Fun, enjoyment and engagement are some of the synonymous to the Mazda Miata MX-5. The Miata is the perfect embodiment of these 3 words. For over 3 decades, this quirky little car has made more than just a mark in the car industry, it has become an icon.
From tuner meets to the weekend drives, the loyal Miata owners have always loved their little car and take pride in owning one. Mazda has always maintained the familiarity of the Miata over the generations, yet offering more fun and drivability with this budget-friendly entry-level sports roadster.
With the introduction of this new Miata, Mazda is offering some subtle changes both on the surface and under the hood with the same rudimental ideas on which the Miata brand was established.
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A JDM legend and an icon in itself, the Mazda Miata is the car for all those seeking fun and thrill, minus the burning pockets The Miata was the greatest Japanese offering to America in the ’90s. Its lightweight structure along with the well-balanced body, smooth ride, and a drop-top made this car an American icon overnight.
Like Humans, cars also evolve and Mazda has shown the world how to do it. Over the years, the Miata has evolved from just a little top drop car to the very example of a well-rounded sports cars. With the latest iteration of the Miata, Mazda has upped its game and offers this car with all the bells and whistles, from the upgraded power output to a broader torque curve and some extra add-ons for the RF club trim.
Let’s dive into this car to know more about it and how it performs against its rivals.
The all-new Mazda Miata MX-5 is available in 3 trims, Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. The new Miata comes with a base price of $25,730 for the manual and $27,080 for the automatic variant and goes up to $30,780 for the manual and $ 31,855 for the automatic transmission.
The new Miata comes with a 2 L 181 hp SKYACTIV-G DOHC 16-Valve 4-cylinder VVT engine for all the variants along with 6-speed SKYACTIV-MT transmission for manual variants and 6-speed sport automatic transmission for the automatic variants.
The Sports variant comes bundled with all the standard features. The Club variant comes with some upgraded features like sports-tuned Bilstein Shocks, Limited slip differential, Black rear lip spoiler to name a few along with all the standard features. The top-most trim, Grand touring comes with all the features of Sport and Club but loses the transmission upgrades from the Club variant. Also, the Grand touring comes bundled with some additional features like 17” aluminum-alloy wheels in Dark Silver finish, Auto on/off headlights and many more.
Trim
Sport
Club
Grand Touring
MSRP (M/T)
$25,730
$29,590
$30,780
MSRP (A/T)
$27,080
$30,190
$31,855
Key features
16” aluminum-alloy wheels in metallic black finish
17” aluminum-alloy wheels in metallic black finish
17” aluminum-alloy wheels in Dark Silver finish
LED headlights
LED daytime running headlamps
Auto on/off headlights
MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system
Bose 9-speaker audio system with AndroidPilot, Driver and Passenger headrest speakers with subwoofer
Adaptive front-lighting system
7”full-color touchscreen
Black cloth-trimmed seats with red accent stitching
Leather-trimmed seats
Aha, Pandora, stitcher internet radio integration
SiriusXM Satellite radio
Lane departure warning
We recommend
All variants are really great but the Club version is the one we will recommend as it gets some additional upgrades like red Brembo brakes at the front, 17” BBS wheels and Recaro seat package along with some mechanical upgrades.
2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Engine and Performance
9.3/10
“The throws are short, accurate, and satisfying, making the Miata an excellent car for drivers new to manual transmissions. The 2.0-liter I-4 delivers its power in a linear fashion” – Motortrend
Engine and Transmission
Under the hood, the 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 comes with a 2-L mill which churns out a great amount of power when compared to the previous generation Miata. Mazda has done some minor refinements and tweaks to the motor. The engine takes more air and runs efficiently.
Mazda has added an extra 26 horses under the hood which has increased the power output of the engine to 181 hp, which translates to a 17% increase in the power from the previous generation model. Another big performance upgrade done by Mazda engineers is the increase in the rpm redline to 7500 rpm, a generous increase of 700-800 rpm from the previous generation.
When compared to its competitors, the Miata’s mill churns out more power and leaves its rivals in the dust. While driving uphill, the engine takes in more air at around 2000 - 4000rpm and gives powerful feel into the hands of the rider. The wider torque curve helps the rider to wind the engine and get a better output. The engine sounds really lively and feels super fun to drive. Mazda has made the 2019 Miata fun to drive.
Mazda has provided an option between the 6-speed automatic or manual transmission. Both of these work like a charm. The manual transmission is slick and also a bit faster than the automatic one. The clutch pedal is well balanced.
Acceleration
The Miata has 26 extra horses under the hood that helps this car to pull ahead of its competitors. Whether on a quarter-mile drag strip or a normal 0-60 stretch, the Miata leaves its competitors in the dust and thereby proving itself as a great sports roadster.
Models
Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T
124 spider Abarth M/T
VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
0-60 MPH (sec)
5.9
6.4
N/A
Quarter mile (sec)
14.4
14.8
N/A
Engine
2-L SKYACTIV-G DOHC 16-Valve 4-cylinder
1.4-L i4 MultiAir Turbo Engine
2-l inline 4-cyl , 16V turbocharged/intercooled, TSI
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)
5.8
5.9
6.1
The extra horses give a burst of power into the hands of the rider thereby making the ride full of thrill and fun.
Braking
The brake pedal on the new Miata is as firm as the previous generation had. The deceleration test gave a great number in favor of the Miata.
Models
Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T
124 spider Abarth M/T
VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
Front Brake (in)
11
11
11.3
Rear Brake (in)
11
11
10
Curb Weight (lbs)
2339
2436
3239
60-0 MPH (ft)
112
N/A
N/A
The optional Brembo brakes provide an extra amount of stopping power, giving the rider a little more control on the car and making the ride well balanced. The Brembo brakes come with street pads that will fade away at any demanding racetrack.
Ride and Handling
All thanks to the lightweight chassis and other mechanical enhancements made by Mazda, the drive feels smooth and slick without any roughness. The Miata comes with a well-balanced telescopic steering wheel which helps the rider to adjust the wheel according to the needs and comfort.
The extra horses provided by Mazda give a punch of power which makes the engine come alive. While on-street, the ride feels quick, all thanks to the quick acceleration and lightweight chassis. The suspension handles all the bumps and corners easily while keeping the ride zippy. There is a slight over-steer if the rider gets a little aggressive on the throttle, which makes the ride even better.
Overall, the drive feels well-balanced. The optional Bilstein shocks do improve the ride quality.
2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Fuel Economy
While in the city, the 3 cars give the same mileage and while on the highway, the 124 Spider takes the lead, followed by the Miata and the Bug at last. The only place where VW wins is the tank capacity, where the bug takes the lead followed by the Miata and the 124 Spider sharing the 2nd place.
Models
Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T
124 spider Abarth M/T
VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
MPG (hwy)
34
35
33
MPG (city)
26
26
26
MPG (combined)
29
30
29
Tank cap. (gal.)
11.9
11.9
14.5
2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Interior
7.5/10
“The Miata's interior is well-crafted with a pleasing and relatively ergonomically friendly design” – Edmunds
Seating and Comfort
The interior quality is fine with some visible plastic highlights. Like other roadsters, the Miata’s cabin is not so spacious and a 6-ft tall person will find some difficulty getting in. The cup holders are not that great and so is their position. A tiny glove box is present in between the seats. With the wind hitting the hairs, the interior sounds noisy, but all the fun lies in this part.
Models
Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T
124 spider Abarth M/T
VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
Passenger Capacity
2
2
4
Front row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
37.4/52.2/43.1
37.4/52.1/43.1
39.3/55.3/41.3
Second row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)
-/-/-
-/-/-
37.6/43.1/31.4
The Miata has similar stats when compared to the 124 Spider. The bug bags the first place with the highest numbers and also because of the availability of the second row. Also, the Bug has some extra features like Nappa leather front and rear seat upholstery with driver and passenger heated cushions which makes it a great car in terms of seating and interior.
Infotainment System
The infotainment of the Miata feels outdated as there is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto available, but Mazda has provided USB ports that make it simple and convenient to connect the phone without any hassle.
Mazda has also provided 9-speaker Bose audio system provided in the headrests which makes the ride entertaining. The 7” touch panel provided by Mazda can be operated with a center-console knob as well.
Cargo space
The Miata has the least amount of cargo space among its rivals. Its cargo space is only big enough to accommodate a couple of small bags.
Models
Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T
124 spider Abarth M/T
VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
Maximum interior cargo volume (cu.ft.)
4.6
4.9
7.1
The Bug has the highest amount of cargo space and takes the crown.
2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Exterior
“With the exception of newly designed alloy wheels in 16- and 17-inch sizes, this refreshed 2019 version doesn't take the usual "styling updates for the sake of it" approach. Improvements are focused on the driver and the driving experience” – autotrader.com
Design and Dimension
The Miata is the lightest and smallest car among its rivals, yet the most powerful among its competitors, all thanks to the lightweight chassis and other mechanical upgrades made by the company. Mazda has made the new Miata low by reducing its ground clearance to 4.9” from the previous generation that had 5.3” of ground clearance.
Models
Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T
124 spider Abarth M/T
VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
Curb weight (lbs)
2339
2436
3239
Length (in)
154.1
159.6
168.8
Width (in)
68.3
68.5
71.9
Height (in)
48.6
48.5
58
Ground clearance (in)
4.9
-
5.6
Wheelbase (in)
90.9
90.9
100.1
Track width (in) F/R
58.9/59.2
58.9/59.1
62.2/61.1
The overall dimensions of the Miata are almost similar to that of the 124 Spider, yet the Miata has retained its fundamentals. The Bug has the biggest dimensions of all and hence takes the crown. Though these cars are not meant to be taken off-road, the Bug again takes the lead with the most ground clearance of 5.6”.
Exterior Features
The 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 comes with the following features-
17” aluminum-alloy wheels in metallic black finish
Black rear lip spoiler
Black front air damp
LED daytime running lamps
2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Safety
The new Miata has a well-balanced body structure and a stable ride which adds to the overall safety of this car. Mazda also offers a variety of safety features that make this little sports roadster a safe choice to go with. Following are some safety features-
Panic alarm
4-wheel ABS brakes
Occupant sensing airbags
First aid kit
Rear parking camera
Electronic stability control
Power door locks with speed sensor
Blind-spot monitoring
Red cross-traffic alert
2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Competition
Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T v/s Fiat 124 Spider Abarth M/T
Both the Mazda Miata MX-5 and the Fiat 124 spider Abarth are sister cars and share a great number of similarities from the manufacturing plant to the platform, yet they are quite different. The new Miata is more powerful than the 124 Spider and this makes it the perfect choice for the power lovers. The new Miata club costs $300 more than the 124 and gives a bang for its buck.
Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T v/s Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
When the two classics are pitted against each other, the battle becomes worth watching. Both the classic Bug convertible and the Miata are quite popular and with these new launches, both the manufacturers have taken their rides to the next level. The Miata is a fun-centric car with a hint of fun and thrill whereas the Bug focuses more on the practicality with fun. Both cars are drop-top but the Miata is more powerful than the Bug and gives more meaning to the money spent.
2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata Final Verdict
There is a common notion that fun and practicality can’t go hand-in-hand and Mazda took this as a challenge and proved this notion wrong. The Miata is the perfect combination of both power and fun, from its powerful little motor churning out a huge amount of power to the stability of the body and the drop-top,
When the price tag is taken into account, the classic bug proves to be the costliest decision among the cars. Between the Miata and the 124 Spider, both of these have many similarities yet they are different when it comes to their heart, so the choice rests in the hands of the buyer.
Miata is for the ones who are really on a tight budget but want some serious fun, are rpm junkies and want a highly engaging drive. But if you are a family person and want the big boot space, then the classic Bug is the perfect choice for you.
