Comparison: Mazda MX-5 Miata vs. Fiat 124 Spider

Mazda MX-5 Miata at the 2015 NYIAS

One of the most popular automotive trends of the 1990s and early 2000s was badge engineering, where companies would take an existing car produced by another company and stick their logo on the front, since it was far cheaper than going through the R&D of developing a new car. The issue with this was that, aside from different grilles, the rebadged vehicles often looked identical to the existing vehicle and this resulting in "cannibalism," where the sales of one eats into the sales of the other. This ended up killing off multiple brands, from storied brands like Pontiac to failed endeavors like Eagle. For the most part, automakers seemed to have learned their lesson. However, this hasn't prevented them from sharing platforms and components under-the-hood. While car companies may share the skeleton of the cars, they now develop distinct exteriors to maintain a brand identity. A perfect example of this is the new Mazda MX-5 Miata and its Italian cousin, the Fiat 124 Spider, which share the same platform.

Fiat 124 Spider at the 2016 NYIAS

Up front, the two roadsters are vastly different. The Miata has squinty, slinky headlights that point down towards the gaping, smiling grille. With shiny black plastic and thin grey crossbars, the grille looks luxurious and sporty, and flows smoothly into the sleek front wheel arches. The lower front fascia also gets aggressive, forward leaning faux air intakes, which add to the Miata's athletic image.

The Fiat pays tribute to the 1960s 124 Spider, and therefore has a much more upright front fascia. Large oval headlights, featuring a clean, modern-looking LED cluster, point inwards at the grille. In between the headlights is a trapezoidal mesh grille that harkens back to the original 124. While the grille itself is not bad looking, it protrudes out in front of the headlights, causing it to look like a snout. The lower front fascia features a lower grille and fog lamps, but lacks the aggressiveness of the Miata's faux intakes. Overall, the Mazda's lower, sleeker hood and curvy headlights results in a more attractive front end. 

old Fiat 124 Spider outside the Javits Center

The side is where the two sports cars look most similar--the doors are the same shape and both feature a small triangular turning light just behind the front wheels. On both cars, the belt line dips down to the door handle before swooping back up into powerful rear haunches. The Mazda has a slight advantage for its blacked out side view mirrors, but aside from that the two are near identical in profile view.

Out back, the design return to being very distinct. Continuing the sensual look from the front fascia, the Mazda features taillights that resemble eyes with eyeliner applied, sweeping creases, and curvy reverse lights on the bumper. The powerful rear haunches that plunge downwards to form the trunk, completing the sexy appearance started up front on the Miata.

Mazda MX-5 RF at the 2016 NYIAS

The 124 mimics its predecessor with the rear end as well. The rear haunches do not curve downwards, instead straightening out to form a flat rear decklid.  The taillights are a simple rectangular oval, but Fiat spices the design up by making them hollowed out in the middle, similar to the headlights on the Bentley Bentayga. However, they are angled slightly downwards, which makes the whole rear fascia look slightly off. Overall, the Miata's slinky tail looks far better than the 124's straight lines.

Fiat 124 Spider at the 2016 NYIAS

   

The Mazda beats out the Fiat on both front and rear styling, taking home the crown in this matchup. That is not to say the 124 is an ugly car, but it simply doesn't match the Miata's sleek bodywork.
Grade-Mazda MX-5
Front: A
Back: A
Overall: A

Grade-Fiat 124 Spider
Front: B+
Rear: B+
Overall: B+