Buying the most preferred sports car to suit your requirements is the need of the hour. In an era of functionality and feature, what to consider, and what to ignore is the big question. We bring you today the much-disputed topic of the sibling rivalry between the two sports car competitors of our today's article, i.e. the Mazda MX-5 and Fiat 125 Spider Abarth. Sibling rivalry is the name of the game because they manufacture both these cars in the same plant in the Hiroshima region of Japan. While the Italian roadster shares its platform with the iconic Mazda, they're not a copy-paste version of each other.

Both these brands have a very similar offering, but do you know what differentiates the Mazda MX-5 and the Fiat 124 Abarth? Let's find out which of these is the better sports car for you.

The Platform

Mazda Miata MX 5 ND Platform Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
www.cardinalewaymazdapeoria.com

Both the MX-5 and the 124 share the Mazda ND platform, which is further developed to the ND2 platform in 2019. Now, as both these vehicles share the same platform they are identical in dimensions like ground clearance, rim height, 6-speed transmission, rear-wheel drive, tank capacity of 11.2, etc. When we compare the essential elements, they turn out to be similar, i.e. in the front, they both have control arms, coil springs, and anti-roll bar suspension and in the back, they carry multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar suspensions. The brakes of these equipment sections are an 11.0-inch vented disc in the front and an 11.0-inch disc in the back.

But when we shift focus to the engine bay, the actual distinction occurs.

Related: Awesome Mazda Sports Cars Every Gearhead Should Own

Engine And Transmission

Mazda Mx-5 and Fiat 124 Spider
via: caradvice.com.au

In Fiat Spider 124, the engine provided is the best match, which is a turbocharged engine that fits seamlessly with the purpose of the car. The six-speed automatic transmission is quiet and well actuated. But the manual model is much more favored than the automatic transmission one. The noisy, raspy exhaust can't be ignored that does real justice to this machine.

Now let's consider our Mazda MX-5 which comes with a naturally aspirated engine and its linear power supply. The 2.0-liter engine makes it more revving and playful around the corner of the roads with a pinch of robust power because of its lightweight being around 200 pounds less than the 124. A little extra foot on the gas peddle, and the MX-5 shows its proper colors and sound. Although it's a little less than the Spider for torque, it is not underpowered. The power output differences among the two stem from the slight difference in the engine displacement, the Fiat Spider produces 161 HP of power and 184 lb.-ft. of torque with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Whereas the Mazda MX-5 has a 2.0-liter engine that generates 181 HP and 151 lb.-ft. of torque.

Related: This Is How Much Old Mazda RX-7s Are Worth Today

Which is more comfortable?

Mazda Mx-5 and Fiat 124 Spider
via autotrader.ca

Comfort is the factor that is the most crucial and indispensable feature of a motor ride. Compromising, this leads you to sacrifice everything about your vehicle. In this situation, though, both of our opponents achieved mostly the same outcome. Thanks to them emerging from the same plant in Japan. The only dichotomy is that the inside of the Abarth Fiat 124 has a superior leather-wrapped steering wheel with a thicker rim. It is long, almost an additional half a cubic foot of storage more compared to its competitor Mazda MX-5, making it cargo friendly. Except this everything seems to be a similar kind right from headlight stalks, buttons, and knobs, to the dials for the infotainment and climate controls.

One thing, while it may be beneficial for people contemplating an easy mechanism, is that the Mazda MX-5 has a roof that is much easier to close than the 124’s stubborn top, which does not want to stow easily. In terms of safety, the MX-5 has performed well with a reversing camera, autonomous emergency braking, and traffic sign assistance. The 124 Spider carries only the reversing camera in the starter kit but includes features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and adaptive headlights part of the Visibility pack which might cost a little more. Also, both of our vehicles come with front-impact and side-impact airbags, which makes them a lot safer.

Related: 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Review: A Fine-Tuned Lightweight Sports Car

Price Comparison

Mazda MX 5 Miata and Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
via: dispatchlive.co.za

The price of both the vehicle ranges differs from one model to another. The amount even varies with the feature you want to include in your vehicle. Let’s start with the manual version of the MX-5 Roadster GT, which ranges around $43,320. The less exciting version, i.e. 1.5-liter MX-5 Roadster, costs around $35,390 and the manual version of the MX-5 RF GT costs $47,400. Considering our Fiat 124 Spider, it costs around $41,990. In case you consider buying the model with Visibility Pack and other extras which include the two-tone leather Recaro seats, beefy Monza exhaust, and bespoke wheels would cost you $47,580. Both these vehicles have a similar MSRP in the markets where the Fiat’s slightly underpriced in comparison.

Related: Watch A 2JZ-Swapped Mazda Miata Crack Into The 10s

Who Wins The Battle Of Light-Weight

Mazda MX 5 Miata and Fiat 124 Spider Abarth
via: autotrader.ca

The Mazda MX-5 is the brand's best-selling sports car and has been around for almost 30 years. Even in that period, it's always been one of the finest cars in its class. This is because it has held faithful to its origins, which are central to its brilliance. The steering is precise and well-weighted, the levers and the gear lever are ideally positioned to accommodate up and downshifts, and the frame is a master lesson of driving entertainment. There's a little roll within that suspension at faster corners, even on our Sport Nav+ model with its more massive set-up and Bilstein hydraulic.

The Abarth shares a lot of Mazda's handling experience, but the zingy and exciting engine is absent. While much of its features fit those of our Mazda MX-5, there's a lot to say about its more superficial, more sophisticated dynamics and its wider trunk. But the elegance in the way the Mazda drives, no matter where you are or what you do, even a ride to the shops is fantastic. So you can appreciate a close-to-perfect change of gear, vibrant engine noise, and the wind in your hair while the weather is good. The Fiat is also charming, but the Miata keeps getting the formula right. Overall, you will enjoy a top-notch sports coupe that suits your budget in a far more economical manner, no matter either of which you purchase.

Next: 30 Years Of The Mazda MX-5 Miata In 15 Pictures