The Mazda MX-5 Miata remained the clear sales leader among three affordable rear-wheel-drive sports cars in the United States in August 2026, outselling the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 combined as the segment continues to attract a small but dedicated group of buyers.
Miata Leads the August Sales Race
None of the three sports cars sold more than 1,000 units in August, highlighting the niche nature of the segment. However, Miata sales increased 10.1% from the same month last year, with 925 units sold.
Mazda reported 505 convertible Miatas and 420 RF retractable hardtops during the month. That total was enough to comfortably surpass both the BRZ and GR86 combined.
| Model | August 2026 Sales | August 2025 Sales | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | 925 | 840 | 10.1% |
| Subaru BRZ | 235 | 220 | 6.5% |
| Toyota GR86 | 512 | 987 |
The numbers remain modest, but the growth posted by the Miata and BRZ points to continued demand for affordable, entry-level sports cars.
2026 Sales Keep the Miata on Top
The sales ranking through the first eight months of 2026 is similar. The Miata leads the trio with 6,909 units sold, an increase of 2.0% year-over-year.
The Toyota GR86 ranks second with 5,182 units, down 30.5%, while the Subaru BRZ sits third with 2,020 units, representing a 4.1% decline.
The July results looked somewhat different. The BRZ was the only model among the three to post year-over-year growth that month, although the increase was small. Subaru sold 233 BRZ models, just 11 more than in July of the previous year.
Meanwhile, GR86 sales fell 36.3% to 663 units, while Miata sales declined 16.3% to 974 cars in July.
Subaru WRX Shows Stronger Performance
While the BRZ, Miata and GR86 continue to post relatively modest sales, Subaru’s WRX is showing stronger performance. The sports sedan’s volume is up 37.7% for the year, with Subaru selling 10,324 units so far.
The WRX also performed well in August, with 1,778 vehicles delivered. That was up 191% from August 2025.
What’s New for the Miata, BRZ and GR86?
Mazda, Subaru and Toyota continue to make modest updates to their sports cars to keep them desirable.
The Miata added a new Zinc Green Metallic color. There have also been rumors that Mazda is preparing a fifth generation of the sports car, although there is no confirmed launch date.
For the BRZ, Subaru is introducing a revised manual shifter that benefits from what the company has learned through racing in Japan. The exact changes have not been disclosed, but the motorsport knowledge is expected to produce an improved feel when shifting through the gears.
Toyota, meanwhile, has continued to keep the GR86 fresh with special editions. The Hakone Edition and Trueno Edition, for example, pay tribute to the model’s spiritual connection to the AE86 Corolla as a legendary platform for drifting.
How Other Sports Cars Are Selling
The Toyota GR Supra’s production ended in the first half of this year, making its sharp sales decline unsurprising. Just 58 units were sold in August, compared with 311 in August 2025.
The Honda Prelude recorded 389 sales in August and 2,466 for the year to date. Honda has said its sales target for the Prelude is 300 to 350 units per month, and sales appeared to be on track with that target throughout the first half of the year.
Even so, none of those sales figures come close to the volume generated by the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
The Miata’s Position in the Sports Car Market
The Miata won the August 2026 sales race among the three affordable sports cars, but the overall numbers remain small. The BRZ, MX-5 and GR86 may be exciting and fairly affordable, yet they are not practical choices for the vast majority of buyers.
Families, pets and other everyday needs can make a two-seater or cramped 2+2 coupe impractical for daily use. As a result, these remain niche products aimed at a specific group of enthusiasts.
At this point, the Miata is virtually guaranteed to beat the Toyobaru twins for the inexpensive sports car crown in 2026. Whether it can outsell the BRZ and GR86 combined will become clearer when third-quarter 2026 sales are released in early October.
