2016 Mazda MX5 Miata VIDEO REVIEW

2016 Mazda MX5 Miata VIDEO REVIEW by Auto Critic Steve Hammes

 

It might be a chilly fall day, but when you’ve got the keys to the all-new 2016 Mazda Miata, well suddenly everything feels warm and bright.

For more than 26 years, the Miata has been a staple of the American car culture. From early morning weekend drives to the competition of the autocross circuit, Mazda’s lovable roaster has endured where others have come and gone. Its unwavering commitment to affordable, 2-seat, top-down motoring in a svelte body has won the hearts of nearly a million owners worldwide.

Now, this 4^th generation model looks to carry the torch for a new audience of roadster shoppers. Whittling away even more fun-sapping weight, this car has been trimmed to a nearly unbeatable 2,332 pounds while maintaining its 50:50 weight distribution. And, it’s even smaller, losing a few inches in length. It’s been given the SKYACTIV treatment to make it faster and more efficient with the company’s latest 2.0-liter engine, dropping several horses, picking up some torque and getting a whole lot more efficient. It sits farther back in the engine bay too, lowering the car’s center of gravity. It’s noticeably louder than before with its sky high 13:1 compression ratio and Induction Sound Enhancer and not in a very satisfying way – just more noise without the balance of a sweet sounding exhaust. It would’ve been so great if Mazda had given this Miata a more distinctive voice. Rated at 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque at 4,600 RM this is Mazda’s best application of the SKYACTIV-G 4-cylinder; a high-revving, instantly responsive ball of fun. It helps shoot the Miata from 0-to-60mph in about 6 seconds, too – giving this version a newfound sense of speed. Gas mileage is rated 27mpg city/34 mpg highway on recommended premium – a huge 25% improvement and those numbers are true as I averaged 30mpg for the week.

Remember when you were a kid; imagining what it would be like to drive a real car?  Well, this is that feeling. We’ve become a driving culture numbed by our 3 ton SUVs. But it’s this small, low to the ground lightweight open top Miata that recaptures that inherent love we have for a simple, organic driving experience. I’m not one to indiscriminately discredit automatic transmissions but don’t you dare think of getting one here. This is the model stick shift and clutch combo that everyone should copy.

The 6-speed manual is heavenly; so incredibly easy to work yet surgically precise in its action. If you were to teach someone how to drive stick, this would be the car in which to do it. But Mazda didn’t try to go all supercar here. While the double wishbone front suspension and high performance Bridgestone rubber provide the go-cart like fun we expect from a Miata, they steered away from making it too perfect or isolating. This car has a beautifully complaint ride and just the right amount of body lean and rear wheel slippage to let the driver know how far is too far. In other words, it’s not meant to be an over-engineered car whose limit is unknown until it’s too late. There is a Club model that’ll take it further into the track world if you want, but this top of the line Grand Touring model with its light and easy electric assist steering and road hugging feel is the perfect balance of seriousness and fun.

If you shop in the big and tall department this car’s going to be like a pig in a blanket. The steering wheel doesn’t telescope and the seat backs are tight in the shoulder area.

At 6’ 1” I was a little short on legroom even with the seat pushed all the way back but you can still hang your arm comfortably on the door while tooling around. The infotainment unit isn’t touchscreen-based and is clunky to use but once you get your music set, the Bose speakers in the headrests make sure you can hear it with the top down…an easy, manual operation that can be done without having to get out of the car. There are heated seats but no heated steering wheel, a wind deflector, auto climate control and surprising safety features like a blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert but no back-up cam. A deep cubby between the seats and a couple of awkwardly placed cupholders round out an interior that’s simple but seemingly stout. And the trunk is wide enough to fit more than you’d you think.

In this most feature-laden Grand Touring trim with the optional Advanced Keyless Entry System, MSRP for the 2016 MX-5 is $31,015. More than a few commented on its resemblance to the BMW Z4 – no shame in that – and LED headlamps are standard across the board. Mazda’s most iconic car continues to get better with age.