2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Although being a base trim, the Sport trim is a good package overall. Nevertheless, our recommendation leans more towards the Club trim which is the most value for money trim here. There is a significant difference between both these trims and it will only cost you around an extra $3500 but what you get for it is all that matters. The Club trim with manual transmission also comes with a shock tower brace, Limited-slip differential, Sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, and Engine sound enhancer.

The 2022 Mazda Miata MX-5 comes over in 3 exciting trim levels which are; Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. The base trim Sport should be priced at an expected MSRP of $28,000 for the manual version and $28,500 for the automatic version with a slightly better fuel economy. The Club sits in the middle and its price ranges from $30,000 to $31,500. Last but not least is the Grand Touring trim, which is the top rack trim which is priced at $32,000 for the manual trim to $33,200 for the automatic version.

All the trims on offer will come standard with a subtle 2.0L Inline-4 engine. The base trims come with the usual feature list, and the premiumness of the features goes on increasing as you move up the trim ladder. As standard, the base trim offers features like 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 7-inch touchscreen, Electronic stability control, and some more features. Further, there are also certain optional packages on offer too.

The Miata's engine revs eagerly and is powerful enough to deliver stirring acceleration - Car and Driver

The standard engine which you’ll find across all the trims is a 2.0-liter SkyActiv-G Inline- 4 engine, which is capable enough for kicking out 181 hp @ 7000 RPM and 151 lb-ft of peak torque @ 4000 RPM. Moreover, it comes with a standard six-speed manual transmission and an optional 6-speed automatic transmission to put down the power. However, the manual transmission is the best pick here which also gives you access to a performance package as mentioned before. This duo sends all the horses and torque only to the rear wheels. Hence, it seems to be a tail-happy car.

If you are a performance enthusiast, then it is the perfect sports car in its division. When it comes to performance, the 2022 Mazda Miata MX-5 offers instantaneous acceleration at your disposal with 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. It also takes only 14.4 seconds to complete the quarter-mile run all the while hitting a top speed of 143 mph which is on par with the segment. Comparing the competition, the numbers clearly tell that the Ford Mustang Convertible has the most powerful engine producing 310 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque followed by the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible producing 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, and is also the second quickest off the line.

Moreover, its lightweight proportions and compact chassis result in insane handling capabilities as take high corners like a piece of cake. Also, it could easily be the best handling car in the segment with so much precision. Also, it has a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers which even enhances the handling with a stiff ride. As a result, it stabilizes the body roll considerably.

The 2022 Mazda MX-5 Convertible is a sports car with a major focus on fuel economy as well but it still manages to stay on par with most of its rivals in this category. With a city mileage of 26 MPG and highway mileage of 34 MPG, the 2022 Mazda Miata MX-5 gives a combined fuel economy of 29 MPG and it is a sports car with relatively good fuel efficiency. Having a tank capacity of 11.9 gallons, it also gives a good range. It allows the car to traverse a distance of 309 miles in the city, 405 miles on the highway, and 345 miles when combined which seems to be pretty decent for a 2 seater sports car.

Overall, the Mini Convertible Cooper delivers a better fuel economy of a combined 31 MPG which makes it the most fuel-efficient car in the segment followed by the Mazda Miata MX-5. Due to its massive power output, the Ford Mustang Convertible offers the least fuel economy, whereas the Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, on the other hand, with a large tank of 19 gallons, manages to annihilate all its rivals in terms of driving range.

Thankfully, Mazda managed to keep the weight low while retaining an acceptable level of comfort - Carbuzz

The interior of the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a combination of clean modern design cues with utmost comfort. The seats have decent space in terms of shoulder room, and legroom but because of the low roofline, this headroom is a bit restricted. However, the design used for the dashboard looks minimalistic yet elegant with clean and neat lines. The steering wheel, on the other hand, feels chunky and thick to hold. It comes with audio and other controls as well. Furthermore, the base trim comes with cloth upholstery that looks upscale.

Nevertheless, the top Grand Touring trim gets leather-wrapped seats that look amazing and tastefully done as well. You also have an option to go for Heated Recaro sport seats in the Club trim. Coming to the interior dimensions part, this compact sports car comes with seating for 2 people. The seats, however, lack both headroom which is best suited for short people only. On the flip side, it offers a respectable shoulder room and legroom of 52.2 inches and 43.1 inches respectively.

All trims come with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, along with a 6 speaker audio system as standard. Mazda also offers a 9-speaker Bose audio system in the Club trim. There’s also a navigation system with decent graphics and the infotainment screen has a smooth response. Overall the system has a good high-quality resolution, clarity, and user-friendly interface. This infotainment system is integrated with Mazda Connect with clock and steering wheel controls.

All the cars except the 2022 Mazda Miata MX-5 offer seating for 4 people. When it comes to cargo capacity, the Ford Mustang Convertible again comes with the largest cargo volume of 7.6 cubic feet. On coming to the 2022 MX-5 Miata, it is not as tremendous as its rivals and offers the smallest cargo volume of only 4.6 cubic feet. Some other optional and standout interior features are listed below:

• Heated seats
• Optional Heated Recaro sport seats
• Telescoping Steering Column
• Leather Gear Shifter Material
• Metal-Look Interior Accents
• Driver Foot Rest
• Sport Leather/Metal-Look Steering Wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Vinyl Door Trim Insert

The Mazda MX-5 Miata provides a joyously distilled sports car experience that's difficult to match at any price point - Motortrend

The 2022 Mazda MX-5 Convertible still retains the iconic Miata design formula. Although its design is a bit old, it still looks good with some makeover in recent times and looks sportier than most of its rivals. However, the Mazda has put style over practicality in the MX-5 Miata. It is small and compact and also affects the ergonomics of the passengers. Nevertheless, its compactness and lightweight nature are the major strengths of the 2022 Mazda Miata MX-5 Convertible. The headlights are subtle and look angry with stylish LED daytime running lights on the front bumper.

The crease lines and shape of the bonnet and the whole bodywork give it a European-styled convertible’s look and personality. The aesthetics of the taillights are simply superb. Moreover, with the roof down, it looks absolutely charming and adorable. It also offers 16-inch alloy wheels in the basic trim and comes with 17-inch alloys when moving up the trim ladder. The top-tier Grand Touring trim boasts dark gray wheels which add to the aesthetics of the car. Moreover, it is anticipated to have a new design for the wheels for the upcoming year.

Moving forward to the dimensions part, the 2022 Mazda Miata MX-5 Convertible comes with a curb weight of 2341 lbs which is immensely lesser than all the other cars in the competition. It also happens to be the shortest car in the segment measuring 48.8 inches. Albeit being the shortest car, it sports a decent ground clearance of 5.3 inches. Among the competition, the Ford Mustang offers the highest ground clearance of 5.7 inches which makes it a better car for driving on rough roads and terrains.

Some other standout exterior features of the Mazda MX-5 convertible are listed below:

• Gray BBS wheels (part of performance package)
• Aerodynamic body kit (part of performance package)
• 17-inch black wheels
• Black front lip and rear spoilers
• Upper door trim in exterior color
• LED headlights
• Light Tinted Glass
• LED Brakelights
• Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Black Grille

The safety of the car is the most significant factor that could make or break the deal. However, both NHTSA and IIHS have not rated the 2022 Mazda Mx-5 as well as the previous year model. Nonetheless, the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Convertible is equipped with a plethora of modern and unblemished safety features. To provide proof that it is safe, it offers a long list of both advanced active and passive safety features as standard. Like every other modern car, it offers ABS and Driveline Traction Control as standard.

Some other standout active and passive safety features are as follows:

• Forward collision warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Back-Up Camera
• Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) 
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Lane Departure Warning System

2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Vs 2021 Ford Mustang Convertible:

Both these cars come from different families but are made to serve the same purpose, to deliver a power-packed and fun-filled driving experience behind the wheel. Given the fact that the Ford Mustang convertible is more powerful, it offers better straight-line performance but the Mazda Miata is the king when it comes to corners.

Moreover, the Mustang offers better practicality and comfort with seating for 4 people. However, if you want a proper and efficient sports car, the MX-5 is the one you should go for.

2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Vs 2021 Mini Cooper Convertible:

The 2021 Mini Cooper Convertible is the most celebrated car in this segment and it still lives up to its name. On the upside, despite being one of the smallest cars, it can accommodate up to 4 passengers. It also turns out to be more fuel-efficient than the 2022 Mazda Miata MX-5 convertible.

However, it loses out to the Mazda when it comes to performance and styling. Also, the Mini is more expensive than the Mazda.

The 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata is brimmed with supreme driving potential and performance numbers. It is the most desirable and affordable convertible out there in the market. It also has the take your camera phone out appeal. It retains all the best things about an affordable modern-day sports car. However, there are negatives too, as it offers dismal cargo space and is very impractical to drive for tall people. Apart from that, it is very appealing to a lot of buyers because it absolutely has the essence of a nimble sports car.