2022 Mazda MX 5 Miata Performance Engine Horsepower Transmission CarBuzz
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance: Engine, Horsepower, Transmission CarBuzz News Features New Cars Used Cars Sell My Car Shopping Tools Car Reviews Car Finder Compare Cars Best Cars Car Dealerships Used Car Reviews Car Advice Home Cars Mazda 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance
6-Speed ManualRWD29 MPG
30 MPG
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance
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 9.0 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance Rating2022 MX-5 Miata Performance
All models use the same 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine delivering 181 hp and 151 lb-ft. All the power is sent to the rear wheels. The power output might seem minuscule, but a 2,341-pound body doesn't require a lot of power to move it around. Mazda doesn't provide claimed performance figures, but independent tests have shown that the Miata can go from 0 to 60 mph in under six seconds and it can reach a top speed of around 140 mph. The performance figures are irrelevant, however. There are only two figures that matter. The first is the weight, while the second is the weight distribution. Once again, if you look at the Miata from the side, you'll see the balance. The steering wheel sits in the middle, with the engine mounted directly in front of it but behind the front wheels. It's essentially a front mid-engined car. The front weight is balanced by the rear wheels, trunk, roof folding mechanism, and passengers. As the driver, you are seated in the perfect location to feel everything: the front diving down under braking, the body leaning during hard cornering, and the rear end losing traction. Simply put, it's the distillation of driving, as pure an experience as you're ever likely to encounter in the modern era.2022 MX-5 Miata Performance Photos
CarBuzz CarBuzz CarBuzzEngine and Transmission
Every once in a while, we drive a superb turbocharged engine with almost no turbo lag at all. The power delivery is also linear, and the engine is happy to rev to 6,000 rpm. As a motoring writer, you trick yourself into believing that perhaps turbocharging is the answer. And then you drive a Miata and realize what a big load of baloney it all is. Sure, there's something to be said for turbocharging, but nothing responds as eagerly as a naturally aspirated engine. You also forget that the final third of the tachometer is by far the most fun. An engine that revs to 6,000 rpm is fun, but an engine that revs all the way to 7,500 or even 8,000 rpm is exponentially more fun. Here, the full 181 hp only arrives at 7,000 rpm, but this isn't the most tuneful four-pot Mazda's ever built. Because of that, you might be tempted to shift at 5,000 rpm, but it's well worthwhile just keeping your foot in it until it hits the red line at 7,500 rpm. This tiny car will love it. As this is a car that wants to expose you to as much of the driving experience as possible, it comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. It's a lovely short-throw box that clicks and clacks joyously through its ratios. There's something to be said for taking charge of the gears. Nothing is standing in your way if you want to tackle a corner in third gear at 7,200 rpm. A six-speed automatic transmission is available, but if we owned a Mazda dealership, we'd employ a large burly man with a baseball bat to chase away anyone who enquires about said self-shifter. There is a delay between when you pull the paddle and the actual shift. You have to learn how to time downshifts perfectly. This would be fine if the manual didn't exist, but it does. Do yourself a favor and get a manual Miata. If you don't want to put in the work, this probably isn't the right car for you anyway, but then again, even an automatic Miata is better than none at all.2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance Specs
Mazda MX-5 Miata TrimsMazda MX-5 Miata EnginesMazda MX-5 Miata HorsepowerMazda MX-5 Miata TransmissionsMazda MX-5 Miata DrivetrainsMazda MX-5 Miata MPG/MPGE Sport2.0L Inline-4 Gas181 hp @ 7000 rpm6-Speed ManualRWD29 MPG Club2.0L Inline-4 Gas181 hp @ 7000 rpm6-Speed ManualRWD29 MPG Grand Touring2.0L Inline-4 Gas181 hp @ 7000 rpm6-Speed Automatic6-Speed ManualRWD29 MPG
30 MPG