Written by Marco Carvajal
The magnificent Miata is here to stay. The new 2019 MX-5 Miata is available with a stylish soft-top or with a solid retractable hardtop.
The MX-5 Miata Club I am test driving is a soft top, and even if the hardtop version can be very appealing and trendy, I enjoy more the soft top Miata version.
The Miata Soft top is very classy and glamorous, it implies high-class level and classic beauty. The soft material cabriolet merged with the curvy unique design of the Miata, produces a wonderful effect on the eye of the viewer watching the Miata riding smoothly and with style on the road.
From the driver’s eye, the curves on the hood of the Miata, and the feel of the open-air when the soft top is open, produces a real sense of pleasure and freedom on the road.
The Miata is manufactured by Mazda in Japan. It has 3 decades of evolution but it hasn’t changed much, it can’t change, it shouldn’t change. It has to stay as the Miata that everyone loves. Mazda’s flagship roadster keeps bringing excitement to millions of drivers around the globe, now for a low ticket price from approximately $27K to $32K.
The MX-5 brings the passion and joy of driving a lightweight sports car. The Miata MX-5 was originally created as a small roadster, with lightweight and minimum mechanical complexity, modern and reliable. The Miata has been a unique automobile since its debut in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show.
When you look at the Miata, you can feel the creators’ inspiration by compact European sports roadsters from the 60s, like the Triumph Spitfire, MG MGB, Datsun 2000, Fiat 124 Sport Spider, Alfa Romeo Spider, and the Lotus Elan.
According to Mazda, the MX-5 is the best-selling roadster of all times.
The Miata was born to stay, today in 2019 the Miata continues to be reborn with a new look, technology, and styles that makes it a very attractive compact convertible with a classic look but a new body.
The Miata trim model I am test driving this time is the MX-5 Miata Club soft-top, a great model in the middle of the 3-model lineup.
Trims and Pricing
The 2019 MX-5 Miata Soft Top is available in 3 models: Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. The one I am test driving is the Club, the middle trim model of the soft top Miata lineup.
- 2019 MX-5 Miata Sport, Starting at $27,080
- 2019 MX-5 Miata Club, Starting at $30,190
- 2019 MX-5 Miata Grand Touring, Starting at $31,855
The New Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Soft Top
The 2019 MX-5 is approximately 150 lbs. lighter than the third-generation MX-5 and only 189 lbs. heavier than the original 1990 model. It is more powerful now with a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine with a power increase of 26 horsepower and 3 lb-ft of torque and from 6,800 rpm to 7,500 rpm, from the previous 2018 Miata. New features include a brown soft top option, tilt and telescoping steering column, additional safety features, such as a standard rearview camera, and three new options packages to upgrade.
Miata MX-5 Miles per Gallon
City / Highway / Combined
MPG: 26 / 35 / 29
Highlights of the 2019 MX-5 Miata Club
- 2.0-liter four-cylinder SKYACTIV-G Engine
- 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm
- 151 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm
- SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters
- Standard rearview camera
- Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry
- BOSE 9-speaker audio system with headrest speakers
- Bluetooth hand-free phone and audio streaming
- 7″ full-color touch screen
- The Miata
For the experience of the most authentic roadster for the money, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is a great option for the buyer looking for a model that offers a low budget and the thrill of driving, entertaining, and also highly accessible in the roadster segment. The Mini Cooper and the Nissan 370Z Roadster 330-horsepower V6 are good competitors to the Miata, but a Miata is unique.
While other small roadsters have come and gone during the automotive history, The Miata is still strong in its segment.
The interior quality meets the price expectations, good design at a great value price. The interior is made of quality materials and an elegant design that prioritizes the fun of driving. Excellent overall visibility and intuitive technology reinforce that standard. The small space is the main limitation on the Miata.
Bose Premium Audio System
The Bose nine-speaker system provides great sound and it is paired with a sophisticated navigation system operated through a 7-inch touch screen or a central console quadrant controller. Voice commands are accessed through a button on the steering wheel and include standard commands for making phone calls, navigating to destinations, and moving through music selections.
The USB connection is good for integration with media devices/smartphones. Bluetooth is equally easy to connect, transmit audio, and use as a telephone interface.
If we think about the price and the features included standard in the Miata, many of its features will cost additional fees with other available roadsters. It is not easy to find a sports roadster for $32K including so many features standard.
Performance
The new Miata is small but very capable, with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 148 lb. feet of torque.
The transmission for the Miata is available as a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic.
The MX-5 soft-top makes the Miata a light roadster. Its interior is very beautiful and stylish. As you drive the new version one can feel all the enhancements compared to its previous generations. The Miata offers a unique combination of coupe and convertible attributes and it has a 30-year brand name hard to match, the one and only Miata.
The MX-5 Club Soft Top is a great sports roadster car at a low price near $32K.
