Mazda MX-5 vs Tesla Roadster 2
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| MazdaMX-5 | TeslaRoadster 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | August 2015 | July 2009 |
| Performance | ||
| Powertrain | Petrol | Electric |
| Power | 130–181 bhp | – |
| 0–62 mph | 6.5–8.3 s | – |
| Top speed | 127–136 mph | – |
| Engine or motors | 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G four-cylinder petrol, 132 PS (97 kW) at 7,000 rpm, or 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G petrol, 184 PS (135 kW) at 7,000 rpm; bhp converted from kW. Both have i-stop and i-ELOOP. The 2.0-litre is being sold from remaining UK stock, and a 136 PS 1.5 arrives with the 2027 model year in January 2027 | Air-cooled AC induction motor with variable-frequency drive, rated at 375 V and 14,000 rpm. Tesla's hosted 2.0 manual lists 248 HP (185 kW) without a separate Sport rating; contemporary MotorTrend and Winding Road Sport tests describe 288 hp. The conflicting power figures are not combined into a single rating. |
| Torque | 152 Nm at 4,500 rpm (1.5); 205 Nm at 4,000 rpm (2.0) | Tesla's 2.0 manual lists 277 lb-ft (376 Nm) without distinguishing the Sport; MotorTrend's exact Sport test reports 273 lb-ft for the standard car and 295 lb-ft for Sport. |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual | Single-speed fixed reduction with an electrically actuated parking lock; overall final-drive ratio 8.27:1. Reverse uses the motor turning in the opposite direction. |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive. Sport adds adjustable damping and anti-roll bars; the standard car uses independent unequal-length wishbones with coil springs and telescopic dampers. |
| Range and charging | ||
| Range detail | – | Tesla's July 2009 delivery announcement quotes an estimated 244 miles per charge, not WLTP. Its contemporary standard-car claim is 0–60 mph in 3.9 seconds; the Sport announcement quotes 3.7 seconds. These are not 0–62 mph figures. |
| Charging | – | Proprietary AC charging connection. The exact 2.0 manual lists charge times at 70 A/240 V of 4 hours in Standard mode or 4.5 hours in Range mode; at 13 A/240 V, 18 or 20 hours respectively. The lithium-ion battery contains 6,831 cells. |
| Economy (WLTP) | 41.5–45.6 mpg | – |
| Efficiency | WLTP combined 45.6 mpg (6.2 l/100 km) for the 1.5; 41.5 mpg (6.8 l/100 km) for the 2.0 | – |
| CO2 emissions | 140 g/km (1.5); 153 g/km (2.0), WLTP combined | No tailpipe emissions. |
| Practicality | ||
| Body | Convertible | Convertible |
| Seats | 2 | 2 |
| Boot | 130 litres | – |
| Length | 3,915 mm | 3,946 mm |
| Weight | – | From 1,235 kg |
| Towing | – | Trailer towing is not permitted. |
| Width | 1,735 mm | – |
| Boot | 130 litres | – |
| Size | 3,915 mm long, 1,735 mm wide (without mirrors), 1,225 mm high (1.5) or 1,230 mm (2.0); 2,310 mm wheelbase; 10.0 m turning circle (wall to wall); 141 mm (1.5) or 149 mm (2.0) ground clearance; maximum kerb weight 1,106 kg (1.5) or 1,128 kg (2.0), including a 75 kg driver. A folding hard-top version is sold as the MX-5 RF | Width 1,851 mm including mirrors; height 1,127 mm at mid-laden weight; wheelbase 2,351 mm. The manual's 1,235 kg kerb weight excludes occupants and cargo; mid-laden figures include two 75 kg occupants. |
| Release and generation details | – | Tesla reported in July 2009 that deliveries of the 2010-model-year Roadster and Sport had begun that month. A later filing describes a June 2009 launch; the actual-delivery statement supports July here. Right-hand-drive deliveries followed in January 2010, according to Tesla’s annual filing. |
| Tech and safety | ||
| Infotainment | – | Centre-console touchscreen for vehicle and charging information; its position and the push-button transmission selector distinguish the revised cabin from the earlier car. |
| Driver assistance | – | Anti-lock braking and traction control. Rack-and-pinion steering has no power assistance, as described in both period road tests. |
