2019 Mazda MX 5 Miata RF Quick Takes TestDriveNow Overview

2019 Mazda MX 5 Miata RF Quick Takes: TestDriveNow Overview

How do you make the world’s best-selling, two-seat roadster even better?

Mazda’s designers and engineers have found the answer with the 2019 MX-5 Miata RF.

While its biggest change comes by way of its thoroughly upgraded SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine, which is now more responsive, efficient and powerful, other numerous updates include:

A new, standard tilt/telescoping steering column with 30mm of telescoping and 42mm of tilt range
A switch from a steel to an aluminum steering column to save weight
A new, standard rearview camera
Available Traffic Sign Recognition
Available Smart City Brake Support low-speed automatic emergency braking

MX-5 RF Grand Touring and harder-edged MX-5 RF Club models continue to be the two flavors of retractable fastback, both offering premium style, curb appeal and performance.

MX-5 Grand Touring comes equipped with 17-inch dark silver wheels; body-color interior trim; auto on/off headlights; an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror; rain-sensing windshield wipers; automatic climate control; auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink®; heated, leather-trimmed seats; a 9-speaker BOSE®Premium audio system; Sirius XM Satellite radio with a 4-month trial subscription, Mazda Navigation; Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert; new Traffic Sign Recognition; Adaptive Front-lighting System; High Beam Control; Lane-Departure Warning; and Smart City Brake Support.

Listening to customers’ demands, Mazda will offer a new GT-S Package for MX-5 Grand Touring models equipped with the SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual transmission, equipping those models with a front shock tower brace, limited-slip rear differential and Bilstein dampers.

MX-5 RF models with the GT-S Package will also come equipped with the hand-painted black roof that had previously only been offered in the U.S. on the 2017 MX-5 RF Launch Edition.

MX-5 Club models continue the two-pronged, higher-trim strategy, offering a harder-edged foil to the MX-5 Grand Touring. MX-5 Club comes with standard Bilstein dampers, shock tower brace and limited-slip rear differential in models equipped with the SKYACTIV-MT transmission.

All other MX-5 Club models receive standard heated cloth seats with red contrast stitching, body-color interior trim; Metallic Black alloy 17-inch wheels, front air dam and rear lip spoilers, a 9-speaker BOSE®Premium audio system, SiriusXM Satellite Radio with a 4-month trial subscription and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

MX-5 Club models are available with an i-ACTIVSENSE Club Package that comes with Smart City Brake Support and Lane-Departure Warning.

Additionally, MX-5 Club SKYACTIV-MT can be had with the Brembo/BBS Package and Brembo/BBS/Recaro Package. The Brembo/BBS Package include front Brembo rotors and calipers; red-painted brake calipers on all four corners; 17-inch, dark gunmetal BBS forged alloy wheels; functional side sill extensions; a rear bumper skirt; and heated leather-upholstered seats. The Brembo/BBS/Recaro Package is new for MX-5 RF and replaces the leather-trimmed seats with heated Recaro buckets. It also includes a black-painted roof.

All 2019 MX-5s come standard in the U.S. with a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine, producing 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. That represents an increase of 26 horsepower and 3 lb-ft of torque over the previous model. Thanks to a host of internal improvements, including lighter pistons and rods and a larger throttle, MX-5’s engine produces more torque throughout its rev range and enjoys a 700 rpm higher redline for the new model year.

The new engine comes paired to either a standard SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual transmission or an available 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Sport mode.