Sports cars have a relatively simple philosophy: front engine, rear wheel drive and pretty much everything else is subjective. Some drivers look for 800 horsepower Leviathans with a time of 9 seconds at a quarter mile and enough torque to provide endless thrills. Others, however, revere the feeling of performing a soothing backroad symphony of mechanical components.
In coming up with the best sports car of 2022, critics are in a heated argument. US News and World Report think it’s the Ford Mustang, while Car and Driver think it’s the Mazda MX-5 Miata. So, what is it?
2022 Ford Mustang
According to US news and world report, the 2022 Ford Mustang is the best sports car for 2022. And depending on all the fun and exciting ways you specify a Mustang, you’ll pay a starting price of $27,420 for the EcoBoost Fastback with a 310-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged inline -4 to a whopping $79,420 for Shelby GT500 with a road-shredding, supercharged 760-horsepower 5.2-liter Predator V8. The $52,000 difference is a bit disorienting, so let’s focus on the one with the most punch per dollar, the GT fastback, starting at $36,285, per Ford.
With the 5.0-litre Coyote V8, buyers will fall in love with the growling soundtrack and shake off the fear of not having enough power to blast almost anything from a stop at the traffic lights. With 450 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque mated to a shift-friendly 10-speed automatic transmission or the fan-favorite Tremec T56 6-speed manual transmission, 0-60 can be reached in 4.1 seconds, which will probably thrill everyone. copper with traditional, brutal American power.
While it has well-reinforced seats, the interior is woefully plastic-y, with odd glossy finishes. Going beyond the superfluous meters above the infotainment system, the Mustang has a gigantic trunk with a subwoofer connected to the Bang & Olufsen stereo system. As for the interior space? The Mustang offers just enough room to take your kids on a wild ride to school, but most likely not enough to take your grown friends in tow.
Is the Ford Mustang a reliable car?
Mustangs are not the standard, cheap cars that they have been in years past. And while there’s a lot of technology going into Ford’s muscle car, it seems to be causing problems with the electronics in the car. Consumer Reports (CR) states that the 2022 Mustang will have lower predicted reliability, an issue they have tracked since 2016.
There are currently two recalls for the Mustang. On some models, the front passenger knee airbag does not deploy properly and the front camera supporting the collision avoidance systems is misaligned.
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Now let’s talk about Car and driver choose the best sports car for 2022. For over 30 years, the Miata has combined the elegant simplicity of a classic British roadster with Japanese reliability. The latest generation MX-5 has its most powerful engine yet. The 2.0-liter I-4 develops 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, and while that may not sound like much, remember it weighs just 2,354 pounds in the soft-top version—much less than the comparable GR86 or BRZ and 1,600 pounds less than the Mustang.
While there may not be a roaring, jerking exhaust note from behind, drivers who love a good naturally aspirated induction tune will salivate over the Miata. It’s no slouch either, squealing tires in second gear heading for 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. A limited-slip differential also makes the Miata a hoot to kick out the rear at a tight angle.
The 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata has a lot of plastic in the interior, but the finish is second to none. The more expensive models have a premium Bose sound system, and even for the top-end Grand Touring trim level, you’ll pay just $32,650 to start, per Mazda. You don’t have to worry about legroom in the back, because Mazda doesn’t bother to fit a rear seat. While there’s only a trunk for a few bags of groceries, storage shouldn’t be high on the list when you’re driving a sports car.
Is the Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?
The MX-5 Miata isn’t just one of the best sports cars out there. It is also one of the most reliable sports cars on the market today. With a reworked engine in transmission in 2019, CR states that the ND-generation Miata will likely prove more reliable than the average new car.
What is the best sports car to buy for 2022?
The Ford Mustang and the Mazda MX-5 Miata are two different kinds of cars for two different kinds of people. Yes, they are both sports cars, but each has a diametrically opposite set of values. While each has its drawbacks, pleasure is not one of them.
If you’re impressed with the straight-line speed, get the Mustang. If you want to hold the road feverishly in curves, get the Miata.
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