Ford Mustang vs Mazda MX-5 Miata

The 2024 Ford Mustang underwent a style refresh, with nearly every body panel reworked. The front boasted a larger grille and narrower headlights, giving it a more aggressive appearance. The nose was more upright, suggesting a headfirst charge into the wind. The profile retained the classic long hood and shorter tail, but the rear fender flare was more angular and pronounced. The back end featured a deep-cut bevel, creating a sharply angled fascia and taillights, which became the most distinctive exterior trait. These subtle changes added a seriousness to the Mustang's impression, which was seen as a positive.

Inside, the Mustang received a significant makeover, moving away from the traditional dual-cowl dashboard to a modern look with a striking glass panel enclosing the digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The middle of the dash appeared cleaner as physical climate controls were moved to the infotainment screen. Other interior elements like the centre console and doors remained similar to the previous model, but materials quality improved with fewer hard plastic surfaces, replaced by lightly padded sections, giving the cabin a more upmarket impression.

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata, available in Canada in GS, GS-P, and GT trims with a soft top, and the RF hard-top version in GS-P and GT trims, celebrated its 10th year of the fourth generation. Despite its age, the MX-5 remained a head-turner with perfect proportions, squinty LED headlamps, dual-tip exhaust, and the optional Soul Red paint colour. The U.S. equivalent of the GS-P trim featured a rear lip spoiler, gloss black front air dam, and 17-inch BBS wheels as part of the Sport Package. The black soft top provided contrast to the body, while the RF model's power retractable hard top folded back in about 13 seconds, giving the car a vintage fastback look.

The MX-5's interior was snug, emphasizing the feeling of wearing the car. The bottom two trims had cloth seats, while the GT came standard with black leather seating, with an upgrade option to tan Nappa leather. The interior was basic, with functional materials and excellent fit and finish. The HVAC vents' design was a minor quibble, with round outlets at either end of the dashboard and a rectangular vent on the passenger side. However, the HVAC was controlled via three large knobs, making temperature adjustments easy without using the infotainment system.

The 2024 Ford Mustang offered an entry-level EcoBoost 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 315 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, a 5-horsepower gain over the previous engine. It was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels. For a more complete muscle car experience, the Coyote 5.0-litre V8 in GT models delivered 480 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with an optional Active Exhaust system increasing output slightly to 486 hp and 418 lb-ft. It came standard with a six-speed manual transmission, with a 10-speed automatic available as an option. The top-of-the-range Ford Mustang Dark Horse produced 500 hp and included several performance enhancements.

The EcoBoost engine didn't match the explosive acceleration of the V8 GT but was adequate for the average driver, reaching 100 km/h in roughly 5.0 seconds. The GT could beat that time by at least half a second, offering a more inspiring powertrain choice. The manual transmission with rev matching increased driver engagement and was easy to operate, even for those new to stick shifts. The EcoBoost's handling was impressive with the optional High Performance package, featuring a Torsen limited-slip differential and upgraded Brembo brake calipers. The GT was the driver's choice, with abundant power and a glorious sound throughout. Both engines were loud, typical of a muscle car, but the droning could be taxing in sport mode.

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata featured a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, driving the rear wheels. A six-speed manual transmission was standard, with a six-speed automatic available on the GS-P and GT trims. The GS-P trim was the sportiest model, especially with the optional Sport Package, upgrading the front brakes and installing Recaro sport seats. The electric power steering was excellent, with a nice weight and good communication of grip levels. The Bilstein dampers, standard on every trim but the base model, minimized body roll in turns but made daily driving a bit rough.

The MX-5's suspension shone in turns, especially with the limited-slip differential included on every model but the base GS. Mazda's Kinetic Posture Control enhanced handling by exerting slight brake pressure to the inside rear wheel during high-speed cornering. The DSC-Track button reduced stability control without turning it off completely, offering a bit of help for those building confidence behind the wheel. The MX-5's power was modest, but excellent gearing provided quick starts off the line. The shifter was glorious with quick throws, making the driving experience enjoyable despite the lack of power.

The 2024 Ford Mustang's front seats were accommodating for larger occupants, offering plenty of cushioning for long-distance comfort. The rear seats were cramped, better suited for cargo overflow than passengers, but useful for short trips. Heated front seats were not standard equipment. The convertible top was easy to operate, delivering a classic open-air experience. The Mustang Convertible had a cargo capacity of 291 litres, while the Fastback could hold up to 376 litres. Smaller personal item storage was limited, with average-sized cupholders, door pockets, and a small centre armrest bin.

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata's cupholders were a disappointment, placed high on the vertical panel between the seats, requiring contortion to reach them. They were moveable, with one fitting on the passenger side of the gear tunnel, but it interfered with passenger space. Storage space was limited, with no glove box, a small compartment above the cupholder, and a tiny storage bin between the seats. The trunk offered 130 litres of cargo space in soft-top models and 127 litres in the MX-5 RF, but it was deep for its size. Heated seats were standard in all trims but the base GS, and the HVAC was a single-zone system. Seat adjustability was limited, but taller drivers had more options than in past generations. The base MX-5 GS had a six-speaker audio system, while other trims featured a nine-speaker Bose stereo with good sound quality.

The 2024 Ford Mustang came with a large 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster. Base models had two separate screens, while Premium models had them in a single enclosure. The Sync 4 infotainment system featured sharp graphics and a logical menu structure, though responses to inputs could be slow. Primary climate controls were placed in the touchscreen, but the system maintained the desired temperature well. A physical volume knob and a button for performance features were included. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard, with a Wi-Fi hotspot included on all models. A native navigation system and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system were optional.

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata's infotainment system was housed on an 8.8-inch screen controlled by a rotary dial. The menu structure was clunky and not user-friendly. Only the GT and 35th Anniversary Edition had navigation, which was difficult to use in other Mazda products. All trims had Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless functionality on GT and 35th Anniversary Edition trims. When these apps were running, the screen functioned as a touchscreen, making it easier to use.

Crash test results for the 2024 Ford Mustang were not yet available, but the previous generation received five stars from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" rating in the driver-side small overlap test. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control and a safe passenger exit warning were available as options.

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata lacked advanced driver aids, focusing on a back-to-basics sports car experience. Every trim included lane-departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Top trims also had traffic sign recognition. The car featured dual front airbags, side impact airbags, and door beams, but had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.