Why the Mazda MX-5 is the world's best roadster

Photo by Donny Halliwell

No matter how you feel about Mazda Miatas, one thing for sure is that they leave nobody indifferent. This 90s classic is now having a revival and Mazda did a lot to make the model more attractive to new buyers. While it’s not the most practical buy on the market, the car offers a lot in terms of drivability and comes both with a classic soft top or a retractable one. Let’s take a closer look at what Mazda’s flagship convertible has to offer.

What’s Under the Trunk?

One thing that’s important to note is that the Mazda is the base for the Fiat 124 Spider, and you can see some similarities between the two. However, most of the similarities are purely superficial, since the Italian roadster uses a much more powerful turbo engine. But it also lacks some of Mazda’s refinement and precise engineering.

The Miata has a timid 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine with 155 horsepower. But even with the small engine, the performance is rather surprising. The Miata can go from 0 to 100 in under 7 seconds, which is pretty respectable. This can be largely attributed to the fact that the car has a curb weight of just 2300 pounds.

The car’s dynamics also add to the whole driving experience as well and it is one of the most enjoyable roadsters in its category. The car comes either with a 6-speed automatic transmission or manual transmission and you can also tailor it for track or touring uses.

Interior and Exterior Look

The MX-5 has everything you would expect from a mid-range roadster. It has the signature short trunk and long hood and is light on the sheet metal. The interior is also pretty nice, but it is more on the simplistic side. However, it doesn’t look sparse at all and has a classic roadster look to it as well.

The Club version however is a bit more flashy with its dark grey exterior and offers a burgundy soft top as an option. Some have raised concerns about maintenance for the soft top, which is warranted. If you’re going to go for the soft top Club version, you would be wise to visit Consumercharts.Com and start looking for convertible top cleaners and protectants so that it maintains its appearance.

Who is it for?

While the Miata advertises itself as a roadster, and does look the part, you shouldn’t expect too much from it in the performance department. But what the car lacks in raw horsepower, it makes up in sheer drivability. The car has some of the best dynamics in the industry and is extremely precise without being punishing. And its smaller engine also translates into less fuel consumption meaning it is kind to the wallet.

All in all, the 2018 MX 5 Miata is great for nostalgia without being outdated. It offers reasonable performance, drives very well, and definitely has a distinct silhouette that makes it one of the best affordable convertibles on the market.