2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review: Still the Best Sports Car on Sale Today
“This is the best sports car on sale today”
That’s exactly what I say to myself as I’m whizzing through some of Southern California’s most technical winding roads. And it makes sense that, like all Miatas before it, the current car is a joy to drive, after all, it was designed here. The Miata was initially penned at Mazda’s Southern California design studio, in Irvine, California. It’s not hard to imagine some of Mazda’s finest minds driving pre-production cars up here back in the late 1980s and thinking that they had something special.
The very same holds true today with the current car. Despite having just 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque from it’s 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated inline-four cylinder engine, this MX-5 Miata charges hard in the canyons. Astute drivers can thank the quick gear ratios in that six-speed manual for this prowess. Those same astute drivers will also find one of the best shifters in the business attached to that transmission. It’s easy to keep the engine on boil and zing it out towards the 6,800 RPM redline. It’s easy because it’s fun, and it’s easy because the Miata rewards you for doing so. The engine sounds great, with mechanical huskiness to it’s breathing, just like the original car.
Even with the Club package, which starts this manual transmission-equipped Miata at $30,050 and gives it firmed up Bilstein shocks, the car is soft, and there is a lot of body roll. Miatas have always generated grip from compliance, at least, in stock form. However, unlike less powerful, earlier models, that soft suspension takes all of that 155 horsepower and overwhelms the available grip from the rear tires, constantly. It’s hilarious fun. This car has a strong propensity towards oversteer, which is just lovely. Too many cars these days default to mind-numbing understeer. The Miata, by comparison, is a true driver’s car in the corners.
ALSO SEE: Fiat 124 Spider Abarth Review: How Much Fun is the Fiata?
That said, because of the quick gearing and ultimate lack of horsepower, those powerslides and mid-corner drifts are low speed, lurid, and easy to control. I got oversteer at 37 miles-per hour and have likely never laughed harder, or more joyously, in my life. The world would be a better, kinder place if everyone drove Miatas.
A few (very important) options boxes to tick
However, if you do feel the need to reign in the never-ending fun that is driving the MX-5 Miata, the optional $3,770 Brembo and BBS package will help with that. As the name implies, that relatively large chunk of change outfits this MX-5 with large Brembo brakes, and gorgeous forged 17-inch BBS wheels. Those wheels are wrapped in 205/45 Bridgestone Summertime rubber. Oh, and although not explicitly mentioned on Mazda USA’s website, the package also includes a new edition for 2018. Recaro leather sport seats have joined the mix, and they are near perfection for a street car. They are a leather-bound, headrest speaker-equipped variant of the Recaro Sportster, one of the finest seats offered by the manufacturer.
Also new for 2018 is no cost, and 100% worth picking option: the red soft top. That oxblood red top looks gorgeous and sultry against any contrasting color. Arctic White, Jet Black Mica, Machine Gray Metallic, Ceramic Metallic, whatever. In fact, the only problem I have with the red roof is that it clashes against Soul Red Crystal Metallic, which is, arguably, one of the finest colors to ever adorn a Miata.
This is really the not-so secret sauce of the Miata: buy a Club pack car, and then spec the Brembo and BBS option. For $33,820 you now possess the best sports car on sale today. Oh, but this particular MX-5 costs $34,545. The Machine Gray Metallic paint job is $300. It also has an ‘interior pack’ which costs $425. Interestingly, the interior pack gives you a red engine oil cap. Yes to the paint job, no to the interior pack. How is that for cutting edge consumer advice?
Continue reading about the Mazda MX-5 Miata Club on the next page.
