To many car enthusiasts and journalists, Miata is always the answer. What do you get to replace your Audi S4 when you also have an Audi Q5 and want something cheaper, more reliable, and manual? In my case, Miata is also the answer.
Since its launch in 1989, the Mazda MX-5 has become the best selling two-seat sports car of all time. Redesigned for the 2016 model year, the ND generation brought the Miata into the modern era while remaining as small and light as ever. Even the hardtop RF (“Retractable Fastback”) version still weighs under 2,500 pounds and is within an inch in length of the original.
In 2019, Mazda introduced minor changes, referred to as the ND2, which included 26 extra horsepower and a dual-mass flywheel. Visually, the car stayed the same, minus different color combinations. While the standard Miata offers a manual-folding cloth soft top as it always has, the RF features a power-retractable roof with fixed rear pillars, similar to Porsche’s Targa models. Personally, I prefer the looks of the hardtop but the ease and speed of use of the soft top.
Both versions are available in three trim levels, Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. Various launch and special editions have also been available over the years. From 2016 through 2018, the 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four cylinder engine produced 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. Six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions are available, but I’m not sure why you’d ever choose the latter.
Inside, the Miata offers little in the way of frills, but still has the basics to make it livable. The seats are manually adjustable, but still offer a tilt adjustment (though no lumbar). There’s no fancy self driving tech or Apple CarPlay, but the Grand Touring still comes with blind spot monitoring, heated seats, adaptive LED headlights, and rain sensing wipers. A backup camera didn’t become standard until 2018 when they became mandated in the US, but since you can almost reach and touch the back of the car, it’s not a big deal.
Nothing else on sale brand new right now truly competes with the Miata. A genuinely simple performance car is a rare thing nowadays. The Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are likely the best rivals, and while they’re highly loved cars in their own right, they’re bigger, heavier, and don’t offer an open top experience. The BMW Z4 or Porsche Boxster are the closest in terms of form factor, but those cars start anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000 more, and the BMW doesn’t offer a manual transmission anymore.
Speaking of the manual transmission, the Miata’s shifter continues to be one of the best. Even from factory, the throws are super short and crisp. Despite being a low-power, low-mass car, taking off from a stop is not difficult. The clutch is easy to get to grips with, and overall it’s still an easy manual for less experienced drivers. There’s no automatic rev matching, but the pedal placement makes heel-toe downshifting easy as well.
All manual Grand Tourings include the Club’s limited-slip differential, Bilstein dampers, and strut tower brace. Handling is obviously the main focus of the Miata. It’s not fast, but there’s no doubt it’s fun. Even in everyday driving scenarios, you can wring out the engine up to its 6,800 RPM redline and bang gears without breaking the speed limit. The diminutive size makes it easy to zip through traffic and easy to park. And when you do get on a twisty road, it’s truly one of the most down to earth driving experiences you can get these days.
And yet, the Miata is still perfectly daily drivable too. Sure, it’s noisy on the highway (though the RF is marginally quieter than the soft top) and the trunk is tiny, but it’s comfortable and refined enough. The Bose sound system is decent, and getting in and out isn’t too terrible. You just can’t have a cupholder if your passenger is burdened with having legs.
I don’t form an emotional attachment with many cars. That said, I’m less than 1,000 miles in and I already love the Miata. I already understand why Miata should be the answer, and look forward to many top-down, rev-matching miles to come.
| Vehicle Tested | 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring |
|---|---|
| Color | Jet Black Mica / Black Leather |
| Drivetrain | 2.0L NA I4, 6-spd manual, Rear wheel drive |
| HP / Torque | 155 horsepower / 148 lb-ft |
| Curb Weight | 2,430 lbs (est.) |
| 0-60 mph | 6.1 seconds (est.) |
| EPA Fuel Econ | 26 city / 33 hwy / 29 combined |
| MSRP | $35,520 (est.) |
Also Andrew 