Used 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Convertible Review

With the exception of the ultra-hardcore Alfa Romeo 4C, no vehicle on sale today represents purity of purpose as much as the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Like all Miatas throughout the last 30 years, the 2019 version is a two-seat roadster that prioritizes thrills over frills. You won't find massaging seats, high-tech features or generous trunk space here. But you will enjoy pure, unadulterated fun that no other cars in this price class can match. A bevy of upgrades for 2019 makes the Miata more enticing than ever.

Engine performance is at the forefront of 2019's enhancements. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine now produces 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque — an increase of 26 hp and 3 lb-ft over last year's model — and the redline is 700 rpm higher. We haven't tested its performance in the soft top yet, but our retractable hardtop MX-5 Miata RF tester zipped from 0 to 60 mph a half-second quicker than last year's model.

Convenience has improved, too. The steering wheel now telescopes, which improves the driving position for taller drivers. A previously unavailable rearview camera is now standard on every Miata, while the Grand Touring's advanced safety features are now available on Sport and Club models as part of the new i-Activsense package. And for drivers who want it all, a new GT-S package adds the Club trim's handling upgrades to the luxury-oriented Grand Touring model. Longtime Miata fans might also find the new 30th Anniversary package enticing. Every 30th Anniversary model features gunmetal gray wheels and exclusive Racing Orange paint. The theme continues inside, where orange accents complement the Recaro sport seats, which are upholstered in faux suede. This model even comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, which is available via a separate dealer add-on for other trims. The 2019 Miata's changes should make it more appealing to enthusiasts and casual drivers alike.

Notably, the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a featured vehicle in our Cheapest New Cars article.

What's it like to live with?

Interested in learning about what it's like to live with this little roadster? Check out our long-term reviews for the fourth-generation 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata and the updated 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata. We spent a year and more than 20,000 miles with each of these charming convertibles. In our long-term coverage, you can read in-depth reporting from our editors on everything from the way the Miata drives to its reliability.

The 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a two-seat roadster offered in three trim levels: Sport, Club and Grand Touring. All Miatas are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (181 horsepower, 151 pound-feet of torque) that drives the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic transmission with wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The Sport trim offers a more bare-bones motoring experience; the Club is for sport-oriented driving, with a number of mechanical upgrades and added interior features; and the Grand Touring trim focuses on providing comfort, convenience and technology.

Standard features for the Sport trim include 16-inch alloy wheels, a manually retractable black soft top with a glass rear window, LED headlights and taillights, keyless entry and ignition, a rearview camera, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment interface with an auxiliary control knob, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, Bluetooth, voice controls, and a six-speaker sound system with HD radio, two USB ports and an auxiliary audio jack.

The Club trim includes everything from the Sport but comes with different equipment depending on the chosen transmission. With the manual shifter, it's equipped with a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, a shock-tower brace, a limited-slip differential and an engine sound enhancer. Opting for the automatic negates these features.

Otherwise, all Miata Clubs get 17-inch wheels, LED daytime running lights, a sportier front fascia, a rear lip spoiler, black mirror covers and roll hoops, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, red interior stitching, upgraded interior trim panels, heated seats, a nine-speaker Bose audio system and satellite radio.

Both Sport and Club models are available with the i-Activsense package, which adds lane departure warning and low-speed forward collision warning with automatic braking. The Sport with this package also gets blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The Grand Touring loses the manual-transmission Club's performance upgrades except for the sound enhancer, which remains a manual-only feature. These features, along with the sport-tuned suspension, are available in the new GT-S package.

Grand Touring features include adaptive headlights with automatic high-beam control, the i-Activsense package, an auto-dimming driver-side mirror, heated mirrors with body-colored covers, automatic wipers, a cloth-lined top, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, and a navigation system.

The Brembo/BBS package is offered on manual-transmission Club models, and it includes 17-inch forged BBS wheels, more powerful Brembo front brakes, an aero body kit, and heated leather seats. It can be ordered with or without Recaro sport seats. Those Recaro sport seats come standard with the new 30th Anniversary package, which also adds special badging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, and exclusive orange paint and interior accents.