MAZDA MIATA A JOY TO BEHOLD
The affordable sports car segment is by far my favorite. These are the sweet rides that I can realistically dream of one day owning.
At the top of my list is Mazda MX-5 Miata, which I’ve been longing to drive ever since the current, fourth-generation model was released last year.
And though I was blown away by the roadster’s redesigned appearance, I was left wondering whether the Miata’s driving dynamics equaled its gorgeous exterior.
Although I was initially disappointed when I noticed the Miata had a hard roof that was painted the same metallic gray as the rest of the two-seater, it didn’t take me long to find the switch inside that allowed the retractable roof to disappear in 13 seconds, revealing a
blue sky above.
When I put the Mazda in gear and released the clutch, a throaty exhaust note was my reward for red-lining the MX-5’s six-speed manual transmission. The 155-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine swiftly hustled the two-seater up to speed.
The lightweight MX-5 was nimble in the city and had plenty of reserve power for highway passing in sixth gear without the need to downshift. The low-slung fastback felt most at home soaking up curves on winding backroads.
I found that the Mazda harmoniously blended just enough horsepower with rear-wheel drive and optimum weight balance to create a thrilling driving experience.
The Miata averaged 30 miles per gallon in combined city and highway during my week of spirited test driving. Mazda recommends filling the MX-5 with premium fuel.
The Miata convertible, which starts at just $25,000, would be my first choice, though the retractable fastback quickly grew on me. The power folding hardtop, which adds year-round practicality and security, is an independent model within the Miata lineup and starts at an additional six grand over the convertible base model. The hardtop provides a slanted roof line that — along with the 17-inch alloy wheels tucked under bulging fender flares — combine to give the MX-5 a look that is both classic and exotic. The total MSRP on my Grand Touring tester was $33,925. Other than additional cost and about 100 extra pounds, the real downside to the fastback was a lack of openness that comes with a soft-top convertible.
The Miata’s cozy and snug cockpit shares the same layout as the Mazda3. The steering wheel, shift knob and hand brake were wrapped in leather. An uncluttered center console and instrument panel allowed for focused driving. Standard features included lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring as well as stability and traction controls. A nine-speaker Bose sound system was outstanding with the roof closed, but forget it with the top down.
The only change I’d suggest is doing away with the 7-inch touch screen that is awkwardly mounted to the center console. I’d like to see a knob-controlled, retrostyled radio with satellite radio and a smartphone connection.
But don’t get me wrong, I still have a spot reserved in the garage for my Miata.