Few cars deliver driving thrills at an affordable price quite like the Mazda MX-5 Miata. What can I say about the Mazda MX-5 Miata that I haven’t said in my previous reviews? It is the best-selling two-seat sports car in the history of the world. It has even been called the answer to everything, Miata Is Always The Answer. Mazda introduced the current, fourth-generation model for the 2016 model year and it issued a mid-cycle refresh with more power and a higher redline for 2019.
The 2021 Miata pushes 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. The Miata’s engine revs eagerly (peak horsepower arrives at 7,000 rpm) and is powerful enough to deliver stirring acceleration and pushes you to explore the engine’s high-revving personality. It is a super fun four-cylinder paired with either an automatic or a six-speed manual. However Mazda has eliminated the six-speed automatic transmission from most of the MX-5 Miata’s trims for 2022, making it available only on the Grand Touring where it is a $500 option on the convertible and a $550 option on the RF. It is well known that the Miata’s handling is eager and playful, which makes encountering twisty roads a joyful experience. But Mazda has incorporated a new feature called Kinematic Posture Control that sharpens handling by applying small amounts of brake pressure on the inner rear wheel during cornering. Mazda says this reduces body roll and improves stability. The handling is eager, and the Miata changes direction promptly, the light, tactile steering responds immediately and keeps the driver informed of what the tires are doing.
Going with the Club trim (our test vehicle) on the Miata RF adds the wonderful Brembo BBS Recaro package that includes Brembo brakes, BBS wheels, and Recaro seats. The mid-range Club trim strikes the best balance of features and performance with its limited-slip differential, Bilstein suspension, front shock-tower brace, Brembo brakes and 205/45-series Bridgestone Potenza summer tires, heated seats, and a nine-speaker Bose stereo system. The Club’s firmer shocks and springs return the stiffest ride of the lineup, although we have yet to find a Miata that rides poorly.
You have the option of either a manual soft-top, or a power folding top on the RF model. If you want a quieter ride, look at the MX-5 Miata RF. The Club trim starts at $31,285 including $995 for destination, and a base MX-5 Sport costs $27,825.
Inside the Miata’s interior is snug but equipped, with infotainment features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across all trims. As to driving aids Lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring are the only driver-assistance systems offered, and they are rather sensitive. When it comes to space in the rear, if you pack light, the car can accommodate a weekend’s worth of stuff for two, or 4.5 cubic feet of space. In comparison the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GR 86 twins surpass the Miata when it comes to cargo space with their folding rear seats.
This is a fun car, plain and simple. Sure, the back end will step out every now and then, but it is all in good fun and a quick flick of the steering wheel fixes any playful slide. The Mazda MX-5 Miata provides a joyously distilled sports car experience, if it’s pure driving pleasure you want, in terms of smiles per dollar, it’s hard to beat the MX-5.
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