The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Affordable roadster fun
- Excellent handling
- Flawless manual transmission
- Available power hardtop
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Dislikes
- Totally impractical
- Frustrating infotainment
- No storage space
- Flimsy cupholders
- Not the value it used to be
Buying tip
features & specs
You won’t find the Mazda MX-5 Miata’s driving enjoyment in any other car at this price point.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata? What does it compare to?
This Mazda is the world’s bestselling roadster, with few direct rivals thanks to its starting price of around $30,000. This two-seat convertible puts its driver and passenger low to the road, with excellent driving dynamics that optimize its modest power. It more closely compares to coupes like the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 than luxury roadsters like the BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster.
Is the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata a good car?
Yes, when driving enjoyment is the priority. However, the MX-5 Miata lacks cargo space, passenger space, comfort, and convenience features. This impractical but undeniably fun car earns a 5.4 out of 10 TCC Rating. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
We expect the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata to carry over unchanged.
This lean, low roadster comes with a manual black cloth top or, in RF (Retractable Fastback) form, a power hardtop that can open in 13 seconds. The RF is available in mid-range Club trim with the Brembo BBS Recaro package, or in the top Grand Touring trim.
The Miata enables the driver to enjoy the road unlike any other car available. With this Mazda’s extremely low ride height and perfect weight balance, the modest 181-hp 2.0-liter inline-4 feels quicker and more powerful than it is, aided by a smooth 6-speed manual and independent rear suspension. The Miata is less practical than nearly every other car on the road, but provides a more visceral experience than much more expensive sports cars.
The Miata keeps standard features to a minimum. The 7.0-inch touchscreen includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though it’s frustrating to use, as well as low-speed automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, and lane-departure warnings.
The MX-5 Miata comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
How much does the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata cost?
Plan to spend about $30,000 for a base Miata Sport, though it and the mid-tier Club trim get only a 6-speed manual transmission. You’ll need to step up to the Grand Touring to get the option of a 6-speed automatic for $500. Budget about $40,000 for a Miata Club with the Brembo BBS Recaro package and RF retractable hardtop.
Where is the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata made?
In Hiroshima, Japan.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Styling
No matter how many times you see a MX-5 Miata, it always stands out from the crowd.
Is the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata a good-looking car?
Yes. This petite roadster wears graceful curves that connect a long nose and snug tail, for a master class in automotive design. The taut body earns two points and the minimalist, distraction-free cabin racks up another, for an 8.
The Miata looks great on its standard 16-inch alloy wheels that sit flush with the curvaceous fenders, though the dark silver tone of the optional 17-inch wheels is a worthwhile upgrade. The sweet smirk of the grille is a highlight of the front end, topped by a pert nose that flows into rounded haunches back to the cute circular taillights.
The standard black cloth roof is designed for easy one-handed operation, but the RF’s body-color hardtop segments has its own appeal, too. When the Club RF is equipped with the Brembo BBS Recaro package, it gets red brake calipers that highlight the BBS 17-inch forged wheels and a black-painted hardtop.
Inside, you’ll find mostly black surfaces in a range of soft-touch materials and cloth upholstery, while a dainty amount of chromed plastic dresses up the switches and steering wheel.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance
The MX-5 Miata shuns everything else in favor of driving enjoyment.
The Miata is as pure of a sports car as they come, with its taut, lightweight body, low stance, and rear-wheel drive. This Mazda’s exceptional response and handling keep pace on curvy racetracks even among much more expensive and powerful cars. It’s an 8.
Is the Mazda MX-5 4WD?
No, nor should it be. The Miata combines rear-wheel drive and a perfect 50/50 weight balance.
How fast is the Miata?
The Miata gets just one engine, a 2.0-liter inline-4 rated for 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. Its sub-six-second 0-60-mph run won’t especially impress, but the Miata’s driving dynamics are the objective here.
The Mazda Miata sounds a lot faster than it is, with its low seating position and the engine pushed toward its 7,200-rpm limit, particularly with the top open. The direct steering and available limited-slip rear differential give a distinct pleasure to maintaining speed along curvy roads. The perfectly tuned front double wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension features strong yet lightweight aluminum arms to give the Miata a magical connection to the pavement. Kinematic Posture Control, Mazda’s torque vectoring system, applies the brake at the inside rear wheel to maintain traction and minimize lifting. The ride is generally compliant, though the short, taut wheelbase means the Miata tends to skip over rough roads.
Stick with the 6-speed manual transmission for the best experience. The Miata’s short shifts emphasize the connection to the road, and the clutch has perfect travel and firmness.
The Miata Club with the manual transmission can be upgraded with the Brembo BBS Recaro package, which adds heated Recaro sport seats, Brembo front brakes with red brake calipers, BBS 17-inch forged wheels, and black exterior trim.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Comfort & Quality
Pick one lucky passenger and travel light.
The Mazda MX-5 Miata earns a point for its good overall fit and finish, though it loses points for its tight front seats, lack of rear seat, and tiny trunk. It’s a 3.
The Miata has little room for anything extra, and is extremely simple in base form. The standard manually-adjustable cloth seats provide comfortable lower body support, but the bolsters may be too snug for wider torsos and shoulders, and tall people will feel pinched in terms of headroom and legroom.
Mazda supplies removable cupholders, but they’re flimsy and take up knee space. There’s a small cubby behind the armrest for interior storage, but everything else needs to stow away in the small trunk.
For better insulation from wind and road noise, consider upgrading to the RF. Wind buffeting is minimized thanks to a windscreen between the headrests. In models with headrest speakers, the driver can take wireless calls even with the top down at highway speeds.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Safety
The Mazda MX-5 Miata hasn’t been crash-tested, and likely never will be.
How safe is the Mazda MX-5?
The IIHS and the NHTSA haven’t put the Miata through crash evaluations, so we don’t assign a rating here. As one of the lightest, smallest cars on the road, the Miata’s likely to take the brunt of any collision.
Mazda equips the Miata with front and rear LED lighting, lane-departure warnings, blind-spot monitors, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Adaptive headlights and automatic high-beams come with the Grand Touring.
Even with the top up, outward vision is better than we’d expect, though the rear pillar of the RF coupe obstructs rear vision.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Features
The Mazda Miata’s awkward infotainment system is made palatable with standard smartphone integration.
The Mazda Miata isn’t quite the value it used to be, but it still earns a point. However, the poor infotainment setup loses a point. It’s a 5.
The base $30,150 Miata Sport comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen with two big flaws. The touchscreen doesn’t engage while the car is in motion, forcing use of the much more distracting console dial, and the icons are too small and hard to push. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are more useful than the available presets. Keyless entry, Bluetooth, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel also come standard.
Mazda backs the Miata with a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Which Mazda MX-5 should I buy?
The Club is a solid value for about $34,000. It includes wired Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, and a Bose stereo with speakers in the headrests. Also consider upgrades such as Bilstein dampers, a limited-slip rear differential, a front strut tower brace, a black rear lip spoiler, and black-painted 17-inch wheels.
The Miata is a little more practical in RF retractable fastback form, but the Club trim requires the $2,500 Brembo BBS Recaro package to open up the hard roof option.
How much is a fully loaded 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata?
The Miata Grand Touring starts at about $36,000 with the cloth top and about $39,000 for the RF model, and the automatic transmission is another $500 or $550. This configuration will satisfy most shoppers without the need for aftermarket tuning.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Fuel Economy
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has average fuel efficiency for a small car.
Is the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata good on gas?
With both the soft top and the retractable hardtop, the lightweight, rear-wheel-drive Miata with the manual transmission gets EPA ratings of 26 mpg city, 35 highway, 29 combined. That’s good for a 3.
The Miata is a little more efficient with the automatic transmission, good for 26/35/30 mpg, but that single combined mpg shouldn’t be the reason to sacrifice the fun of shifting.
