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The 2023 Chevy Corvette is a wonderful sports car — with its sleek design, powerful engine, quick acceleration, and pleasing driving dynamics. With a starting price of $64,500, the 2023 Corvette Stingray is more affordable than expensive exotic supercars. However, even at that price point, it’s still not financially accessible for the vast majority of automotive shoppers. There is a great sports car alternative to the Corvette that costs less than half the price, though: the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata.

2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is an affordable sports car alternative to the 2023 Chevy Corvette

Front angle view of 2023 Mazda MX-5, affordable Chevy Corvette sports car alternative that costs under half the price
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata | Mazda

The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata starts at $28,500 MSRP, which is less than half the $64,500 starting price of the 2023 Chevy Corvette Stingray. The ultra-performance 2023 Corvette Z06, which starts at $105,300, is even more expensive. Also, with high demand and dealer markets for the new C8 Corvette, the price will likely be much higher.

Conversely, the MX-5 Miata is a considerably more affordable sports car alternative to the Corvette. It’s sports car performance at a budget-friendly price. While the 5.7-second 0-60 mph acceleration time and 143 mph top speed don’t match the specs of the Corvette, they are still respectable. It’s more than enough for most sports car drivers. 

Also, where the MX-5 Miata really stands out is its impressive driving dynamics. Simply put, it’s very fun-to-drive. The MX-5 Miata boasts agile handling, superb cornering abilities, and responsive steering. Furthermore, it has a beautiful exterior design.

High fuel economy of the MX-5 Miata compared to the Corvette further adds to its affordability

Front angle view of red 2023 Chevy Corvette, highlighting 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata, an affordable sports car alternative
2023 Chevy Corvette Stingray | Chevrolet

One of the drawbacks for most sports cars is the low fuel economy. They are gas guzzlers. Considering that gasoline is one of the most significant costs of vehicle ownership, an inefficient sports car can put a dent in your finances over the long haul.

However, for the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata, this isn’t a problem. The high fuel economy adds to its affordability. The MX-5 Miata gets an estimated gas mileage of up to 26 city/35 highway mpg, compared to 16 city/24 highway mpg for the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and 12 city/21 highway mpg for the 2023 Corvette Z06.

Many premium features in the Mazda MX-5 Miata make it an excellent sports car value choice

With its wide array of premium features, the 2023 MX-5 Miata is an excellent value choice for a sports car. Standard and available features offered for the MX-5 Miata include a nine-speaker Bose audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, LED lighting, an automatic climate control system, push-button start, and heated seats. Also, the MX-5 Miata offers advanced driving assistance technologies, such as traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking.

If you’re looking for a more affordable sports car alternative to the 2023 Chevy Corvette, then check out the 2023 Mazda MX-5. It costs less than half the price of the Corvette. Also, the MX-5 Miata is fun-to-drive, has a beautiful design, provides high fuel economy, and offers many premium features.

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