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Mazda MX-5 Roadster vs VW Polo comparison

Compare performance (132 HP vs 207 HP), boot space and price (28,400 £ vs 17,300 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Mazda MX-5 Roadster or VW Polo?

Mazda MX-5 Roadster vs VW Polo: Key differences

Mazda MX-5 Roadster

  • very slightly lighter
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VW Polo

4.1 (3 Reviews)
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  • substantially cheaper
  • visibly more power
  • visibly more efficient
  • clearly quicker 0–100 km/h
  • significantly more trunk space
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By Achim Sedelmaier

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

MX-5 Roadster

Costs and Efficiency:

When it comes to price and running costs, the biggest differences usually appear. This is often where you see which car fits your budget better in the long run.

VW Polo is substantially cheaper – starting at 17,300 £ , while the Mazda MX-5 Roadster costs 28,400 £ . That’s a price difference of around 11,190 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: the VW Polo uses 5.1 L/100km and is visibly more efficient than the Mazda MX-5 Roadster with 6.2 L/100km. The difference is about 1.1 L/100km.

Polo

Engine and Performance:

Power, torque and acceleration say a lot about how a car feels on the road. This is where you see which model delivers more driving dynamics.

When it comes to engine power, the VW Polo offers visibly more power – delivering 207 HP compared to 132 HP. That’s roughly 75 HP more horsepower.

When accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h, the VW Polo is clearly quicker – completing the sprint in 6.5 s, while the Mazda MX-5 Roadster takes 8.3 s. That’s about 1.8 s quicker.

There’s also a difference in torque: the VW Polo delivers clearly more torque with 320 Nm compared to 152 Nm. That’s about 168 Nm more.

MX-5 Roadster

Space and Everyday Use:

Whether family car or daily driver – which one offers more room, flexibility and comfort?

Seats: VW Polo offers more seats – 5 vs 2.

In terms of curb weight, Mazda MX-5 Roadster is very slightly lighter – 1,078 kg compared to 1,143 kg. The difference is around 65 kg.

Looking at boot space, the VW Polo offers significantly more boot space – 351 L compared to 130 L. That’s a difference of about 221 L.

When it comes to payload, the VW Polo carries significantly more – 457 kg compared to 152 kg. That’s a difference of about 305 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The VW Polo stands well ahead of its rival in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

from £17,300
Polo

VW Polo

  • Engine Type : Petrol
  • Transmission : Manuel, Automatic
  • Drive Type : Front-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 80 - 207 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 5.1 - 6.5 L/100km
Mazda MX-5 Roadster
VW Polo

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis

Mazda MX-5 Roadster

The Mazda MX-5 is a featherweight, open-top sports car that turns ordinary roads into a grin-inducing playground thanks to razor-sharp steering and an engaging, tactile gearbox. It won’t swallow the weekly shopping or ski bags, but for anyone after pure driving fun and sun-on-your-face weekends, few cars match its sheer charm and value.

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VW Polo

The Polo is a small car with surprisingly grown-up refinement, delivering comfortable packaging, crisp handling and a build quality that punches above its class. For buyers who want a practical, fuss-free hatch that still feels a little premium, it’s a sensible, slightly cheeky choice you’ll enjoy every day.

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Mazda MX-5 Roadster
VW Polo

Costs and Consumption

Price
28,400 - 33,800 £
Price
17,300 - 30,800 £
Consumption L/100km
6.2 L/100km
Consumption L/100km
5.1 - 6.5 L/100km
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Electric Range
-
Electric Range
-
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
-
co2
140 g/km
co2
116 - 148 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
-
Fuel tank capacity
-

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
Roadster
Body Type
Hatchback
Seats
2
Seats
5
Doors
-
Doors
-
Curb weight
1,078 kg
Curb weight
1,143 - 1,378 kg
Trunk capacity
130 L
Trunk capacity
351 L
Length
-
Length
-
Width
1,735 mm
Width
1,751 mm
Height
-
Height
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Max trunk capacity
-
Payload
152 kg
Payload
432 - 457 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Petrol
Engine Type
Petrol
Transmission
Manuel
Transmission
Manuel, Automatic
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox
Transmission Detail
Manual Gearbox, Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drive Type
Rear-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
Front-Wheel Drive
Power HP
132 HP
Power HP
80 - 207 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
8.3 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
6.5 - 15.6 s
Max Speed
-
Max Speed
-
Torque
152 Nm
Torque
93 - 320 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4
Number of Cylinders
3 - 4
Power kW
97 kW
Power kW
59 - 152 kW
Engine capacity
1,496 cm3
Engine capacity
999 - 1,984 cm3

General

Model Year
2025
Model Year
2,024 - 2,025
CO2 Efficiency Class
E
CO2 Efficiency Class
D, E
Brand
Mazda
Brand
VW
DriveDuel uses data analysis and artificial intelligence to evaluate vehicle data and create content. Content is regularly reviewed and improved. The displayed prices are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted to the respective country’s VAT. Country-specific registration taxes are not included. This information is not legally binding.