It's going on 30 years now. Most relationships don't last that long.
But Mazda's little two-seater has been warming the hearts of genuine sports car aficionados since the 1990 model year. And like most enduring relationships, it's gotten way better over time.
The '19 Miata is the fourth generation…and by far the best.
Why? More power. 26 more HP than last year…and in an under 2,400 pound vehicle, today's 181 HP is all that you need for a spirited ride.
And while beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this 4th gen Miata has lost a few pounds and gotten a face lift. It's a clean and appealing sculpture in my opinion,
but understand…this is a small car. Corollas and Civics will loom over you. With a little creativity you could park three of 'em in a two-car garage.
So what else is there that really stands out about today's Miata? I'll tell you more in just a bit…but for now, let's start with the price.
Mid $20's for starters. That gets you 16" alloys and cloth seats, smart phone connectivity, and speakers in the drivers' headrest.
A six-speed manual is standard and a six-speed auto is a $1,250 option. Yes…manual transmissions do still exist…and on the Miata, it's the preferred way to go.
Step up to around $30K for a "Club" version and get 17" alloys, a spoiler, sport suspension, performance tires, blind-spot and cross-traffic alerts, heated seats with red stitching, and upgraded sound. Pretty much all that you need if you can live without leather.
The Grand Touring that we tested added leather, auto high beams, rain-sensing wipers, nav, lane-departure warnings and upgraded trim…all for just a little over a thousand more. With special paint and an optional brown convertible top and a couple other items, our window sticker was right at 33 thousand. Not bad at all for a genuine performance vehicle.
And if you'd prefer a hard top vs. cloth, Mazda has a retractable hard top that's still in the low $30's…altho' it gives the vehicle a completely different profile than the traditional cloth top.
So…back to performance. Mazda's Miata is the most raced vehicle in the world.
In fact, if you're really serious about racing, Mazda will sell you a Miata MX-5 Cup Car…ready to race…roll bar and all…for less than 70 thousand. Just paint a number on the side…get a competition license and have at it. They've even created their own race series for Miata Cup Cars. They're all identical. It's YOU that'll have to provide the winning edge.
So…I think that you get that Mazda's little MX-5 Miata is a virtual go-cart for two…with a roof. But does that mean that it's strictly a weekend car?
No. The '19 Miata is also a great little economy car. While rated at 34 or 35 highway MPGs, I got 39 without really trying. And that's on regular gas, too.
So if you're looking for justification to buy a genuine sports car, just go buy a sporty two-seat convertible economy car instead. It is what you say it is…right? Follow AutoNSider on Facebook for review videos and more!
AutoNSider Review | 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 1
ENTERCOM ATLANTA| BOB JACKSON
AutoNSider Review | 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 2
ENTERCOM ATLANTA| BOB JACKSON
AutoNSider Review | 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 3
ENTERCOM ATLANTA| BOB JACKSON
AutoNSider Review | 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 4
ENTERCOM ATLANTA| BOB JACKSON
AutoNSider Review | 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 5
ENTERCOM ATLANTA| BOB JACKSON
