These 12 Sports Cars Beat the Miata in 2025 Sales

The Mazda Miata has long been the go-to affordable sports car, but 2025 brought a few surprises. This year, four competitors have managed to outsell the iconic Miata thanks to stronger performance, fresh styling, and broader appeal. Here’s a look at the sports cars that are stealing the spotlight in 2025.

Ford Mustang

I mean, duh, right? The Mustang’s been America’s sports car forever and it’s still crushing it. Starting around $32,000 for the base EcoBoost, which honestly isn’t terrible for what you get  310 horsepower, decent handling, and that whole “I’m driving a Mustang” vibe. The GT’s where it gets spicy though, V8 rumble and all that. I think people just connect with it, you know? It’s got history, it sounds good, looks good, and… well, it’s not as tiny as a Miata. Like, you can actually fit stuff in it and your tall friends won’t hate you. Plus there’s the Mach 1, the Dark Horse, all these special editions that keep people interested. Not gonna lie, I get it.

Chevrolet Camaro

Okay, so the Camaro’s interesting because GM keeps threatening to kill it but people keep buying it. Starts around $31,000 for the turbo four, but honestly, if you’re buying a Camaro, you’re probably looking at the SS with the V8, right? That’s more like $42,000. The thing is, it’s genuinely good to drive – like, really good. Better than the Mustang in some ways. But man, the visibility is terrible and the interior’s kinda… meh. Still, there’s something about that aggressive look and the supercharged ZL1 that just makes people go “yeah, I want that.” It’s drama on four wheels, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Dodge Challenger

This one’s wild because the Challenger is like… it shouldn’t work, right? It’s huge, it’s heavy, it drinks gas like it’s going out of style, and the platform is ancient. But people LOVE it. Starting around $34,000, but most people are probably buying the R/T or Scat Pack versions. And honestly? I kinda get it. It’s unapologetically American muscle, it sounds incredible, and there’s something to be said for just being different. While everyone else is making everything smaller and more efficient, Dodge was like “nah, let’s make it BIGGER and LOUDER.” Sometimes that attitude just resonates, you know?

Toyota GR86

Now this one makes perfect sense to me. The GR86 is like… it’s what the Miata is but with a roof and slightly more practicality. Around $30,000, rear-wheel drive, manual transmission available, and it just wants to be driven. It’s got that Toyota reliability thing going for it too, which the Miata also has, but the 86 feels a bit more… substantial? Like, it’s still lightweight and tossable, but you don’t feel like you’re gonna get crushed by every SUV on the road. Plus, the aftermarket support is insane people modify these things like crazy. It’s probably the closest thing to a modern AE86, and enthusiasts eat that stuff up.

Subaru BRZ

So the BRZ is basically the same car as the GR86 but with Subaru badges, which is weird but whatever. Priced similarly at around $30,500, and honestly, most people can’t tell the difference. I think Subaru owners just like buying Subarus? Like, they’re loyal to the brand because of the all-wheel drive thing, even though this one isn’t AWD. The interior’s slightly different, the styling’s a bit more… Subaru-ish? But really, if you’re cross-shopping these two, just buy whichever one your local dealer has better service for. Or whichever color you like better. That’s probably how most people decide anyway.

Nissan Z

Okay, the new Z is pretty cool, not gonna lie. It’s like Nissan finally remembered how to make something exciting. Starting around $42,000, which is more than a Miata but also… it’s got a twin-turbo V6 making 400 horsepower, so there’s that. The styling’s retro but modern, the interior’s actually decent for once, and it sounds great. I think people were just excited to see Nissan do something other than CVT crossovers, you know? It’s been forever since they had a proper sports car that wasn’t the GT-R. The manual transmission’s supposedly really good too, though most people are probably buying the auto because, let’s be honest, traffic exists.

Chevrolet Corvette

The Corvette selling more than a Miata isn’t surprising at all what’s surprising is that it’s only number 7 on this list. Starting around $68,000, which is like… a lot, but also it’s a mid-engine supercar that competes with stuff costing twice as much. Americans love their Corvettes, and the C8 generation is genuinely incredible. Like, stupid fast, surprisingly comfortable, and you can actually see out of it unlike some supercars. I think the appeal is obvious it’s exotic car performance with American car reliability and pricing. Well, relatively speaking. $68K isn’t cheap, but compared to a Ferrari or McLaren? It’s a bargain.

BMW 2 Series

This one’s interesting because BMW’s been kinda all over the place lately, but the 2 Series (the coupe, not the weird front-drive Gran Coupe thing) is still pretty solid. Around $37,000 to start, rear-wheel drive, inline-six engine options, and it drives like a BMW should. It’s more premium than a Miata, more practical too, and honestly the build quality’s probably better. I think people who want a sports car but also want that German luxury feel go for this. Though, uhm, the new grille design is… polarizing. Some people love it, some people think it looks like a beaver. I’m somewhere in between.

Audi TT

Wait, is the TT still around? I thought they discontinued it… checks notes oh right, this is their final year. That explains the sales bump people buying them because they won’t be able to soon. Starting around $47,000, all-wheel drive standard, and that whole German sports car thing. It’s more of a grand tourer than a pure sports car, but it’s pretty and well-built and sounds decent. I think the appeal was always that it was different – not trying to be the fastest or the most hardcore, just trying to be stylish and nice to drive. Kind of a shame they’re killing it, honestly.

Porsche 718 Boxster

Okay, so this makes total sense. The Boxster’s like the Miata’s fancy German cousin – convertible, mid-engine, perfectly balanced, but starting around $65,000. It’s what you buy when you want the Miata experience but with Porsche prestige and build quality. The flat-four turbo sounds… well, it sounds like a flat-four turbo, which isn’t as exciting as the old flat-six, but it’s still incredibly good to drive. Like, really, really good. If money wasn’t an object and I wanted a convertible sports car, this would probably be it. Or the Cayman hardtop version, which is basically the same thing but with a roof.

Porsche 718 Cayman

Speaking of which, the Cayman! Same price range as the Boxster, around $65,000, but with a fixed roof. Mid-engine, perfect weight distribution, telepathic steering – it’s basically automotive perfection if you can afford it. I think the reason both 718s outsell the Miata is just… they’re aspirational, you know? Like, the Miata’s great, but it’s approachable. The Porsches are what you buy when you “make it.” Plus they hold their value really well, the dealers aren’t terrible to deal with, and the aftermarket support is solid. They’re just really, really good cars that happen to cost a lot.

Alpine A110

This one’s a curveball because you can barely buy these in the US, but apparently enough people did to beat Miata sales. Around $75,000 when you can find one, and it’s like… it’s what a modern sports car should be. Light, beautiful, mid-engine, and that whole French sports car mystique. I think people buy it because it’s different everything else on this list you see pretty regularly, but an Alpine? That’s special. Plus it drives amazingly from what I hear. I’ve never actually driven one because, well, there aren’t exactly dealers on every corner, but everyone who has says it’s incredible. Limited availability probably helps sales numbers in a weird way.