Styling Size-Up: 2017 Fiat 124 Spider vs. 2016 Mazda Miata

Fiat Chrysler partnered with Mazda so it could use its fourth-gen Miata platform to underpin the latest offering from Fiat, the 124 Spider. And while these two roadsters may be based off the same platform, the design of the two models has been the topic of much discussion. Both automakers took the vehicles in different directions in terms of styling, with the Fiat drawing inspiration from the rounded appearance seen on its current lineup, and Mazda taking a more angular approach. But one question remains: who did it better?

Looking just at the front end of the 2016 Mazda Miata and 2017 Fiat 124 Spider, the differences are obvious. The Miata features a more sculpted appearance with sharp lines seen in the headlight design, side vents, and hood. The singular Kodo grille is characteristic of the rest of the Mazda lineup, and when the aforementioned elements combine it creates an aggressive appearance. The Fiat on the other hand, has a rounded headlight appearance, an upper and lower grille, and DRLs and foglights that sit just to the sides of the lower grille.

Despite these two roadsters not sharing any sheetmetal, you can still see similarities in the side profile. The Miata features sharp lines, while the 124 Spider offers up more sculpting including a strong character line running from the hood over the door handle. If the Fiat looks longer that’s because it is. The 124 Spider is 5.5 inches longer overall thanks to longer front and rear overhangs. The rear deck is also slightly higher and wider, granting more trunk space.

At the back, it’s night and day. The Spider’s rear deck dips in the middle, much like it did on the original 124 and the Pininfarina-designed Chevrolet Corvette Rondine concept. The taillights are very different, with the Fiat featuring an angled-in square design with an inner and outer ring of lights. The Miata, on the other hand, has rounded brake lights. The tailpipes are also different, with the Mazda’s exhaust exiting on the right side, and the Fiat featuring a dual exhaust setup.

Inside, the two roadsters are nearly identical. Both the 124 Spider and Miata feature rounded air vents, positioned in the same place, rounded controls for the HVAC, the same layout for the shifter and drive mode selector. The same infotainment screen stands atop the dash on each car, and the steering wheels are also identical, minus the different badges. The seats, however, do differ. The Mazda seats feature a center crease, while the Fiat has rows of creases running the full length of the seat.

While the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider and 2016 Mazda Miata may share the same platform, the two roadsters have very different designs. Which one do you think has the better design? Let us know in the comments below.

Last week’s edition of Refreshing or Revolting featured the 2017 Cadillac XT5, and the comments skewed more toward the positive.

“Refreshing. It looks conservative yet elegant without crazy lines like the Japanese vehicles,” said FreewayMan.

“Both. Everything is refreshing until that hood and grill. It’s very reminiscent of a lifted and pulled Sebring in that respect. I wouldn’t buy one,” said RPIbaldum.

“Refreshing, but not exciting. A definite improvement but I think it could have been so much more. Still waiting for design cues from the Ciel and Elmiraj concept cars to work their way into the Caddy design language,” said CarNut2014.

“Refreshing, but nothing to write home about. The SRX was great-looking at the time of its second-gen redesign, but it’s gotten way behind the times, behind Cadillac as a brand, and the industry itself. This one is definitely nicer, but breaks no ground the way the NX and MKC do stylistically,” said Jnn575.

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