Used 2021 MAZDA MX-5 Miata

The 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2-seater roadster is one of the few cars that still flies the flag for undiluted driving fun, with accessible power and affordable pricing. It has the classic front-engine/rear-drive layout, but the chassis is so predictable, progressive, and benign. It’s a perfect introduction to the specific thrills of rear-wheel drive.

Yet even the most experienced drivers will still find joy in the MX-5’s tiny footprint and sublime handling. Its turning radius is wonderfully small, its suspension taut, and its steering wonderfully precise. A soft-top comes as standard, but the power-retractable hard top of the RF model makes the MX-5 more likely to be a year-round mode of transport.

Competition is sparse, the closest being rear-drive coupes from the joint Subaru/Toyota venture, the BRZ and Toyota 86. But nothing feels quite like the MX-5 Miata.

The 2021 MX-5 is at its best when the road twists and turns, revealing just how good and beautifully balanced the chassis is. A couple of years ago, Mazda tweaked the MX-5’s suspension, manual transmission, and engine (boosting output to 181 horsepower), improving what was already a fantastic driver’s car. Many Mazda engineers have an MX-5 for weekend fun, which is quite a convincing endorsement.

Although in everyday driving, there’s really no need to rev the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine to its 7,500-rpm redline, it does so willingly, at which point it’s time to grab the next gear. This short-throw 6-speeder remains one of the best manual transmissions on the planet.

The automatic alternative is fine (it can be shifted manually with paddles mounted beneath the steering wheel), but if any car deserves to be relished with a stick shift, it’s this. The MX-5 also has quick, natural-effort steering and artful suspension tuning that blends exemplary cornering prowess with everyday comfort.

Convertibles like the MX-5 are best experienced on warm summer evenings when traffic is light and there’s no need for sunscreen. With the car’s top down, the driver becomes part of the environment, not someone just watching the world go by from the isolating confines of an air-conditioned cocoon.

“Clean” and “simple” describe the 2021 Mazda MX-5’s cockpit. Snug seats hold driver and passenger firmly in place, and the adjustable steering wheel helps taller drivers get their legs in the proper place.

The dash could come from any modern Mazda vehicle, with unfussy yet elegant switchgear for the ventilation, and audio controls backlit in white. The push-button start is a nice nod to modernity, while the pull-up parking brake adds a bit of nostalgia and mischief. At the top of the dash is a tablet-style infotainment screen controlled by a rotary dial just behind the shift lever.

Not all is perfect with the MX-5, however. That screen doesn’t allow touch controls when the car is moving and it is easily washed out in bright sunlight. The passenger-side footwell is oddly shaped with a large bulge in the floor, making it difficult for the passenger to stretch out. And, at 4.5 cubic feet, the tiny trunk isn’t particularly useful.

After three generations of much of the same, Mazda’s designers had a little more fun with the styling of this latest MX-5 Miata. The car retains the long-hood/short-deck proportions of a classic roadster, but some surface detailing of the aluminum body panels adds a modern touch. Small LED headlights, flared fenders, and a wide grille provide some welcome attitude.

The MX-5 is short (just under 13 feet) and easy to park, but the overall dimensions can create some vulnerability when, say, driving next to an 18-wheeler on the freeway. The MX-5 RF coupe looks arguably fantastic, top open or closed; if only the windows in the B-pillars were real.

SPORT SUSPENSION AND BRAKE UPGRADE
Standard in the Club and Grand Touring models with the 6-speed manual transmission, this package adds a limited-slip rear differential, sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shocks, and a front strut tower brace.

I-ACTIVSENSE
Now standard in every MX-5 Miata, the i-Activsense set of driver assistance features includes blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning with low-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning.

The 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster is available as a Sport, Club, or Grand Touring model. The MX-5 RF retractable fastback comes in Club and Grand Touring trims.

All 2021 MX-5 Miatas have the i-Activsense driver aids (see Favorite Features), plus LED headlights, a steering wheel that adjusts for height and reach, a heated glass rear window, USB port, cruise control, Bluetooth, and a 6-speaker audio system.

Club trim adds a sport-tuned suspension featuring Bilstein shock absorbers, limited-slip rear differential, front strut tower brace, 17-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, heated seats, and a Bose 9-speaker audio system.

Club models with the 6-speed manual transmission are eligible for the Brembo/BBS/Recaro package, which includes Brembo front discs, red-painted Brembo brake calipers at each wheel, 17-inch gunmetal gray BBS forged alloy wheels, and heated Recaro bucket seats with leather/suede upholstery. This package is also available in the RF model.

The Grand Touring offers all the Club features, adding rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, leather-covered seats, adaptive front lighting with automatic high beams, and navigation. However, the automatic transmission option deletes the Brembo brakes, limited-slip differential, and Bilstein shocks.

A naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine propels the 2021 MX-5 Miata with 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. It has a 7,500-rpm redline. This energy goes solely to the rear wheels through a standard 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 6-speed automatic.

The joy of a high-revving naturally aspirated engine compared with a turbocharged unit is that it’s much easier to make fine throttle inputs, something that comes into sharper focus when taking fast bends. This car is all about the driving fun. And there’s a special kind of thrill to pushing a less-powerful car to its limits. It’s better than never exploring the full
potential of a more muscular machine.

Premium gasoline is recommended.

2.0-liter inline-4
181 horsepower @ 7,500 rpm
151 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/34 mpg (manual), 26/35 mpg (automatic)