2022 Mazda MX 5 Miata Review New MX 5 Miata Convertible Models CarBuzz
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2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata
MX-5 MiataMX-5 Miata RFMX-5 Miata All GenerationsNew20222021Used20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082022 $27,650 - $33,150 Price Range (MSRP) Build and Price 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata For Sale Cheapest Convertibles Best Small Convertibles Mazda Convertibles Mazda Sports Cars Mazda Small Cars Review Exterior Interior Trims & Specs Performance Safety & Reliability 86 Photos Compare insurance prices: Save an average of $440 Free Quote2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review The Last Of Its Kind
by Gerhard Horn The Mazda MX-5 Miata is an automotive icon, right up there with all-time greats like the Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, Mini, and Volkswagen Beetle. It perfected the drop-top roadster recipe for the modern era, initially invented by the British. Under the hood, it has a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder, producing 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, but the Miata is about much more than a set of figures. This car is all about balance and the essence of driving - the kind of car everyone should own at least once in their lives if only to experience what actual, unfiltered driving is all about. While in recent years, this corner of the market was shared with the Fiat 124 Spider which uses the same platform as the Mazda, that car is no longer on sale. However, a new Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ are worthy alternatives without the duality of a convertible. But with confirmation that by 2030, the Miata will be a hybrid, the ND-generation could be the last to retain the true purity of the original. That means that while the MX-5 name may live on, it'll never quite be the same. The time to get one is now.Read in this review
Exterior Design 9 /10 Performance 9 /10 Fuel Economy 9 /10 Interior & Cargo 6 /10 Infotainment & Features 7 /10 Reliability 10 /10 Safety 8 /10 Value For Money 9 /10 8.4 What is BuzzScore?2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Changes What s the difference vs 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata
All new Miata models benefit from some interesting updates for the 2022 model year. For starters, Mazda has incorporated Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) which further improves upon the car's cornering precision by managing the various vehicle systems based on driving conditions. Most trims have lost access to the automatic transmission which is now an option on only the Grand Touring trim. This is no shame as an MX-5 simply has to be manual. The Club trim now comes with wireless Apple CarPlay, while the Grand Touring can now be had with Terracotta Nappa leather seats. Finally, Platinum Quartz Metallic is a new exterior color option.Pros and Cons
Rev-happy naturally aspirated engineSublime handlingThe ride is relatively comfortableLots of safety kitHigh-quality, minimalist interiorManual gearbox Interior is tightLoud on the freewaySmall trunkBest Deals on 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring $34,460 1 miles 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club $33,214 7 miles Fair Deal Average price 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring $35,399 7 miles Fair Deal Average price 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club $32,215 N/A miles Fair Deal Average price See All MX-5 Miata For Sale2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Trims
See trim levels and configurations: Trim Engine Transmission Drivetrain Price (MSRP) Sport 2.0L Inline-4 Gas 6-Speed Manual Rear-Wheel Drive $27,650 Club 2.0L Inline-4 Gas 6-Speed Manual Rear-Wheel Drive $31,150 Grand Touring 2.0L Inline-4 Gas 6-Speed Automatic 6-Speed Manual Rear-Wheel Drive $32,650 See All 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Trims and SpecsHandling and Driving Impressions
Everyday road driving isn't a chore. The Miata is stiffer than the average car, but it doesn't jar the bones when it runs over a dime. It's easy to drive, and the standard brakes do an admirable job. You can upgrade to Brembo brakes on the manual Club model, but this is hardly necessary for day-to-day driving considering the low curb weight. Because the suspension isn't that stiff, the Miata leans in the corners. Even when you add the Bilstein dampers and sport-tuned suspension (standard on manual Club and Grand Touring variants), it will still lean a little. Usually, this would be considered a downside in a driver's car like the Miata, but it actually adds to the roadster's appeal. Thanks to that little bit of lean, you can tell precisely when it's going to go. The chassis is highly communicative, and the steering is direct and fast, albeit a bit devoid of feel. Some experience the Miata as snappy, but we think it's a car you get comfortable with over time. Power oversteer is impossible in anything but slippery conditions, but you can coax some sideways action out of it by dipping the clutch, or trail braking into a corner. Since there isn't much power, all of this happens at a manageable speed, which is more than you can say for most performance sedans and supercars these days. The Mazda is thrilling at speeds even the police can comfortably endorse. The Club and Grand Touring trim add a limited-slip differential and a front shock tower brace in addition to the Bilstein dampers. These features are only available on the manual, however, so try to make sure you get one of these for a test drive. We like to think of this as another sign that the manual is the only way to go. For 2022, Mazda has incorporated Kinematic Posture Control for better engagement and cornering precision. For example, it'll slightly brake the inner rear wheel when high-g cornering takes place. It adds another layer to the car's impressive dynamic talents. Now Buzzing First Drive 2023 Toyota Crown First Drive Review: A Tale Of Two Hybrids Electric Vehicles Tesla Cybertruck Spotted With Production-Ready Rear End Sports Cars 2023 BMW M2 Coming With Optional Center-Lock Wheels Crash Watch A Seventh-Gen Toyota Hilux Truck Launch Into The Air After Losing Control Auctions One-Off Plymouth Barracuda Four-Door Is A Muscle Car Unicorn Tuning 700-Horsepower 2023 Nissan Z By AMS Performance Hits Nine-Second Quarter MileVerdict Is the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata a good car
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a spectacular car. It reminds driving enthusiasts what really matters. Over the last decade, we've been watching the horsepower war with fascination. A four-door sedan with 600 hp is no big deal anymore, EVs are crushing 0 to 60 mph times, and a BMW M4 Competition now has more than 500 hp. There's no better time to be alive. There is a glaring problem with this silly horsepower war, however. Apart from the fact that 0 to 60 mph times are meaningless, performance cars are now too fast for public roads. A humble hot hatch like the Honda Civic Type R only starts feeling alive at speeds that will land you in front of a judge faster than the Miata can get to 60 mph. We have hundreds of performance cars and nowhere to use them except on track. The MX-5 is fun at all speeds. It's a riot, even when it's doing no more than 40 mph. It's one of a handful of cars you can drive hard without getting into (too much) trouble. It's also affordable, which is rare these days. There are few cheap fun cars left. Off the top of our heads, the Subaru BRZ, Toyota GR 86, Mini Cooper hardtop, Hyundai Veloster N, and Golf GTI come to mind. And that's about it. One day we'll look back at these cars and realize that the constant battle for horsepower and 0 to 60 mph supremacy meant nothing. Hopefully, then, the lightweight, affordable, fun car will make a return, but by then, everything will be electric.Check out other Mazda MX-5 Miata Styles
MX-5 Miata RF Compare2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Comparisons
CarBuzz CarBuzz2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
If you want a Mazda Miata hardtop, the RF is as close to that as you'll get. It's essentially the same car but with a Targa-style roof that adds around 100 lbs to the curb weight. That's the equivalent of having a third grader with you at all times. It doesn't blunt the performance, however. It also offers a more refined experience, as the roof does a much better job of keeping wind and road noise out when closed. You also don't have to fold it manually. Still, we maintain that MX-5 Miata owners simply don't care about the road noise and the manually folding roof. The Miata offers an authentic roadster experience, which is exactly what its customers are after. The RF is also more expensive. A base soft top is over $7,000 cheaper than the base RF, although the RF admittedly only starts at the middle spec level. Still, that's a massive pile of money in this segment, so we'd stick with the MX-5 with a ragtop. It's lighter, simpler, and, believe it or not, more practical since the rear parcel shelf can actually be used. See Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Review2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata vs Subaru BRZ
Subaru's all-new BRZ is here and it is one of the few true competitors to the MX-5 despite having a fixed roof. Starting at just under $28,000, the two cars are nearly identical in price. With a larger 2.4-liter engine and 228 hp, the latest BRZ provides similar performance to the lighter MX-5. The Subaru is also more practical with its 2+2 seating layout and a larger trunk. Each car is a great example of the less-is-more mantra; they feel playful and engrossing to drive without too much of anything corrupting the experience. They even have similar flaws: both are noisy on the open road. The Mazda does have a classier interior, though, especially in Grand Touring guise. Choosing between these two cars is no easy task but we'll side with the Mazda for its high-quality cabin and drop-top allure.See Subaru BRZ Review