2019 Mazda MX-5 MiataNick Tragianis / Driving OVERVIEW A plucky and playful roadster that stands the test of time PROSZippy engine, impeccable chassis, power upgrade doesnt ruin the Miatas spirit CONSTight interior, becomes expensive once you start climbing the trim level ladder VALUE FOR MONEYGood WHAT TO CHANGE?Absolutely nothing HOW TO SPEC IT?GS-P with Sport Package As far as budget-friendly sports cars go, its tough to beat the Mazda MX-5 Miata especially in its current flavour. Where the previous MX-5, known as the NC in Miata-speak, was larger and slightly pudgier than its predecessors, the current-generation ND is a return to form. Smaller, sure, but also lighter. More technology, sure, but still pure. Less powerful, sure, but still incredibly zippy.Wait. Scratch that last one. When the ND first launched in North America for 2016, there was a glaring horsepower difference between itself and its predecessor. The new engine, a normally aspirated 2.0-litre SkyActiv four-cylinder, pumped out 155 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of torque. Sure, it had a bit of extra torque, but ultimately, it fell short to the NCs 167 horses. Of course, this is all like trying to figure out which of The Three Stooges was the smartest, but that aint happening because the Miata was never about horsepower. Although a V6-powered Toyota Sienna could dust you at a stoplight, the Miata could do plenty with 155, without ever feeling sluggish. But apparently, Mazda didnt feel this way. Apparently, Mazda felt the Miata needed more horsepower. So, here we are in 2019 the 2.0L four-cylinder remains, but it now pumps out 181 horsepower a very healthy bump of 26 ponies. Its actually quite clever, the way Mazda found this extra power: Lighter pistons and connecting rods, plus revisions to the intake, crankshaft, flywheel, fuel injectors and exhaust, to name just a handful of the tweaks and all without resorting to any sort of forced induction. Admittedly, torque doesnt change much; you now have 151 lb.-ft. at your disposal, versus 148 in the few years prior.Mazdas stubborn nerdiness is admirable, really. It couldve taken the easy way out by slapping a turbocharger onto the 2.0L engine, or shoehorning the boosted 2.5 from the CX-5, CX-9, Mazda6, etc., into the Miatas engine bay. But no, Mazda just had to add more power without losing any of the magic that makes the Miata so special, and most importantly, without diluting the car in the process. This last bit is key the Fiat 124 is, for all intents and purposes, a turbocharged Miata. Turbo lag can be fun, but forced induction dulls this car, regardless of the badges it wears.Taken individually, the upgrades dont seem like much, but the overall package is more than the sum of its parts. You legitimately feel the Miatas newfound urgency; you still wont win a stoplight drag race with a V6 Sienna, but 181 horsepower is absolutely perfect for the Miata. Its punchier and pulls harder, particularly through the midrange, and as responsive (and light on its feet) as its ever been. There are a couple of pleasant side-effects, too, aside from the obvious: The redline is now 7,000 rpm, and the exhaust note is a little deeper. Even fuel economy is impressive after about 340 miles (roughly 550 kilometres) of hard driving, the trip computer settled at about 30 mpg, or 7.8 L/100 kilometres. On a tight, serpentine road, the Miata is more of the same, but better. Pulling itself out of corners with ease, the tight steering informs you exactly whats going on beneath the wheels. Get back on the gas too quickly and the tail wags ever so slightly, but its incredibly easy to bring it back into line. The brake pedal is firm, building up your confidence to go faster, brake harder, and steer later. Its reflexes feel like a Hot Wheels toy car, come to life. The six-speed manual shifter is crisp and precise, and smoothly clicks into each gear with oh, yeah. About that.Perhaps as some sort of cruel joke, this particular tester was fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission. An enthusiasts nightmare? Definitely. Sacrilegious? Debatable. In Canada, about 40 per cent of Miata buyers spring for the automatic. Are they onto something? Well, it certainly eliminates one of the more appealing aspects of the Miatas driving experience the manual transmission is no doubt a masterpiece but the automatic is smart, shifting smoothly and invisibly under normal driving, yet its responsive and eager to downshift when driving with gusto, keeping the engine in its sweet spot. The paddle shifters and Sport mode make up for some, but not all, of the lost driving pleasure. And even then, the six-speed automatic only makes the plucky little sports car more accessible, spreading driving joy and Jinba Ittai the horse and rider as one philosophy, as it were to the masses. You just cant argue with that, especially as we teeter on the cusp of electrification and autonomy.Inside, the
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata