Opinion: the Toyota MR2 is better than the Mazda MX-5 – except for one thing

Every year when spring rolls around, many people across the UK go out and buy a convertible sports car for the summer. There are few things better on the road than sunshine and the wind on your hair, and for decades the Mazda MX-5 has been the go-to choice.

It was for me anyway. When I bought mine back in April 2024 I was curious to see if it lived up to the hype, and one year later I can confirm that I adore this little two-seater.

However, there’s always been this little nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I’ve overlooked one car in particular: the Toyota MR2 Spider. It never really got the same love that the MX-5 did during its six-year lifespan, but every time I see one out on the road I can’t help but wonder if I made the wrong decision.

So to put my mind at rest, I headed down to Toyota’s headquarters to borrow their lovely 2006 MR2 Spider for a day to see if it can hold a candle to my beloved MX-5. Could it be love at first drive? Let’s find out.

Mazda MX-5 vs Toyota MR2: the stats

Let’s start by talking numbers, starting with my MX-5. It’s a 2010 2.0-litre Sport model, meaning it has 160hp and 188Nm of torque. You could also get a 1.8-litre version with 126hp, but that one was a bit too weedy and it didn’t get the limited-slip differential that my car has. It weighs in at just 1,100kg, which actually makes it the heaviest MX-5 ever made.

The MR2 on the other hand has a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with 138hp and 170Nm of torque. The biggest change compared to the MX-5 though is that this engine is mid-mounted – which surely makes this a mini Ferrari, right? It’s down on power compared to the 2.0-litre Mazda, but it’s also around 70kg lighter.

As for prices, I paid £6,500 for this car last year with around 50,000 miles on the clock. It’s also been meticulously maintained and garage-kept for most of its life. These days you can find similar cars to mine for around £6,000.

Despite the MR2 going out of production in 2006, meaning any one you find will be at least four years older than my car, their rarity and increasing popularity amongst enthusiasts has started to push prices up. Ropey early examples start from around £3,000, rising to around £10,000 for immaculate cars with minimal miles. You can aim to pay between £5,000 and £6,000 for a clean car with good service history.

Mazda MX-5 vs Toyota MR2: design and interior

It’s safe to say that I didn’t buy a third-generation Mazda MX-5 for the way it looks. It has grown on me in the past year, especially since I had the wheels powder coated in this dark grey, but it’s not as pretty as the Mk1, nor is it as aggressive-looking as the latest car. It still has that MX-5 smiling face though – it’s a happy-looking little car.

By contrast, the MR2 looks a bit more serious and sporty. This is thanks in part to the mid-engined layout, which allows the nose of the car to be much lower. The massive side air intakes also add to that baby supercar vibe, and the big twin tailpipes on this car trounce the little pea-shooters fitted to my MX-5. It’s worth noting though that this is not the MR2’s standard exhaust system.

Moving inside, the MR2 has one major flaw – for me at least. I don’t actually fit in this car properly. Headroom is fine, but at 6’3” my legs were pushed up against the steering wheel. It’s not a hugely comfortable way of travelling.

The Toyota’s interior in general also looks much more old-school than the Mazda’s, which is understandable because the design dates back to the year 2000. I was particularly amused by the electric retractable aerial which whirs into life when you turn on the radio.

You won’t be surprised to hear that I do actually fit in the MX-5 – it would be mad to own one for a year if I didn’t. It’s a snug cabin, but I’ve done multiple trips from Surrey to Cornwall and it’s been pretty comfortable. The interior also looks more modern than the Toyota’s, although both cars are full of hard, brittle plastics.

Mazda MX-5 vs Toyota MR2: driving and performance

The Mazda MX-5 has been my daily car for a year now, and I’m still not bored of driving it. Around town the dinky dimensions and light controls make it easy to thread through traffic, especially with the roof down, and it’s not too bad on the motorway either. It’s pretty noisy, but the folding metal hard top does a decent job of keeping things at least slightly refined.

However, this car was designed for carving up country roads – and it does this brilliantly. The 2.0-litre engine is quick to rev up and responsive – you do have to thrash it to get the most out of it though. It even makes a decent noise as you approach the red line.

The steering is excellent as well. It’s direct and really-well-weighted, and you get a great sense of what’s going on beneath you through the wheel. It does feel a bit on the soft side if you really lean into a bend, with a bit more body roll than you may expect, but this also means it soaks up the bumps on British B-roads with relative ease.

You can’t talk about the MX-5 without mentioning the gear shift either. I won’t use any motoring journalist cliches about rifle bolts, I’ll just say that it’s lovely and precise.

Just 100 yards in the MR2 and you’ll notice that it’s quite a bit more firm over bumps, but this translates into flatter cornering when you chuck it down a country road. It just feels a bit more focussed than the Mazda, and it puts a slightly bigger smile on my face.

This was helped in part by that brilliant engine. The power deficit is noticeable compared to the MX-5, but it makes an even better noise and having it mounted in the middle just makes the MR2 feel that little bit more special.

However, things aren’t quite as good when you settle down for a standard commute. It’s noticeably louder in the cabin at speed, and it’s not quite as comfortable to drive as the Mazda.

If all you want is a weekend toy for country road blasts, I’d say the MR2 is more fun. However if, like me, you need to use this as your everyday car then the MX-5 offers a better blend of fun and day-to-day usability.

Mazda MX-5 vs Toyota MR2: practicality

It’s the same story when you look at storage in these cars. Obviously they’re both two-seaters, so neither are any good for ferrying people around, but the Toyota MR2 has another major handicap.

Because the engine is at the back, there’s no space for a boot. Instead you just get a tiny 90-litre compartment under the bonnet, most of which is taken up by the spare tyre, as well as a bit of storage space behind the rear seats. A weekend away for two will be very tricky in this car.

The Mazda on the other hand has a reasonably-sized boot at the rear. Alright, at just 150 litres it’s still a whole 100 litres down on a Hyundai i10, but I’ve managed to fit a fortnight’s worth of luggage back there with no issues.

Mazda MX-5 vs Toyota MR2 final verdict: time to sell my car?

No, I won’t be selling my car for the simple reason that I use it every day and the MX-5 is a better all-rounder. It has a usable boot, it’s comfortable enough for daily driving and it still puts a huge smile on my face when the road gets twisty.

However, if you’re looking for a weekend toy then the MR2 is even more fun, and it just feels that bit more special behind the wheel thanks to the mid-engined layout. It really is a fantastic sports car, just make sure you fit in one before taking the plunge.

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