Despite popular opinion, the Miata actually isn't always the answer. As lovable as it is, it's not for everyone. Some enthusiasts simply don't fit in its tiny dimensions. Others need to carry more than a duffle bag and a pack of gum. And for many, 181 horsepower just doesn't cut it, no matter how magical the rest of the car might be. Its price creep also means it simply might be out of reach for some people these days.A 2026 MX-5 Miata RF starts at $39,685 now, and a Club trim with the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package wearing any color other than black or blue will cost you $43,730 before accessories. As much as we love the Miata, that's a tough pill to swallow for a car with 151 lb-ft of torque. Sure, you get the open air experience, and can save some money by going for the (better) soft top, but the point is that the Miata has now encroached upon some very competitive territory. To illustrate, here's five brand-new sports cars that all have more power and are cheaper than the 2026 Miata, plus two "bonus" sports cars.For this list, we're only including two-door cars that are primarily rear-wheel drive (although one is front-wheel drive and the bonus cars are all-wheel drive). We excluded front-wheel drive sedans and hatchbacks. All quoted prices include destination and freight charges. Toyota GR86 2026 Toyota GR86 Yuzu EditionLet's start with the Miata's main competitor, the Toyota GR86. Its 228 hp is a nice step up from the Miata without going crazy, and it also offers things like an identical 7,500 rpm redline, and a similarly satisfying manual transmission, even if we think the Miata's is slightly better and easier to be smooth with.The GR86 also has a backseat that likely won't be comfortable for most people unless those sitting up front are pretty short, but if nothing else, it's extra storage space the Miata doesn't have. And it can flip down to improve trunk space and allow you to carry long items, something the Miata can't do unless you want to put the top down and cuddle up with your lumber while you parade it around for the world to see. And for the folks that sadly don't fit into a Miata, you'll likely have better luck in the GR86 due to its slightly larger size.Pricing is another strength of the GR86. Even with all the performance goodies like its own Brembo brakes and a premium color, the GR86 tops out at $36,970 with its manual transmission. That $6,760 savings could go pretty far in the aftermarket if you're so inclined and want to further widen the performance gap. That good pricing is likely one of the big reasons why the GR86 continues to outsell the Miata, moving 9,940 units compared to the Miata's 8,727 units in 2025. Subaru BRZ 2025 Subaru BRZ Purple Front Angle 3/4The Subaru BRZ being the mechanically identical twin to the GR86 means that it has all the same perks mentioned above, except one important one: pricing. Due to Subaru scrapping the lower Premium trim for 2026, your only option is to get the BRZ fully loaded now, giving it a starting price higher than the Miata, at $37,055. And if you want the Brembos and sportier suspension, you'll need to go up to the tS, which costs $39,555. But even that is still $4,175 less than the loaded Miata.You still get a rear-wheel drive sports car with a limited slip differential, a very low center of gravity thanks to that boxer engine and low seating position, plus the tail-happy antics that these cars are famous for. When you don't want to slide around, you have more grip in the Toyota and Subaru and the extra rigidity that comes with a fixed roof. Unfortunately and surprisingly, the BRZ hasn't sold as well as the GR86 or the Miata, only moving a depressing 2,882 units in 2025. We doubt the higher starting price for 2026 will help matters, but we'll keep our fingers crossed that its fortunes improve. Nissan Z 2026 Nissan Z Heritage Edition-5The Nissan Z technically is over the $43,730 price ceiling of the loaded Miata, but it's just $485 more, and the bang-for-your-buck is too good not to mention. It has over double the horsepower of the Miata thanks to a strong twin-turbo V6. It's important to note though, that the entry price only gets you the base Z Sport trim that still, frustratingly, doesn't come with a limited slip differential. If you want one of those, it'll cost you another $10,000 as it's only on the fully-loaded Performance trim unfortunately, which also gets larger brakes, leather seats, a Bose stereo, and more.If you can live with an open diff (or can spend the extra $10k), you get a more spacious and comfortable car that has great practicality with its large hatch area. Those perks and the extra power come with one major caveat: weight. If one of the main draws of the Miata for you is its feather-light curb weight, the Z's extra 1,017 lbs might be a deal-breaker. In the Z's defense though, a car under 3,500 lbs is still very light by modern standards, even for sports cars. The Miata is just abnormally light. Ford Mustang EcoBoost 2025 Ford Mustang Ecoboost mountain viewIf you really don't care about extra weight and put a high value on comfort, the Ford Mustang EcoBoost could be a good alternative. It's about 100 lbs heavier than the Z, making it 1,110 lbs heavier than the Miata RF. Other things that make it less desirable than the Z are its much lower 315 hp (although the two have matching torque figures), a less usable trunk instead of the Z's hatch, and the fact that it only comes with an automatic transmission these days.The Mustang's perks over the Z and the Miata are that it has a backseat that's usable for smaller people, its more high-tech feel with its big screens, and its excellent comfort. If you plan to do a lot of highway miles, the Mustang eats them up better than anything else on this list. And it's still properly quick, posting a 4.5 second 0–60 mph time that will leave Miatas in the dust. It's also the only other one on this list that's available as a convertible. EcoBoosts start at just $35,330, and you can actually get the nicest Premium High trim with all the main options except for the active exhaust and still come in under that Miata RF price, landing at $43,195. Honda Prelude 2026 Honda Prelude heroThe Honda Prelude is more grand tourer than sports car, putting up a leisurely 7.22 second 0–60 mph time in our first drive and prioritizing fuel economy over performance. But if hitting the 200 hp mark suits, or the idea of getting 44 mpg in something sporty sounds good, the Prelude could make sense for a very small niche of buyers. It does at least have adaptive dampers and front suspension from the Civic Type R, along with that car's brakes, which make it feel fairly sporty in corners, even if it is just front-wheel drive. It is also still pretty light, especially considering that it's a hybrid, with a curb weight of 3,261 lbs. Just don't bother with the Sport+ drive mode. It actually slows the car down and only lets you pretend to drive a manual for a couple of seconds before the car's hybrid system rips that control away from you. And there's no manual option, so stick-shift fans will need to look elsewhere.If better practicality is what you seek, the Prelude does check that box well, with a large hatchback and a backseat that's tight but usable in a pinch. Its larger size makes things more comfortable up front too, and the extra rigidity and refinement of the hardtop, combined with those adaptive dampers that are tuned to be softer, will give it a better ride than Miata as well. And while the Prelude is usually the worst value in the whole enthusiast category, in this context of the fully-loaded Miata, it's not as bad. Every Prelude comes fully loaded, with the only real options being color and whether you want a two-tone look, but without those two options you're looking at a price of $43,195. Bonus Toyota GR Corolla 2026 Toyota GR Corolla front three-quarterSome may not consider the GR Corolla a sports car due to it being a four-door hatchback, but it's important to highlight that you can get one of these very fun, 300 hp hot hatches for less than the Miata as well. They start at $41,115 and therefore come in under the price cap, even if you go for the $2,000 automatic option and a premium paint color. To be fair, if you want the upgraded stereo and heated seats to be comparable to that Club trim of the Miata RF, you will be up to $47,160, but that's still a small up-charge for a much faster and far more capable car that can also tackle four seasons with ease. And you can still pretend it's a two-door by folding down the rear seats to expand the fairly small hatch. Subaru WRX 2022 Subaru WRXFor the last alternative, we have the Subaru WRX. Yes, this one is another "bonus" because we understand many might not consider this sedan a sports car, but it puts up similar acceleration to the Miata while giving you 90 more horsepower and the all-weather capability of all-wheel drive. Plus, a large back seat.Thanks to Subaru fixing the previously-high 2025 pricing, the WRX is back to being a great value. It now starts at just $33,690, basically 10 grand less than that Miata. Even if you want to go for a Limited trim, it'll only cost you $40,190. Again, to be fair, if you want Brembos and Recaros like the top Miata, you'll need to go up to the WRX tS, which will cost a little more at $46,190, but $2,460 is a tiny premium to pay for all the extra power, practicality and the adaptive dampers that the Miata can't match.Sources: Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Ford, Honda.