2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review

The Miata's featherweight construction and rear-wheel-drive platform mean that you can have a ton of fun even without a supremely powerful engine. That said, the latest Miata is pretty quick. In our testing, our manual-equipped Club test car sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 6 seconds flat. The Miata's brakes are another high point since they're both easy to use and good for quick stops when you need them.

The Miata responds best to smooth steering inputs. Do that and this is a supremely fun car to toss into a corner with abandon. There's a lot of body roll (even with the Club suspension), but the only time that becomes an issue is during fast, aggressive driving.

Small two-seat roadsters aren't known for comfort, but the Miata is surprisingly livable in the day-to-day grind. The Club has a firmer ride than other Miata trims because of its Bilstein dampers, but it still has pretty good compliance over rough roads. Only larger potholes will send a shiver through the chassis. The optional Recaro seats offer an enviable combination of support, breathability and comfort. But they sit higher than the standard seats, making them a no-go for passengers over 6 feet tall.

The Miata's only significant drawback comfort-wise is the abundant cabin noise. Road and wind noise increases significantly with speed. On the highway, you'll have to crank the stereo to really hear it.

The cabin's elegant design makes the most of the tidy space and prioritizes the fun of driving. There are minimal controls, and those that exist are, perhaps unsurprisingly, easy to reach. The controls are placed cleverly, but their ease of use is primarily due to the Miata's minuscule cabin size.

Drivers around 6 feet tall will push the boundaries of head- and legroom, and anyone much taller than that might not fit at all. But average-size drivers will have no problem finding an agreeable position. Forward visibility is great, and even though the rear view isn't exceptional, your proximity to the glass helps reduce blind spots. The manual convertible top is phenomenally easy to use.

The MX-5 must balance driving purity with a driver's desire for modern connectivity and safety tech. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration comes standard on the Club and Grand Touring trim levels. There's also an impressive list of active safety features, though the Miata's tiny size means you don't truly need things such as blind-spot monitoring.

The nine-speaker Bose audio system does a good job both filling the cabin with sound and competing with ambient noise. Voice controls are limited and stick to a menu of on-screen prompts, but the system recognizes speech well.

No one should expect a two-seat convertible to be a utilitarian machine, so the Miata's lack of carrying capacity shouldn't come as a surprise. The trunk measures just 4.6 cubic feet. Unlike larger convertibles, there's no back seat to use as a cargo shelf. There's not even a glovebox. Instead, the Miata just has a small bin between the seats that serves as the main storage area for things like smartphones, wallets or small handbags.

There is sufficient room for one child or toddler in a forward-facing seat or booster only. There are no LATCH anchors or top-tether attachment points.

The Miata justifies its price. An abundance of soft plastics and faux leather coverings give the interior an upscale feel. The price can creep up in upper trims and with option packages, but the Miata is a good value overall.

Mazda's bumper-to-bumper warranty is good for three years/36,000 miles, while the powertrain is covered for five years/60,000 miles. These are average for the segment. Roadside assistance is offered for three years/36,000 miles, which is below average among non-luxury convertibles.