The venerable MX-5 Miata has always been a guaranteed ticket for fun in Mazda showrooms. The tiny two-seater excels in the art of making driving slow fun with the car featuring exceptional handling and a six-speed manual that’s still one of the best that the segment has to offer. However, the MX-5 is also one of the few cars remaining in Mazda’s vehicle lineup as the Japanese automaker focuses on electrification and SUVs. Mazda also promised that a next-generation model is coming but does the current generation model have enough in the tank to help it stay ahead of the pack?
Aging MX-5 styling does little to tarnish this gem
The ND generation Miata made its debut all the way back in 2015 with the first major updates being done to the car in 2019. The core look hasn;t changed much over the years and while other vehicles might buckle to the ravages of age and time, the MX-5’s look has a unique appeal that has allowed it to remain fresh in the sports car segment. The front fascia gets slender headlights and a large front grille with the classic long hood and short trunk profile continuing to be a prominent part of overall experience. The droptop in our tester continues to be one of the easiest to use in the segment with the top only requiring one hand to raise it up or down.
Club models like our example get blacked-out accents with BBS-sourced wheels and Brembo brakes. These accents pop in certain colors including the vivid red paint that our tester had when it arrived at our office. The squat rear end gets stylish taillights but to the surprise o no one, the trunk is rather small with the space barely having room for small bags or light groceries. RF models trade the top for an elaborate folding roof but while it allows the MX-5 to have better protection from rain or the occasional surprise snowstorm we recommend sticking with the convertible since it demands less trunk space and also helps lower the price slightly.
The cramped interior is still a weakness
The interior is one of the few where you don’t just sit in it, you wear it with the space having room for two adults and not much else. The glovebox is even moved to the rear of the cabin with a small door offering space for small valuables. The cargo space here is paltry, to say the least, and is considerably less than what you get in the Toyota GR86 and the Subaru BRZ coupes with the duo not only boasting a bigger trunk but also fold-down rear seats that allow owners to haul more cargo as well as a spare set of tires.
The MX-5’s tech also reflects the tight quarters that Mazda had to work with when they were designing the interior with our Club example getting an 8.8-inch infotainment system with the compact unit featuring hard button controls and a large rotary knob that allows owners to navigate around various menus. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard with an optional Bose premium audio system putting four of these speakers in the headrests in a trick that’s very similar to what Pontiac used in the Fiero back in the 1980s.
Fuel efficiency trumps speed
Performance for the 2024 MX-5 continues to come from a naturally aspirated four-cylinder that makes 191 hp and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Mazda says the combination is enough to get the soft to to 60 mph in just over 5 seconds with the heavier RF adding a tenth or so to that time. The four-cylinder is pretty torquey for what it is, but it’s a far cry from some of the bigger four-cylinders in the segment including those in the Ford Mustang and the aforementioned BRZ/GR86 twins.
That said, the engine does make up for it by allowing the MX-5 to be very fuel efficient with the model getting 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg. Handling in our tester is like operating a scalpel with the steering doing a good job delivering plenty of control and feedback with the Club’s enhanced suspension adding an extra degree of poise to the driving experience.
Value Quotient
Pricing for the 2024 MX-5 starts at $28,985 for the base Sport model. Clubs like our tester represent the middle of the model lineup and have a base price of $32,485. Our tester arrived with a light sprinkling of options but their presence did little to alter the price with oru tester still managing to end up over $35,000. This pricing puts it in the hunt with many of its rivals and the ability to raise and lower the roof allows the MX-5 to have a unique selling point when viewed alongside some of its rivals.
That said, we look forward to seeing what updates Mazda has in store for the MX-5. It’s no secret that the model is long overdue for a revamp and recent statement from the company suggests that the wait will be worth it especially if the MX-5 will embrace some form of electrification to improve performance and fuel economy.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.