Still fun to drive — just more powerful
For 2019, Mazda is giving Miatafanatics the most powerful version of its droptop sportscar yet, which also gets a number of other refinements that will make you fall in love all over again with the lightweight rearwheel drive convertible.
The headline-stealing statement is the 181 horsepower that comes from the new engine nestled snugly up front. It’s still a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, but Mazda has given it a higher redline of 7,500 rpm instead of 6,800. There’s a bit more torque, too, and10 more poundfeet at the low end of the revrange. This, combined with the higher rev limit, makes the MX-5 a bit easier to drive around town, requiring fewer gear changes.
The Japanese automaker gave this engine a thorough makeover, with a number of more robust components, including a high-flow exhaust manifold and updated intake ports to go along with lighter parts throughout the whole engine. Each piston weighs 27 grams less than before, and the connecting rods are 41 grams lighter than the outgoing model too.
Other drivetrain changes include a new final drive ratio for the automatic-equipped models and a cleverly engineered dual-mass flywheel is in place for smooth and responsive gear changes.
Eureka! The Miata can work with more power! Putting the new powertrain in action is a true joy. Mazda definitely didn’t have to make any of these changes, as the old engine and transmission were pretty good, but the new iteration is extremely refined and smooth, taking away a bit of the raw feel from the car, but providing a more accommodating and driver-friendly feel in every other way. It’s still a blast to row through the gears, and there’s great action in the manual transmission.
The engine is fantastically responsive, and you get up to speed quickly and easily.
I’ll admit, the 26 horsepower bump doesn’t feel like an obvious increase because this fourth-generation MX-5 always felt lively and fast, but I did find myself cruising in gears a bit longer, rather than aggressively firing a downshift and taking off.
One of the best handling cars Not much has changed in terms of handling, which is to say it’s good, although Mazda is now combining elements of the fan- cy GT trim with the sporty Club trim, with a GT-S model that includes stiffer, more responsive Bilstein shocks.
It’s a bit much at times, as some less maintained roads demonstrated during our road trip from San Luis Obispo to Monterey and then to San Francisco, but when you have smooth pavement it performs like few other new cars out there.
On the right roads, the MX-5 is a perfect compliment to a driver.
It makes you feel alive and engaged, as part of the whole driving experience. When cars drive as good as the MX-5 does, it’s intoxicating and refreshing since so many new cars feature nannies, safety nets and complicated technologies that take the driving feel away from the driver, while also adding weight, meaning the vehicle is less entertaining to drive. But the MX-5 is so far removed from that.
Other than the drive The MX-5 is a great car to drive, but to live with that is a bit of a stretch, as there’s a limited amount of cargo space in the trunk, allowing for maybe two carry-on sized bags and little else. There’s not much more space elsewhere, meaning the MX-5 is truly a toy and best suited as a second car.
Mazda has included a few safety features to ensure that the MX-5 doesn’t seem totally out of place in 2019. There’s now a standard rear-view camera, which sticks out on the car’s rear bumper, looking like a dimple. There’s available traffic sign recognition which is a handy feature that helps keep the driver better educated of their surroundings when they’re zipping around in the sportscar. There’s also a smart city brake system available as well, to help prevent avoidable accidents. I’m still not a fan of the blind spot monitor, which is a bit overbearing given the MX-5’s small size and excellent visibility with the roof down.
The cabin is still small, but at least it’s a bit more accommodating than before, with a telescoping steering wheel, which is a first for the MX-5, a car that’s been around for 29 years.
Choices, choices The MX-5 is still available in either soft or hardtop models, the latter of which is called the RF (for retractable fastback). It starts at $32,900 for the soft top and $39,900 for the MX-5 RF. Those prices can extend even further by adding options.
The verdict If you were worried that the new engine was going to steal some of the spotlight away from the MX-5’s handling prowess, rest easy because the engine and chassis seem like a great fit. The MX-5 is just as much fun to drive as it was before, it’s just more powerful now — and that’s far from a bad thing.