@kurtrusellpatrickswayze]

The 2.0, totally

[@gamma_dablam]

Ｎｉｃｈ Ｒｉｇｇａ 1.5 sounds better.

[@dorsetdumpling5387]

2.0 for real word driving, more flexible engine

[@lucianolucidi8624]

@@gamma_dablam you better get the 2.0 rf with 184 hp and then change the exhaust

[@zzracer]

F124 spider = mazda's handling + cheap tunable multi air + better than mx5 look;

[@Kett_22]

how can someone say that the 124 spyer is good looking xD

[@zzracer]

where i said that spyder is good looking? i'd say that rf mx5 looks like a crap jaguar rear with aygo front.. I would like previous models which was much more pretty. in this confrontation i would choose spyder looks better for me ;)

[@Kett_22]

zzracer if you like a Car that Looks like 5 different Designers creat the car and then they just mixed it together then go on, have fun with it ^^

[@zzracer]

both looks ugly cheers

[@andyminner8379]

I like the mazda mx 5 it is an icon, i prefer the 2.0 with 184hp👍

[@INUMIMI28]

Many says Fiat is the manly option but to me, standard 124 is more feminine than MX-5

[@AesthMed]

The Abarth looks much more vicious and masculine in my opinion.

[@Danne6und8zig]

Fiat 124 for my taste

[@1SaG]

Tough call... do I want the car that has Japanese reliability all around or the one that has Japanese reliability except under the hood where it has a *cough* Fiat *cough* engine... ? Also the 124's prices are a bit loony when compared to the MX-5. Spec-ed up, it's quite a bit more expensive and some extras aren't even available unless you go for the insanely expensive Abarth. Plus the 124's turbo is pretty old school and has noticeable lag down low. The 2.0 in the MX-5 is a pretty sweet engine with very linear power-delivery and frugal drinking habits. I'm running my ND 2.0 between 6.5 and 8 l/100km (36/29 mpg), depending on my mood/driving style. Even when I gun it on the Autobahn, fuel consumption is still very decent. It's damn near impossible to push this engine to double digit l/100km average consumption.

[@genericasian]

But now we have the RF...

[@lucianolucidi8624]

That's the best for me

[@ryanthorpe9747]

second the best!

[@mfmf100]

I think the 124 shifter is from the previous 3rd gen max-5.

[@andrewstevenson6540]

I love my 1.5 nd. However it'd be great to see Ferrari and Porsche designing their own 1000 kilo roadsters with high revving naturally aspirated engines. 1800 V6 Ferrari with 250ish PS. Obviously the Boxster exists but it's too fat and expensive now.

[@ScottPC]

Abarth 124 vs Fiat 124 next time?

[@imranpatel4612]

MX5 for me

[@dougiequick1]

Ever notice if you complain about Miata or Fiat 124 lacking power that the self appointed experts immediately claim it would be foolish and wrong cause they are perfect as is and more power will only ruin the qualities so carefully engineered in to begin with?.....But then you read reviews where an MX5 has been properly upgraded like with a BBS Turbo and it is just totally wonderful with only some suspension and braking upgrades ...heck even a properly done but still ridiculous V8 conversion is raved about as being an absolute joy to drive even on the track! I personally think it is total BS that the ND does not fully deserve to have a 250hp version available right off the showroom floor! Either a Turbo or just a bigger na motor like a V6...They could up the price another $10k easily and the real fans would line up to place deposits...I sure would! Yes not for everyone and a lot of folks over the pond are no doubt perfectly happy with the 1.5L version....I have a blast in my '18 ND1 but I would trade it in a heartbeat for an ND3 with somewhere in the 250ish..or even 220ish hp vicentity so long as the weight penalty was not more than 10%. What is missing on the current ND is PASSING power! Which people dont even understand unless they are blessed with mountain roads to play on... I also ride a sport touring motorcycle that does have buckets of power and it is a sheer joy to ride without ever being held up much at all by slow traffic....it just easily and safely squirts right by with plenty of margin ....the MX5? I have to wait forever to find just the right time to go...I dont take chances these days So I have spent plenty of time in frustration simply stuck wishing I actually had some reserve power on tap

[@dexgeta.9940]

The Abarth tjet

[@lorenzopollocaffe6277]

i'd take the fiat, if only they still produced it here in Italy

[@ilpatongi]

Non l'hanno mai prodotta in italia, sempre in giappone

[@tan9640]

The Fiat is the Mazda in Italian clothes

[@rongdenvnn]

2 is the same car that

[@mastermaltese8731]

If mazda never had a rival why did they give fiat EVERYTHING except the engine and bodywork? It is like they want a car from another company to be better than their mx-5 so its sells less!

[@hippobonzo]

mx5>124

[@Supcharged]

no

[@Stolas9]

Yes-yes!

[@MeltedSphere]

If your looking at the used market *at least where I live* the Fiats tend to cost more then the miatas.

[@swanblake]

why not compare the 2 liter miata to the 124?

[@alfisti93]

Fiat 124 Spider Mazda MX-5 1.5 Abarth 124 Spider Mazda MX-5 2.0 (at least according to power levels and stuff...)

[@KriegerDelfin24]

The Abarth has the better Motor

[@swanblake]

The Miata will work the next day so...

[@alfisti93]

Blake Swan So does the 124 spider... Your point again?

[@ioandragulescu6063]

how about according to price ....

[@JPTHRICE]

NA is the best yet for 2 simple reasons - up- down

[@amitprulovify]

whats the point there is a 2.0 liter version of the mx5........ should compere this to the fiat....

[@alfisti93]

And there is an Abarth 124 version above the standard Fiat 124... Fiat 124 Spider Mazda MX-5 1.5 Abarth 124 Spider Mazda MX-5 2.0

[@pereldh5741]

Speak for yourself James, I would never spend any money on a car as ugly as the new Miata

[@christosswc]

Neither would I, it's ugly as fuck and it's a shame because in this sort of car you want a NA engine, not a turbo. Turbos are for ultimate performance on high power cars and for adding performance to heavy cars, they are not for enjoying the thrills of driving on a public road. You want ultimate throttle response for something like that.

[@OscarLeeMX]

The Fiat looks way better than the Mazda.

[@handre8969]

so true especially in red

[@Stolas9]

For me dont.

[@316328597]

you blind

[@hasanal-habbobi4018]

for the simple fact that it comes as a hard top I would take the Mazda over the fiat!

[@pbfloyd13]

it does...

[@hasanal-habbobi4018]

pbfloyd13​ fiat has a hard top? Show me a link

[@wanganarmy]

insidemazda.mazdausa.com/mazda-news/2017-mx-5-rf/

[@hasanal-habbobi4018]

Afiq Hssn​ no I know Mazda has a hard top.... I'm saying fiat doesn't have one! :)

[@pbfloyd13]

Hasan Al-habbobi Well the way its phrased makes it seem like the mx5 is the one you want with a hard top.

[@michaelmcdonald9847]

The MX-5 is a car so comically shitty that it's enjoyable.

[@Buzz65]

Mazder?

[@Tony-hx2fj]

Fiats a nicer car, but Mazda has the dealerships. Thats what the problem was in the 70s with Fiat, the local yokel at the Pontiac garage where they were sold didn't have a clue how to work on the far more advanced braking systems, overhead cam aluminum engines, 5 speed transmissions etc. and wrenched down on them without a care.

[@Madafaka21k]

Love Mazda

[@dougiequick1]

So sorry little Fiata....RIP you just could not hold on to it...was such a great effort though! How they might have totally killed it slam dunk! Turbo'd 225hp version with premium suspension and brakes at a $10k premium over Miatas ...If nailed right I would have been lined up for that one!! Maybe Mazda would have nixed being the lesser or the two...as it stood the 124 was only different but certainly not better

[@djb4069]

I've just bought a Fiat 124 you haven't got a clue mate they are like chalk and cheese the fiat is far better!!!!!!

[@spacemanspiff9773]

I chose the Mazda for its naturally aspirated engine.

[@AliKazi]

I prefer the 2.0L MX 5

[@pitaracer]

For 40k you could buy a new Nissan 370Z or used BMW M3, Porsche cayman/boxter S, Honda s2000.

[@davetravels9273]

??? these cars are under 30k new and have Mazda reliability... Or where are you that they are 40k?

[@shroomyesc]

>used m3 I don't think that's a very good idea

[@sparkymike83]

370Z?? lol where did that come from?

[@pitaracer]

ShroomWalrus lol true, it's an option for some people I guess

[@pitaracer]

Dontcallmeshirley The Nissan can be purchased new for approximately the same as a miata. As well as many good/reliable used car options you could purchase instead. Without getting hit by depreciation and still get manufacture warranty. The Miata is a great little car but I'm afraid it is too pricey for what you get.

[@KevBoy3D]

The fiat looks even uglier than me

[@Supcharged]

that isn't really possible

[@overmarsdaria3222]

Kevin De Smet I think you might be slightly better looking of the Aurora concept car of the 50s, but definitely not of the Fiat.

[@KevBoy3D]

OvermarsDaria After seeing the Fiat in real life, I admit it looks better than on video. It has a fairly long bonnet for such a small car which is appealing. Still, I wouldn't wanna own one

[@lucast9806]

never say better¡¡ is a ugly car

[@lastminute1970]

Forza Fiat

[@dallasstang2818]

Was gonna get the MX-5 and slap on a supercharger but I’ll probably end up with the Abarth and tune it to 200-220whp

[@fuak6976]

Have you ever heard about Abarth 124 Spider? Bye bye Mazda 2.0

[@Kett_22]

and if a fd mazdaspeed come out all fiats start to cry....

[@heikopanzlaff3789]

Yes, I heared about it but I never see one here in germany . Seems not selling so well...

[@Kett_22]

no it is because it is rare because if there are to much it isnt special anymore ;) mazda i crazy doing special edition cars, just like the na and nb ^^

[@nickfarrow4788]

Ahahahahah è andata proprio così infatti, compresi i prezzi dell'usato.

[@simoncox9689]

124 Abarth is much better then the mx5 IMO ..but better off with the mx 5 if u dont get the Abarth also the Abarth is much faster better build not to mention a limited slip differential

[@Synth2000]

Can Fiat out-Miata the Miata

[@harold-sweat-head8111]

I wouldn't touch the Fiat with a bargepole.

[@josephjewellers]

Mazda looks much better but Fiat has better engine......

[@charmeursanful]

fiat win :)

[@petersothern4693]

the mazda will have great reliability. the Fiat will fall to bits 😃

[@Young0maker]

They are based on the exact same platform. Even made in the same factory.

[@petersothern4693]

Young0maker still wudnt buy any fiat

[@Supcharged]

well you're just a hater who can't use the reliability excuse anymore

[@christodang]

Peter Sothern in all but engine it's a Mazda. Every other part is Mazda made. the main difference between both cars is the Fiat uses the transmission from the last gen MX-5

[@bastrix69]

Remember fiat has a fiat engine...

[@stevemiller7433]

A while back I had a FIAT X-19 ... FIAT= Fix It Again, Tony.

[@muzithandonxumalo9790]

0-100 in 8 secs ? My Polo does that in 6.6

[@Supcharged]

polo gti?

[@gamma_dablam]

Supcharged definitely.

[@muzithandonxumalo9790]

2016 Polo GTi.... . The MX-5 is too slow

[@gisall8205]

I had a 2001 Mazda for 7 years and my wife has the 2015 Miata Club. Both great great cars. Both great looking cars also. You have to like the looks of what you drive. I hate to say it, but the 4th generation Mazda is really an ugly looking car. The more I look at it the more I dislike the design. Yea, it's probably a great machine. But it's ugly. The Fiat on the other hand is a much better design. I would be willing to jump ship and go with the Fiat. They look much better in real life. This video really doesn't show the real personality.

[@PhilbyFavourites]

G ISALL: it's the same car.... Badge engineering they used to call it. The intrigue would be competing the resale value of the pair after 2 years!

[@ILIJA26101993]

But everybody know that a Fiat will spend much more time at the mechanics than a Mazda.

[@shroomyesc]

...really? did you even watch the video? The cars are literally the same besides a couple tweaks to the driver setup and exterior and the fiat will somehow spend more time at the mechanics?

[@davetravels9273]

Except everything is from Mazda including the transmission, the Fiat is even assembled next to the Mazda. The only exception is the 1.4t, but it is a pretty common motor and I haven't heard of any reliability issues with it. I would choose the Fiat version, I like the torque and style better.

[@ILIJA26101993]

ShroomWalrus Because of famously "reliable" Fiat engine...

[@alfisti93]

ILIJA1993 Still far more reliable than any overrated vw (1.4) tsi engine... The 1.4 Multijet from Fiat is pretty much bulletproof.

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

@@ILIJA26101993 Fiat designed the 124 Twin Cam which Abarth famously modified for rallying you giant LEMON!! XD They (can) make the best engines in the world

[@barozanul2]

first?

[@gamma_dablam]

barozanul2 the good

[@williamoftexas1489]

I'll take a BMW Z3 M roadster over them any day

[@BillGatesisapedo]

Fee it! Hahahaha

[@wolfxinstein]

Fiat is ugly. I prefer the look of the MX5

[@Schlipperschlopper]

made from 87% chinese parts, disposal junk with the lifespan of an inkjet printer

[@MegaGecas]

it's easy this time. Fiat is gay favourite, so Mazda is best.

[@user-uq7lk1xr7u]

Pointless video basically the same car. If Fiat made their own roadster and not copied mazda's then fair enough...

[@juandef4115]

Ugly cars. The Abart 124 Spider at least sounds exciting

[@e7234]

when a girl asks you what do you drive? you can say either a miata in which case she would think you are gay or a fiat 124 spyder (she will be yours)

[@RustyHeartsTOV]

Gay here and I have a 124 spyder. What now?

[@e7234]

RustyHeartsTOV you should really watch jason camisa on the fiat 124 syper review to understand my quote

[@seymorebutts2478]

I've Always hated the Mazda Mx-5 Hairdresser Edition. That fiat also looks like it belongs to a beautician. If your a male and you buy this fuck you and evaluate your current life choices. For the same money you could get a Nissan 370Z, with a 3.7 Ltr engine and 344bhp. Sounds great, looks manly and you still have a 2 seater coupe. Hurry up and make a new RX-7 & 8 Mazda.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

made from 87% chinese parts, disposal junk with the lifespan of an inkjet printer