Toyota GR86 Is Absolutely Crushing The Mazda Miata In America

We’re officially halfway through the year, which means automakers are reporting their latest 2024 sales figures. CarBuzz has waded through the data and picked some interesting tidbits about sports car sales. Interestingly, the iconic Mazda MX-5 Miata has been beaten by the Toyota GR86, with the latter outselling most sports cars between January and June.

• 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata

  Base MSRP

  $28,985

  Engine

  2.0L Inline-4 Gas

  Horsepower

  181 hp

  Fuel Economy

  26/34 MPG

• 

  2023 Toyota GR86

  Base MSRP

  $28,400

  Engine

  2.4L Flat 4 Gas

  Horsepower

  228 hp

  Fuel Economy

  20/27 MPG

Toyota shifted 7,467 examples of its compact sports coupe, whereas Mazda sold just 4,004 MX-5 Miatas in the same period. This is interesting for several reasons. The base Mazda is slightly cheaper ($315) than the cheapest GR86, but that wasn’t enough to sway customers. However, the difference could come down to the power figures. The Mazda’s naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine offers 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. While that’s not a lot, the MX-5 is a featherweight and doesn’t need more power to make it entertaining.

GR86 Beats The MX-5 Miata Hands Down

That said, the GR86 will sway customers seeking more power. The larger 2.4-liter engine produces 228 hp and 184 lb-ft, making for a more responsive car. As a coupe, the GR86 has more universal appeal than the MX-5 Miata’s soft top, although the MX-5 Miata RF ($37,010) offers a folding hardtop. However, things could change in the coming months as Mazda has introduced an updated version of the ND (ND3) with several revisions, including an Asymmetric Limited Slip Differential and a DSC Track driving mode. We’ve driven it and loved it, but whether it will be able to pull back against the GR86 remains to be seen.

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While the GR86 flew out of showrooms, the same can’t be said of the identical BRZ. Subaru managed to sell just 1,414 units, a 43.7% decline compared to the year before. While it’s not a pure sports car, we must mention the WRX’s remarkable performance – 9,296 customers signed on the dotted line for the compact sports sedan. But what about the rest of the sports car segment?

GR Supra And Rivals Aren’t Popular With Consumers

The Japanese contenders lead the field in sales of the Toyota GR Supra, Nissan Z, and BMW Z4. 1,495 new GR Supras entered garages during the year’s first half, followed by the Nissan Z (1,457) and BMW Z4 (928). Porsche has yet to announce figures for the 718 (and 911), but the H1 2024 figures show this is a dying segment. Jaguar’s sales figures for the discontinued F-Type are unlikely to make a difference to the segment’s overall sales (once published). Even though the Audi TT is no longer with us, the German automaker sold 38 examples in H1 2024. As for the R8, that recorded 266 sales for H1 2024 – up 42% compared to the same period last year. But the R8 is now dead and gone, so those 266 were lapped up as the last of their kind.

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Toyota GR86 Sets New Record, But Not On The Track

May was a banner month for this little sports car.

Domestic brands have put on a strong show during the first half of 2024. Despite its hefty starting price of $68,300, the Corvette has outperformed all the vehicles mentioned above, with a staggering 17,914 examples sold so far. Adding the high-performance Z06 and the electrified E-Ray has undoubtedly bolstered its appeal. Once the ZR1 (due to be revealed later this month) arrives, we anticipate another spike in sales. Chevrolet also managed to sell 5,306 units of the Camaro, despite production ending and only remaining stock being available.

Sports Car Buyers Can’t Get Enough ‘Vettes

Cross-town rival Ford has yet to publish its H1 2024 sales figures, but when it does, we’re confident the top-selling Mustang will jettison the Blue Oval to the top of the pile. For reference, the Dearborn-based brand sold 13,707 units in Q1 2024 alone, so it will undoubtedly eclipse the Corvette, Camaro, and any other sports car mentioned on the list.

The sales numbers for Nissan’s other sports car, the GT-R, tell an interesting story. A mere 151 units were sold in the first six months of the year, reflecting a decline in popularity. This is no surprise, as Godzilla is now extremely old, having first debuted in MY2009. Recently, Nissan announced that the GT-R will no longer be offered in North America, so perhaps sales will spike as collectors and enthusiasts rush to get the final models. We can paint a better picture once we have the final figures for Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lotus, and Jaguar. But for now, it seems the American and Japanese brands are keeping the sports car alive.