In my eyes, the Mazda Miata is simply an amazing roadster. That's been the case from its inception. I want to share with you some of the key features and favorite elements that make it a standout in the highly competitive roadster community.
Zipping around Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and the beaches was a perfect experience to see what this little roadster can do.
Let's start with the exterior design. If I step to the car I notice the way the aggressive Miata stance and it looks sharp as a knife. The mix of sharp edges and rounded curves create a near perfect blend of aesthetics that's easy to favor. The front fascia is adorned with sleek narrow headlights and is also complimented by an open grill so when you step back and look at that combined with the lower front spoiler it gives the appearance as if it's on the hunt.
The side profile is just as impressive. Here you can see how the hood slopes down to the front continuing the shark like design with a slight swell above the wheel well. The middle design is also sleeker than before as designers found a way to still give it an elegance and style flowing all the way back to the rear. That rear is blunt and absolute. Speaking of the rear, the trunk area is small but not tiny and it's much more functional than one would imagine at a glance.
Let's take a look on the inside. At 6ft 3', I've learned to get in and out of a low roadster without putting too much pressure on my knees. Obviously the first thing I'm thinking about is if my knees are going to be crunched up against the lower area under the steering wheel. That can be a problem in smaller cars but not here. I'm also sitting in the seat evaluating my headroom which is quite ample. In the case of this particular Miata, I can drop the top if necessary but not because of the lack of space. The driver area is quite simple, easy to navigate, and like most roadsters, right to the point.
The entire dash is organic due to its simplicity and ease of use. The controls for the air conditioning, and the entertainment and automotive readouts are also simply a touch away and easy to understand. Mazda designers know that people who drive rosters love to drive and don't want to be burdened with overly complicated technology and an overabundance of buttons and knobs. Mazda has refined its dash and center stack area where there's just enough storage, information resources, and solid design features.
The drivers and passenger seats feel great. From the performance inspired bucket seats to the leg space, it all works out. Don't even think about the back seat though, like most roasters there's not much to work with back there. In the case of the convertible we tested, that area was a perfect space for the soft top roof to fold down into when you detatch it from the the inside manually.
The performance on the Miata is where everything really comes to life because that's where we literally find the rubber hitting the road. It's zippy, concise, and straight up lots of fun to drive. You feel like you're in a roadster in this car because its attitude, demeanor and performance all speak to what roadsters are supposed to be about.
They inspire passion, fun, and a boost of energy. Roadsters deliver a sense of adventure and the Miata has a legacy of delivering the goods. The Mazda MX-5 Soft Top's legendary performance begins with a near perfectly calibrated 50/50 balance, paired with 181 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm. I can rock that all day and I did my best to maximize the driving experience, for you this review.
I'm in love. Can you tell?
Its hard to not like anything about the Miata. The set up included for the 2022 model year is a six-speed manual transmission. But there's more on the specs below.
One of the impressive performance enhancements include Mazda's new technology called Kinematic Posture Control that provides the MX-5 Miata with better stability when cornering. Honestly, every enhancement helps and this is one that you can feel in the drive. Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) offers an improvement in high-g cornering precision and confidence. KPC is an all-new technology developed by Mazda that manages different vehicle systems to help the MX-5 Miata behave as a harmonious extension of the driver's body without adding a single gram of weight. Equipped with 17-inch high-performance tires, the Mazda MX-5 Miata RF carries a speed rating of 149 MPH. Impressed? I am.
The MX-5 Miata's rear suspension is already designed to help keep the vehicle planted to the ground when the brakes are applied. Mazda notes that KPC takes advantage of this and applies a very slight brake to the inner rear wheel during high-g cornering. This pulls down on that corner, suppressing body roll, and making steering response feel more linear through tight corners. Slightly stronger braking is used when accelerating through a corner, enhancing the limited slip effect.
Here are the stats on the Mazda Miata.
Acceleration: 0-60 mph: 6 to 6.4 seconds
Bore: 3.3″
Cargo volume: 4.59 ft³
Engine cylinder configuration: Straight engine
Dimensions: 154″ L x 68″ W x 49″ H
If in doubt, check it out. Visit a local dealer for a test drive and tell them I sent you.