Monday 15th August 2016

Fiat 124 Spider vs Mazda MX-5

Who makes the better MX-5 - Mazda or Fiat?

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MX-5 comparisons were inevitable in our Italian first drive of the Fiat 124 Spider and, indeed, formed the core narrative in our video roadtest it inspired. In a way you've got to feel sorry for Fiat, given platform sharing is nothing new in the business and first impressions would indicate it's done a good job of NOT making the 124 into an MX-5 wearing an Italian suit. Indeed, it's put a very different twist on the same basic ingredients, the resulting car an honest reboot of the original 124 Spider's ethos.

An old badge brought bang up-to-date

The reality is that even if Fiat had developed its own platform for its new roadster and the cars didn't share a single thing, we'd still be slavishly comparing Spider with MX-5; they're two very similar cars at the same price point.

In all honesty we hadn't expected an opportunity to put the two cars head to head directly so soon. But with a little help from our colleagues on Autocar, and the arrival of a 124 Spider to a track battles video shoot at Blyton Park (more on this to follow), we had ourselves a showdown. The Fiat, as you'll see, is a left-hand drive, Italian spec car brought over from the launch event. Roughly speaking these equate to the range-topping Lusso Plus cars that will sell here for £23,295. The equivalent MX-5 in the range would be the 2.0 Sport Nav at £23,695, our particular test car in this instance the more expensive Sport Recaro Edition at £24,995. It's basically the Sport Nav with fancy seats and an aero kit, so for comparison purposes delete as appropriate.

So they're bang on in price, the Fiat's turbo 1.4 having less power but more torque while the Mazda reverses the situation and features Bilstein dampers and a limited-slip diff. Let battle commence!

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Fiat 124
Before taking to the track we'll attempt a proper consumer test style run-through of what you get for your money with the Fiat. The range comprises Classica, Lusso and Lusso Plus, Lusso adding the distinctive silver windscreen surround, 17-inch wheels, a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with DAB, navigation and Bluetooth, heated leather seats, climate control and a rear parking camera. Lusso Plus essentially adds to that adaptive LED lights and a nine-speaker Bose stereo.

Really rather pleasant out here...

All non-Abarth 124s feature the same powertrain, based around Fiat's 1.4-litre MultiAir turbocharged engine with 140hp and 177lb ft of torque, a revised version of the MX-5's six-speed manual, an open diff and Fiat's own settings for springs and dampers. On-paper performance is near-identical to a 2.0-litre MX-5, the only real differences being the Fiat's slightly greater length and weight. 1,125kg with driver is still respectable in this day and age though.

For this comparison we didn't actually leave the track but we've driven both cars on the road too, that experience providing useful additional context. And something of a lifeline for the Fiat.

Because one thing is immediately clear - this ain't a track car. On bumpy, twisty roads in the hills above Lake Garda the 124 felt entirely in its element, there being the odd little shudder through the bodywork now and then but not so much as a rattle or squeak through the structure. At a relaxed touring gait the 124 is a very pleasant way to meander along scenic roads with the wind in your hair, living the dream of owning a 70s Italian roadster. Underpinned with Japanese reliability.

Which is, of course, exactly what Mazda did first time round with the original MX-5, creating a classic British roadsters 'best of' compilation, minus the oil leaks, rust or sloppy build quality. It worked for Mazda. No reason why it shouldn't for the Italians.

... less at home on circuit though

You'll notice we're skirting around the driving impressions bit here. Mainly because on circuit the 124 Spider becomes a bit of a wallowy mess. The engine is good, disguising its turbocharging with a nicely raspy sound but also benefitting from it with a chunky mid-range the peakier Mazda can't hope to match. It's a pleasant place to be, the control weights are all good and the manual snicks around the gate with a satisfying weight and positivity.

But as it flops onto its outside wheels on turn-in, the Spider defiantly resists all attempts to do anything more interesting than alternate between howling understeer and a smoking inside rear wheel as the open diff spins away any advantage that might have been gained over the Mazda. Which at this point will be filling the mirrors, possibly sideways, definitely with a very happy driver.

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Mazda MX-5
Contrary to what you might think, not everyone on the PH team is an unequivocal MX-5 fanboy. Matt reckons he's simply too lanky to fit in it and extended time at the wheel on our North Coast 500 road trip only highlighted how much he preferred his sharper, more poised GT86 long-termer that was also in attendance.

Shock horror then - the MX-5 isn't actually the answer to everything!

MX-5 not outclassed on the road...

Before we crack on with how it drives compared with the Fiat a quick spec face-off though. The 2.0 Sport Nav gets comparable 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, seven-inch touchscreen infotainment and nav display, Bose speakers, leather seats and climate control. Pretty much identical to the Lusso Plus 124 Spider, albeit with the addition of those Bilstein dampers and the limited-slip diff.

Right, responsible road tester bit done. Can we talk about skidding now?

We already know Mazda's Skyactiv engine is a lovely little motor. Turns out it's even lovelier with 10,000 miles under its belt and the cobwebs well and truly blown out. Fizzy and eager to rev, it's exactly the kind of petrol engine we thought had been killed off in the name of efficiency, emissions and diesel-like turbo power deliveries. Suitably loosened up it's got a lovely metallic rasp to it too, the fact you need 4,600rpm on the rev counter to get your 148lb ft of torque (the Fiat makes 177lb at 2,250rpm) very much a positive attribute.

Super crisp throttle response, light but positive control weights, an even tighter and shorter shift than the Fiat and perfectly placed pedals make you feel like you've got your dancing shoes on before you even leave the house.

... and it's more fun at a track too

Much has been said about the slightly roly-poly nature of the Mazda's chassis and it still looks like it's up on stilts, even with the Recaro Edition's bodykit. On the road we know those Bilstein dampers add an unpleasant brittleness too and send nasty shudders through the body. But when you drive it like a proper hooligan the ability to throw that weight around offers endless possibilities on track. You can be smooth, neat and tidy and enjoy the inherent balance. Or you can bung it in late on the brakes, turn it in on the nose and exploit the unweighted rear axle to spin up the rear wheels and go very sideways indeed. It's so predictable, so readable and so balanced in this state you'll be surprised how far 160hp can get you on the lock stops, even long corners like Blyton's double apex Bunga Bunga driftable until the revs run out and it straightens of its own accord.

So it's a hoot on the track. More troubling for the Fiat is that the MX-5 isn't exactly compromised in the more relaxed Riviera cruise mode the 124 calls its speciality.

Verdict
You can probably see which way this is going and picture an open goal into which the Mazda socks home a zinger. If judged on facial expression, the grins of the Mazda drivers and the shaken heads of those who'd been in the Fiat would have told you all you need to know about how differently these apparently similar cars behave on track.

Still our pick for now!

That doesn't mean the Fiat is disgraced though - not by any stretch. It's a very nice product, honest to the 124 Spider's heritage and different enough from the Mazda it's based on to stand alone as a genuine alternative. As we've discovered, on the road it's fun, comfortable, refined and just a little more mature than the MX-5 - think a more characterful and considerably more interesting alternative to a base spec SLK, Z4 or TT Roadster and you're about there. If you like the idea and want to drive in a more spirited fashion there is, of course, the Abarth version, which has more power than the MX-5, stiffer suspension and a limited-slip diff. It's pricey but clearly the 124 to go for if you're up for more than a scenic mooch.

Meanwhile as the fourth-gen MX-5 moves out of its honeymoon period and establishes itself, it's great to see how it improves still further with a few miles on the clock. The Recaro Edition's embellishments - seats aside - seem a little disingenuous given there's actually no increase in performance (certainly not enough to merit 'aero'), but the sheer effervescence of that engine and endlessly playful handling are a tribute to Mazda's back to basics approach with this latest version. And as the aftermarket perfects the engine and chassis mods to make it faster and sharper still, for many this will simply be a blank canvas.

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FIAT 124 SPIDER LUSSO PLUS
Engine: 1,368cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 140@5,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 177@2,250rpm
0-62mph: 7.5sec
Top speed: 134mph
Weight: 1,125kg (with 75kg driver)
MPG: 44.1 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 148g/km
Price: £23,295

MAZDA MX-5 SPORT RECARO EDITION
Engine: 1,998cc, 4-cyl
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 160@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 148@4,600rpm
0-62mph: 7.3sec
Top speed: 133mph
Weight: 1,075kg (with 75kg driver)
MPG: 40.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 161g/km
Price: £24,995

Photos: Stan Papior, Luc Lacey and Adam Warner for Autocar

[phosphor]

Fundamentally, I don't see why you would choose the fiat, unless you can't get over being seen in a mx-5 (unfairly for the ND I feel.) Why swap one of the last sweet 4-pot NA units for one those farting engines from a 500. I'll have to see it in the metal, but looks seem try hard and tacky to me, punto seemed like last car they sucessfully did the 'Italian' thing