2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Review

Mazda MX-5 Miatas are all about pure driving enjoyment, usually with the standard convertible top down. But convertible tops can age and fray, they make it easy for thieves to gain entry to a vehicle, and they do a poor job of isolating you from cold and inclement weather. So, what can you do if you want all of the pleasure of driving a Miata but without the exposure to searing sunlight, drumming rain, cold mornings and potential theft? Get the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, or retractable fastback.

This version of Mazda's legendary sports car has a coupe-style roof to provide protection from the weather and criminals, but on sunny days and balmy nights, the panel over the front seats and the rear window glass retract to open the car's cabin to the elements. The MX-5 Miata RF offers the best of both worlds: a buttoned-up cabin when the weather is uncooperative and an open-air driving experience when desirable.

There are a couple of downsides to this model. First, the RF is substantially more expensive than the standard MX-5 Miata. Second, with the roof panel stowed and the windows down, the interior suffers more wind buffeting than the fabric-topped convertible. But otherwise, the Miata RF is every bit as fun to drive as its fully open sibling.

For 2022, Mazda introduces Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) to the MX-5 Miata RF. According to the automaker, this standard technology aims to improve high-speed cornering stability and control. In high g-force cornering situations, KPC will apply light braking to the Miata's inside rear wheel to reduce body roll, improve steering linearity, and create a limited-slip differential effect. As if we needed yet another reason to drive this terrific sports car.

What's it like to live with?

The last time Mazda upped the MX-5's fun quotient in 2019, by adding more power and making a few other mechanical tweaks, we added one to our long-term test fleet for a year of unadulterated driving pleasure. Even the staff member who didn't really fit into it loved driving the Miata. Read our long-term Miata test results to see if we think a Miata is always the answer to the question of what to drive.