2024 Mazda Miata Expert Review
Reviewed by Alex Leanse
Introduced in 1989, the Mazda Miata is still one of our favorite roadsters. With its rear-drive dynamics and tiny convertible coupe body, the Miata is all about fun and involvement. Now in its fourth generation, known as "ND" by enthusiasts, the Miata is available with either a folding fabric soft top or a motorized retractable hard top. Mazda has made several updates to the Miata this year, including some that improve driving feel. Competitors to the 2024 Mazda Miata include the Toyota GR86, Ford Mustang, and Honda Civic Si .
What's New
- All-LED exterior lighting
- Asymmetrical limited-slip differential added
- Updated electric steering rack
- Improved track stability control system
- An 8.8-inch infotainment display installed
- Revised gauge cluster for improved readability
- Updated center console with more padding
- Fresh paint, interior, and wheel choices
What We Think
Other sports cars may have more power and prestige, but few come close to matching the Mazda Miata for fun. In this tiny roadster, it's practically impossible to not have a great time.
What makes the Miata magical isn't indicated by test results. Rather, it's simply a matter of how it feels. By taking a relatively simplistic approach, Mazda creates a direct, unfiltered connection between driver and machine. How the Miata steers, brakes, rides, and revs all feel so intuitive, it's easy to get into a groove. The Miata's manual transmission deserves special mention for how fantastic its clutch and shift action are—it benefits from short, precise throws.
How small the Miata is challenges its viability as a daily driver. The cabin is quite snug, and there's very little space in the trunk. At least it's relatively affordable and fuel-efficient. Ultimately the Miata is all about fun, which it accomplishes to tremendous success. The updates this year may not make it a better numbers car but it feels more fun to drive than ever. It may not beat other sports cars on a spreadsheet, but with the top back on a great road, there's nothing else like it.
2024 Mazda Miata 0-60 MPH Time
Every Miata is equipped with a 2.0-liter I-4 engine that spins out 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. The car is fun enough with its six-speed automatic transmission, but the Miata's six-speed manual is absolutely glorious. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph for this rear-drive roadster takes approximately 5.7 seconds. Fuel economy is the same as the prior model year at 26/35 mpg city/highway with the automatic and 26/34 mpg with the manual.
What Is the Miata RF?
Every Miata is a convertible, but two types of convertible are offered. As standard it's equipped with a fabric roof, which folds down manually in a matter of seconds. Optionally available is the Miata RF, which is the closest thing to a hardtop Miata. It has a motorized metal roof panel that folds away with the touch of a button. The RF version is heavier than the standard Miata, but it provides better insulation from noise and outside conditions when its roof panel is in place.
Safety Features
The 2024 Miata includes rear-cross traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking as standard driver assist and active safety features. Higher-end models get automatic high-beams, curve-adaptive headlights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
The MX-5 Miata's small size contributes to its light weight and fun personality but also compromises its practicality. Its interior and trunk measurements indicate how tiny it is.
Technology
For 2024, the Miata upgrades from its old 7.0-inch infotainment center screen to a new 8.8-inch unit. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included. A small display in the gauge cluster shows basic vehicle information, and this year the gauges receive new high-contrast graphics. Higher-end trims get a Bose nine-speaker audio system.
Future Miata: Hybrid or All-Electric?
Having been introduced for 2016, the ND-generation Miata is starting to seem a bit aged. This year's refresh should breathe a few more years of life into it, but it seems likely that Mazda is already working on a next-generation Miata. Expect the future Miata, potentially dubbed NE, to integrate electrification to some degree. The powertrain could go hybrid, or even go all-electric. Mazda's challenge with either of these routes would be keeping weight down, but the instant torque provided by an electric motor would make driving fun. Expect the next-generation Miata to arrive around 2026.
