2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Overview

Mazda’s minuscule MX-5 Miata sports car may be small, but it packs a big, fun personality. This two-door drop-top is a blast to drive thanks to its relatively light curb weight and finely tuned chassis, the combination of which makes the MX-5 endlessly thrilling to drive on twisty back roads or challenging tracks. A 181-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder is the only powerplant available. Despite its meager output, the four-pot is eager to rev. It’s also well-matched to the Miata’s standard six-speed manual transmission. Mazda offers the Miata with either a soft top or a retractable hardtop. The latter bears the name RF. Regardless of top type, the Miata is at its best with its top down. That said, the Miata’s everyday practicality is questionable, and its snug cabin, small trunk, and limited interior cubby storage require compromise to use it as a daily driver. We should know: We had one as a long-term test car a few years back. We loved it, drawbacks and all, which is why you'll find it on our Editors' Choice list again this year.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

#3 in Best Affordable Sports Cars

1

Toyota GR86

STARTING AT: $30,395

2

Subaru BRZ

STARTING AT: $31,315

3

Mazda MX-5 Miata

STARTING AT: $30,170

What's New for 2024?

Mazda’s iconic little roadster receives a light styling refresh for 2024 that includes new exterior lighting elements, a tweaked grille, and new wheel designs. A new 8.8-inch infotainment display replaces the previous model year’s 7.0-inch screen. All Miatas with a manual transmission receive a new limited-slip differential. Tweaks to the car’s suspension system and power steering system are said to improve handling. Mazda also adds some new driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control and a rear-automated emergency braking system.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Mazda kept the Miata’s trim levels intact from the 2023 lineup, but the base car's pricing has increased past the $30,000 mark—a first for the model. While we like the idea of the most inexpensive Miata possible, we think the Club softtop represents the best value, and you might want to add the $4800 Brembo/BBS/Recaro package because it includes desirable updates to the brakes, wheels, and seats.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Miata's engine revs eagerly and is powerful enough to deliver stirring acceleration. The direct, easy-to-shift manual transmission only encourages the driver to explore the upper regions of the Miata’s tach. Even the optional automatic impresses, with quick shifts and sporty programming. The soft-top model ran to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds in our testing; the slightly heavier hardtop RF model needed 5.8. Miatas ride tautly and can get bouncy when driven over a quick succession of bumps. The Club's shocks and springs return the firmest ride of the lineup, although no Miata rides poorly. The handling is sharp, eager, and playful. We especially enjoy the light, tactile steering; it cuts like a great running back and keeps the driver informed of what the front tires are doing. This is a fun car, plain and simple.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Chalk up another "W" in the Miata's column for its light curb weight. With such a small amount of car to haul around, the 2.0-liter engine manages relatively high EPA fuel-economy numbers of up to 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. On our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route, a soft top Grand Touring model delivered 36 mpg and a hardtop RF Club managed 37 mpg, both equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. For more information about the Miata's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

You don't sit in a Miata so much as wear it. The cabin is a cozy fit for two adults and includes only the essentials. While some might categorize the interior as spare, glass-half-full types (us) appreciate the businesslike prioritization of the steering wheel, pedals, shifter, and tachometer—and the refreshingly basic accommodations. With few storage cubbies, not to mention a tiny trunk, the Miata barely acknowledges the need to bring along your personal effects. Then again, its Lilliputian dimensions make few promises in the way of practicality. If you pack light, the trunk can accommodate a weekend's worth of stuff for two. Meanwhile, the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GR86 twins crush the Miata when it comes to cargo space; their folding rear seats allow owners to haul up to four full-size wheels and tires (for, say, a track day) between the trunk and the cabin.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

The Miata boasts an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. An easy-to-reach control knob and hard buttons on the center console make the setup reasonably easy to use. Every Miata comes standard with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A Bose stereo is available as an upgrade with speakers embedded in the Miata’s headrests.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Miata's driver-assistance features are all standard. For more information about the Miata's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
• Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross traffic alert
• Standard adaptive cruise control

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Miata's warranty coverage is average and both of its direct rivals—the BRZ and GR86—offer similar coverage. The Toyota comes with two years of complimentary maintenance while the Mazda and Subaru do not.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

Specifications

Specifications:

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door convertible

PRICE AS TESTED: $34,980 (base price: $30,510)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 122 cu in, 1998 cc
Power: 181 hp @ 7000 rpm
Torque: 151 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual

CHASSIS:
Suspension (F/R): control arms/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 11.0-in vented disc/11.0-in disc
Tires: Bridgestone Potenza S001, 205/45R-17 84W

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 90.9 in
Length: 154.1 in
Width: 68.3 in Height: 48.6 in
Passenger volume:  49 cu ft
Trunk volume: 5 cu ft
Curb weight: 2345 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 5.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 16.1 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 27.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.4 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 10.2 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 9.9 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.5 sec @ 95 mph
Top speed (drag limited, C/D est): 140 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 170 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.90 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY:
Observed: 30 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY:
Combined/city/highway: 29/26/34 mpg 

c/d testing explained

 

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring

VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door targa

PRICE AS TESTED
$36,350 (base price: $35,925)

ENGINE TYPE
DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 122 cu in, 1998 cc
Power: 181 hp @ 7000 rpm
Torque: 151 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic

CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): control arms/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 11.0-in vented disc/11.0-in disc
Tires: Bridgestone Potenza S001, 205/45R-17 84W

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 90.0 in
Length: 154.1 in
Width: 68.3 in
Height: 49.0 in
Passenger volume: 49 cu ft
Trunk volume: 5 cu ft
Curb weight: 2484 lb

C/D
TEST RESULTS
Zero to 60 mph: 6.5 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 17.3 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 30.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.9 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.1 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 137 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 161 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.90 g

C/D
FUEL ECONOMY
75-mph highway driving: 38 mpg
Highway range: 450 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 30/26/25 mpg

More Features and Specs