The Mazda Miata has been a fan favorite for a while. The reason for this is because of its stiff chassis, reliable electrics, and a soft top that's easy to operate.
It won the best sports car in the 2011 U.S. News Best Car for the Money award. It's not a surprise that it won this award. A vehicle with excellent reliability, great handling, and a weather-tight optional power-folding hardtop deserves this win.
To make things better, the Miata is very affordable. You'd think that a car with such great features would be expensive, but that's not the case with this vehicle; even regular people can own this car.
The Miata comes in two models: a soft-top roadster and a power retractable hard top model. The difference between the two models is that the soft top models look more beautiful than the hard top models. The hardtop is still good-looking, but the Miata owners prefer the soft-top models.
If you try and compare the Miata to other cars, you'll see that the vehicle has no real competition. The only cars that come close to being its rivals are cars like the Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky twins and the Honda S2000.
Let's find out more about the Mazda Miata and what makes this automobile the best sports car for regular people.
The Miata Has Good Performance Specs, And It's Very Satisfying To Drive
Under the hood, a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine produces 167 hp and 140 pound-feet of torque. Sport trims come with a five-speed manual transmission, while Touring, and Grand Touring trims come with a six-speed manual transmission. Owners have the option to get a six-speed automatic with shift paddles on the steering wheel.
A Miata with a five-speed manual transmission can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. The handling of the Miata is predictable because of the perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and the steering is secure when it's going extremely fast or when there's a quick change in direction.
The Miata is very agile on a tight and winding road. This is because of the great connection between the suspension and steering. Thanks to the four-cylinder that always seems eager to play and top-tier manual transmission, the Miata can suit any driver. Even though the Miata is a sports car, drivers with less sporting intentions will find the automobile easy and comfortable to live with.
The Design Of The Miata Is Unique; It Has A Classic Roadster Look Both Inside And Outside
The Miata MX-5 design took a while to be changed by Mazda. Critics don't like this. They say the design is a little conservative, but a few owners from consumer reports deny this claim and say the car's design is outstanding. Mazda's only design change was adding flared fenders to make the Miata look a bit edgier.
The interior is very comfortable for average-sized drivers, but the taller ones might find it a bit cramped. But from the 2011 model, the Miata became a bit more spacious than its older siblings. Apart from that minor disadvantage, the car features simple, legible gauges and well-placed, user-friendly controls.
The manual convertible top's operation is not complicated as other convertibles. You push a button, pull a lever, and toss the top over your shoulder. Dropping and raising the top takes a few seconds, and the taller and muscular limbed drivers can raise the roof without leaving the seat. Although it takes a bit longer to change from coupe to roadster with the power-retractable hardtop, its increased comfort, security, and noise isolation make it a desirable option for a daily driver.
Another drawback the Miata has is the lack of trunk space, which is understandable because it's a small convertible. The 5.3 cubic feet of trunk space is barely enough to fit some goods like golf bags. For infotainment, the top-down stereo is also a disappointment, and the upgraded Bose system won't help because the poorly aimed speakers will fail to envelop the passengers.
Basic Safety Features Are Standard On All Mazda Miata Models
The Miata has enough safety features to satisfy many owners. Basic ones like anti-lock brakes and seat-mounted side airbags are available. However, other important features like electronic stability control are not standard on all models. The Miata trims which are relatively cheaper than the others, most likely don't have this essential feature.
The car comes with power windows, a CD player, and tilt steering for other standard features. Higher trims include upgraded trims, a trip computer, and automatic climate control. Optional features include the Sirius Satellite radio and the steering wheel audio controls.