2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Review

Over four generations the MX-5 Miata has become the best-selling sports car the world has ever seen. For this year, Mazda has applied classic hot rodding techniques to take the formally anodyne engine propels the current softtop and folding hardtop RF versions, and turn it into a free-revving, characterful powerplant worthy of this RWD wundercar.

By Isaac Bouchard

The new 2-liter, four cylinder has a bigger throttle body and valves, lighter and stronger connecting rods and a stiffer crankshaft. Its fuel injectors run a higher pressure and its exhaust system—which still sounds somewhat uninspiring—gets the gasses gone quicker. All these changes, and a lighter, dual-mass flywheel, serve to make it rev with real verve, and throttle response is right now! responsive. All the changes net 26 more horsepower (mainly a result of lifting the rev ceiling 700rpm to 7500) to 181hp. While torque only goes up 3lb-ft, it’s spread evenly across the powerband and it certainly feels like substantially more.

Where the previous engine felt tight and unwilling at our altitude, now the Miata jumps to attention at most any speed, with the kind of glorious reflexes that only come from a good power-to-weight ratio. The MX-5 willingly stretches for its redline in the kind of emotionally satisfying way that most modern turbocharged engines abhor, yet also pushes one back into the seat with a nice swell of midrange torque. While metrics like 0-60mph in 5.7sec and a 14.5sec/95mph quarter-mile aren’t stunning today, they are more than adequate to spread a joyful grin across the driver’s face and to challenge the Mazda’s sublime chassis.

Until you’ve driven a car that weighs only 2300-odd pounds (barely more than the original) it is almost impossible to imagine the level of responsiveness to steering and pedal inputs the Miata is capable of. Think it and it happens. Roll your palms and the Mazda turns in, the tidy dimensions making the canvas of any width road easier to paint on. The balance is neutral and there’s not a better car to learn controllable oversteer in. There’s also enough compliance built into the springs and bushings to make city driving over broken tarmac tolerable; brake modulation and power is fine with the standard stoppers; optional Brembo brakes are even more feelsome. Undeniably the highlight of a years’ testing of all sorts of fun, expensive vehicles, the MX-5 Miata remains singular in its ability to engage drivers of all abilities, at most any speed, in the sheer, glorious act of driving.

EPA: 26/34mpg; 29mpg combined

0-60: 5.7sec (indep. test)

Price as tested: $35,405

Here is what Mazda has to say.

★★★★★

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