Mazda MX-5 Miata RF vs. BMW 4 Series
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF and BMW 4 Series contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF and the BMW 4 Series.
When we compare the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF's and the BMW 4 Series's specifications and ratings, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing and resale value. The BMW 4 Series has the advantage in the area of base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF's and the BMW 4 Series's specifications and ratings, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is a better car than the BMW 4 Series.
Pricing: For a new model, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF's price is between $38,745 and $42,861, with the BMW 4 Series priced between $63,925 and $84,622.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF loses 37.5 percent of its value and the BMW 4 Series loses 51.5 percent of its value. This means the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF retains 14 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW 4 Series.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF’s base engine makes 181 horsepower, and the BMW 4 Series base engine makes 255 horsepower.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
38745 - 42861
Starting MSRP:
37850
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Sports Cars)
35186
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Sports Cars)
29830 - 42970
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
63925 - 84622
Starting MSRP:
60600
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
48679
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
33400 - 78400
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
37489
Price Range:
32500 - 40985
Category Avg Price:
(Sports Cars)
40382
Category Avg Price Range:
(Sports Cars)
33746 - 50310
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
Price Range:
-
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
53319
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
44192 - 62446
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
14358
Depreciation %:
0.37933776
Resale Value $:
23492
Residual Value %:
0.6206622399999999
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Sports Cars)
0.33757779
Category Depreciation Range:
(Sports Cars)
0.24794219 - 0.47768027
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
31346
Depreciation %:
0.51725999
Resale Value $:
29254
Residual Value %:
0.48274001
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.51152734
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.43209812 - 0.57076625
Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
8.6 / 10
Safety:
Not available
BMW 4 Series Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
7.5 / 10
Reliability:
7.2 / 10
Retained Value:
7.7 / 10
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Sports Cars)
15.4
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Sports Cars)
9.4 - 24.6
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 4 Series
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
9.5
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
10.7
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
9.5 - 11.7
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.001
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.5803070776013812
Typical Category Recalls:
(Sports Cars)
4.0
Category Range for Recalls:
(Sports Cars)
1.6 - 5.1
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Rankings
Ranking
2 out of / 14Ranking
3 out of / 6Ranking
3 out of / 6Ranking
4 out of / 6Ranking
4 out of / 5Ranking
5 out of / 6Ranking
5 out of / 6Ranking
7 out of / 9Ranking
9 out of / 14Ranking
11 out of / 14Ranking
13 out of / 14Ranking
14 out of / 14BMW 4 Series Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 25Ranking
2 out of / 25Ranking
3 out of / 16Ranking
5 out of / 25Ranking
5 out of / 5Ranking
5 out of / 5Ranking
12 out of / 25Ranking
12 out of / 25Ranking
18 out of / 25Ranking
22 out of / 25Available Body Styles
Convertible
Available Body Styles
Convertible, Coupe, Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Trim Levels
Club, Grand Touring
BMW 4 Series Trim Levels
Not yet available
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
181 hp @ 7000 rpm
Torque:
151 foot-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.073 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
255 hp @ 4700 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 1600 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.063 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Manual
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
26 / 34 / 29
Range (city/hwy):
309 / 405 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Bench Seats:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
Available
Bench Seats:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Internet Radio:
Standard
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Sunroof/Moonroof:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
36.8 inches
Front Leg Room:
43.1 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
52.2 inches
Rear Head Room:
Not yet available
Rear Leg Room:
Not yet available
Rear Shoulder Room:
Not yet available
Cargo Space:
4.5 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
Not yet available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.6 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.8 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.1 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
32.5 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
43.9 inches
Cargo Space:
13.6 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
84.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
2469 lbs
Width:
68.3 inches
Height:
49 inches
Length:
154.1 inches
Wheelbase:
90.9 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.3 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4026 lbs
Width:
81.9 inches
Height:
54.6 inches
Length:
187.9 inches
Wheelbase:
112.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P205/45R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Exterior Colors
Black
Jet Black Mica
Blue
Deep Crystal Blue Mica
Gray
Aero Gray Metallic / Machine Gray Metallic
Red
Soul Red Crystal Metallic
White
Snowflake White Pearl Mica
Green
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black
Blue
Arctic Race Blue Metallic / Frozen Portimao Blue Metallic / Portimao Blue Metallic / Tanzanite Blue II Metallic
Gray
Brooklyn Grey Metallic / Dravit Grey Metallic / Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Red
Vegas Red Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Green
Cape York Green Metallic
Interior Colors
Beige
Tan
Black
Black
Brown
Not available
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
Interior Colors
Beige
Canberra Beige
Black
Black / Black w/ Blue Contrast Stitching / Black w/ Red Highlight
Brown
Cognac / Mocha
Gray
Oyster
Red
Tacora Red
