A Comparison of the Mazda Mx5 vs. the Lotus Elise Roadsters

You’ve been researching for months, trying to determine exactly what type of new car you’d like to buy. You’ve narrowed it down to a roadster; it’s small, compact size will make parking almost anywhere easy, it’s fun to drive, and it is a practical and economical choice. Choosing the type of roadster you want, however, hasn’t been as simple. Should you go with the ever popular Lotus Elise or the affordable and fun Mx5?

Before you decide, let’s compare the two cars to see which one might be best for you.

Cost

The winner is: a tie. While you’ll pay £15 to £20 less on road tax every year when you purchase the Elise, and even pay a bit less for insurance, the Mx5 offers more mpg and few CO2 emissions, making it the more economical and environmentally sound choice- but just by a small margin. The Elise provides only 2 mpg less in fuel efficiency and its CO2 emissions are 175g/km versus the Mx5’s 167g/km.

Performance

The winner is: the Elise. The Elise has a higher top speed, can go from zero to 60mph in half the time, and has twice as much power under the bonnet than the Mx5. In many other ways, however, these cars and their car parts are very similar. They both have the same size engine, both used unleaded petrol, and their gearboxes are both manual.

Price

The winner is: the Mx5. If you’re looking for a car that you can really enjoy, but don’t have to spend a fortune on, the Mx5 is the right option. At the low price of £18,495, you can walk away with keys in hand; if you want the Lotus Elise, expect to pay about twice as much.

Reliability

The winner is: a tie. Worried you’ll spend every weekend replacing Elise or Mx5 parts? Don’t be. Both of these cars have been built to last. That being said, it’s important to have them regularly looked at by a mechanic and to keep up with a routine maintenance schedule. This will ensure their car parts are in great working order for years to come.

Practicality

When it comes to practicality, there really is no winner, but that’s mainly because these types of cars aren’t built for practical purposes. If you’re looking for a nice car for your family or something to drive to the grocery store, neither the Elise or the Mx5 are the right choice for you. This car was built for fun, and with two seats, that fun is limited to you and someone who really wants to experience that fun with you.

Choosing between the Mx5 and the Elise isn’t easy, and this comparison isn’t going to answer all of the questions you might have. If you really want to know which car is best for you, take a test drive or two. Experience what it’s like to sit behind the wheel, evaluate the space each of the cars offer, and see if the seats are comfortable enough for you to really enjoy driving either option. If you’re buying used, take a good look beneath the bonnet as well to ensure the previous owner took care of its car parts and performed regular maintenance.

Only then will you be able to really know which option is best for you.