Mazda MX-5 vs Toyota GR Yaris
Verdict
At RM294,154, the Mazda MX-5 is the cheaper, smaller and simpler sports car here: two seats, rear-wheel drive, a manual gearbox and a convertible body. The RM315,600 Toyota GR Yaris is the harder-hitting machine, with 296 hp and 400 Nm against the Mazda’s 181 hp and 205 Nm, plus all-wheel drive and a 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time. It also has four seats, a bigger 174-litre boot and cheaper RM207 road tax, which matters if this has to do more than weekend duty.
Pick the Mazda MX-5 if you want a manual, rear-wheel-drive convertible and can live with two seats and a 130-litre boot.
Pick the Toyota GR Yaris if you want the quicker, more practical manual car, with all-wheel drive, four seats and 296 hp.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda MX-5 RM294,154; Toyota GR Yaris RM315,600
- Power and torque: Mazda MX-5 181 hp/205 Nm; Toyota GR Yaris 296 hp/400 Nm
- Driven wheels: Mazda MX-5 rear-wheel drive; Toyota GR Yaris all-wheel drive
- Seats and boot: Mazda MX-5 2 seats/130 litres; Toyota GR Yaris 4 seats/174 litres
- Size: Mazda MX-5 3,915 mm long/1,735 mm wide; Toyota GR Yaris 3,995 mm long/1,805 mm wide
- Road tax: Mazda MX-5 RM379 a year; Toyota GR Yaris RM207 a year
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 294,154✓ | RM 315,600 |
| Body type | Convertible | Hatchback |
| Segment | Sports Car | B-Segment |
| Seats | 2 | 4 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,998 cc | 1,618 cc |
| Power | 181 hp | 296 hp✓ |
| Torque | 205 Nm | 400 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Manual | Manual |
| Driven wheels | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | — | 5.2 s |
| Top speed | 220 km/h | 230 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,915 mm | 3,995 mm |
| Width | 1,735 mm | 1,805 mm |
| Height | 1,235 mm | 1,455 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,310 mm | 2,560 mm |
| Boot space | 130 L | 174 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 45 L | 50 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 4 | 6✓ |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 5 | 5 |
| Road tax / year | RM 379 | RM 207✓ |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
MX-5
- Manual rear-wheel-drive layout
- Convertible body
- RM21,446 cheaper to buy
- Only two seats
- Smaller 130-litre boot
- Much less power and torque
GR Yaris
- 296 hp and 400 Nm
- All-wheel drive with manual gearbox
- Four seats and 174-litre boot
- Costs RM21,446 more
- Taller and wider body
- Hatchback, not a convertible
MX-5 vs GR Yaris FAQ
Is the Mazda MX-5 or Toyota GR Yaris better?
The Toyota GR Yaris is better if you want speed and usability: 296 hp, 400 Nm, all-wheel drive, four seats and a 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time. The Mazda MX-5 is better if you want a cheaper manual convertible with rear-wheel drive.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota GR Yaris costs RM21,446 more than the Mazda MX-5. The Mazda is RM294,154, while the Toyota is RM315,600.
Which one is more practical?
The Toyota GR Yaris is more practical. It has four seats versus two in the Mazda MX-5, a 174-litre boot versus 130 litres, and a 50-litre fuel tank versus 45 litres.