2024 MAZDA MX-5 Miata

Thank you, Mazda. Thank you for making the MX-5 Miata. It’s a small car but one of the biggest bundles of fun on four wheels. Plenty of our consumer reviewers have owned earlier MX-5 Miata models, and 93% of them would recommend this car. We’ll repeat that: 93%. Although this generation launched for the 2016 model year, its attributes are timeless. Like the kinetic thrills experienced in the driver’s seat. And the accessibility — both from a financial and driving point of view. The Porsche 718 Boxster is another fantastic 2-seater convertible, and more powerful than the MX-5 Miata, but it’s at least twice the price. Sure, practicality and roominess are not traits for which the MX-5 Miata is celebrated. But if those aspects aren’t so important (perhaps you’re thinking of getting this as a second car purely for enjoyment), then every day without a new MX-5 Miata is a day less delightful.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata gets some visual and performance upgrades for 2024. It gets new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs to keep it looking modern. It also has a revised steering rack and an asymmetrical limited-slip differential on the Club and Grand Touring trims. On the inside, it boasts a new 8.8-inch display for the infotainment system. Looking further ahead, Mazda has also said that electric power will be part of the MX-5 Miata formula in 2026.

Looking at alternatives, it’s either go for a driver-centric coupe, a fun soft-top, or a Mustang. For example, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 coupes have that rear-drive/manual-transmission fun thing going on — both start in the high 20s. The front-drive (yet still entertaining) Mini Convertible is priced from $35.7K. And the new-for-2024 Ford Mustang, with a fixed roof or a soft-top, starts around $31K. It will feel heavier than an MX-5 Miata, though.

Before buying a new MX-5 Miata sports car, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are strong because the MX-5 Miata is such a desirable car with a great reputation for longevity.

The MX-5 Miata is propelled by a 181-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. That may not sound like a lot for a sports car, but the MX-5 Miata is small and nimble, so this all contributes to an outstanding overall balance of muscle and poise. Similarly, the sprint from standstill to 60 mph might seem unremarkable in theory — taking 5.7 seconds in an era when big and heavy electric cars can do it in 3.5. But that’s not taking the sensations into account. The MX-5 Miata is involving — it’s not just transportation. The steering is communicative; the suspension is precise yet still bearable for everyday driving and even longer road trips. We’ve met engineers working for Mazda who own an MX-5 Miata and drive it just for the thrill. That’s an emphatic endorsement right there.

Sure, you could buy a Porsche 718 Boxster, a BMW Z4, or even a Chevrolet Corvette and enjoy greater power while still doing the whole top-down thing. But they’re more expensive, and, frankly, we’ve found the MX-5 Miata’s 181 horsepower to be gutsy enough for public roads while the handling still works well on a track. And it doesn’t take an experienced road warrior to enjoy the MX-5 Miata’s charms. Someone new to the discipline of rear-wheel drive and perhaps even a manual transmission couldn’t make a better choice than this.

One thing to think about is the Club version. It comes with a stiffer Bilstein suspension and a front strut tower brace for extra rigidity at the front end (sharpening up the steering). Give this version a test drive before settling on a trim level, just in case it might be too firm for your tastes. After all, the other versions are perfectly fine.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of convertibles, including the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Fuel Economy

With a manual transmission, the MX-5 Miata achieves 29 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Swap in the automatic, and the figure becomes 30 mpg. It’s remarkable how something this much fun can also be so frugal. Mazda recommends using 91-octane premium gasoline.

It’s the opposite of that “you must be this tall to ride” theme park notice. The narrow 2-seater quarters and low windshield of the 2024 MX-5 Miata make it unsuitable for bigger and broader members of the motoring public. The passenger footwell has to give up space to the transmission tunnel; there’s no glove box and little space for phones. As if any of that mattered.

What does matter is the driving position, low to the ground for the best seat-of-the-pants perception of how the car is behaving. The way the right hand falls naturally onto the gear lever. And the uncluttered dashboard.

Just a couple of gripes. When the roof is down, and the sun is behind, the 8.8-inch infotainment display can reflect so much light that it’s impossible to read. And the 4.5-cubic-foot trunk is only big enough for perhaps a couple of soft bags with a weekend’s worth of luggage.

A typical MX-5 Miata is the soft-top version with a cloth roof. But Mazda also offers an RF variant in the Club and Grand Touring trims, with a power-retractable hardtop in a fastback shape. The car looks more like a coupe when the RF roof is in place. It takes just 13 seconds to open or close and makes the MX-5 Miata more of a car for all seasons. A little extra weight is added, but not enough to dampen the experience. The MX-5 Miata gains new all-LED exterior lighting this year, new wheel options, and a new paint color: Aero Gray Metallic.

Manual transmission
It might seem like a stick shift belongs in the Dark Ages, but it’s so right in this car, adding to the involvement. As the saying goes — the more you put into something, the more you get out of it. This unit has one of the sweetest shift actions we’ve ever encountered.

Rear-wheel drive
If there were more power, there might be a higher likelihood of the car’s back end sliding out if someone overcooked it going into a corner. But the setup in the MX-5 Miata is so wonderfully progressive and benign that it’s easy to control.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Despite the scarcity of space for devices, the MX-5 Miata does at least have smartphone integration as standard. It goes wireless in the Club and Grand Touring trims, so there’s no need to take the phone out of your pocket or purse.

Kinematic Posture Control (KPC)
This is about the car’s posture, not the humans inside. The MX-5 Miata has always had superb cornering talents. But since last year, they’ve been enhanced by KPC, which applies subtle braking to the inside rear wheel through fast turns. It makes the steering feel more linear, reduces any body roll, and contributes to general stability.

Bilstein shock absorbers
These come as standard in the Club trim. Bilstein is a specialist company supplying car makers like Porsche and BMW.

Brembo BBS Recaro package
Available with the Club trim, Brembo supplies brakes for the likes of Ferrari, BBS alloy wheels are highly regarded in the industry, and Recaro makes great racing seats. They’re heated here as well.

Everything Mazda has put into or left out of the MX-5 Miata makes perfect sense. The company decided not to install a turbocharged engine. Instead, this 4-cylinder unit makes its maximum output (181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque) at quite high revs, allowing the driver to modulate the throttle for fine control of engine speed. The standard transmission is a slick 6-speed manual. Again, a great choice. It engages the driver. For those unwilling or unable to use a stick-shift, a 6-speed automatic transmission is available with the Grand Touring trim. The other inspired choice is rear-wheel drive. The front-engine/rear-drive layout of the MX5-Miata is classic sports car and well balanced. All-wheel drive is not offered. You could always buy a set of winter tires if you live in colder altitudes or latitudes.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Mazda’s new-car warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. This includes roadside assistance. The powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These terms are typical in the non-luxury sector.

Safety Ratings

This generation of MX-5 Miata hasn’t been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States. Standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert — that’s a real boon when the roof is up.