Head-to-Head: Mazda MX-5 vs Fiat 124 Spider

How do the two sporty convertibles match up on the track?

Sports cars and race tracks can go together really well. But how will it be here? After all, the Mazda MX-5 is revered by many precisely because it’s not the sort of sports car that can unleash hell coming out of every corner. It can unleash a devilishly fun experience but for the full Hades experience you’d need to look elsewhere.

So you know before we start that this isn’t a test showing how the car behaves getting the power down in 140mph sweepers. Which is fine. We love the MX-5 and getting a chance to play on a racetrack is just the epitome of fun.

But this is not the only manifestation of fun. Mazda worked with Fiat and the Italian company has produced its own version of the open-top two-seater. The 124 Spider certainly looks a bit different, and also goes differently thanks to a Fiat take on suspension and handling.

Here we have the 140bhp version up against the 160bhp MX-5 in Sport Recaro guise. The Mazda gets the nice seats and more power, but to get the power of the Fiat up you’d need the Abarth version, which would give 170bhp. However, that also costs another £5000 or more, so we’re sticking with one of the main attractions of this package – affordable fun.

Both cars should show how an attractive package majoring on low weight, approachable power without any turbocharging and of course the wind in your hair, can lead to a big grin on your face. But which driver will wear the bigger grin?

Watch the video to find out.

Graham Scott is a writer for PistonHeads.