Born during an era in which the future of the open-top sports car was as uncertain as your phone’s weather app, the MX-5 Miata had managed the impossible. Not only did the Japanese roadster breathe new life into this automotive segment, but it also reinvented it by combining the fun factor from its predecessors with the reliability of modern automobiles.
Since it was born in 1989 through to the present day, Mazda has built more than one million examples of the MX-5 Miata at its manufacturing facility in Hiroshima, a city once torn to pieces by an atomic bomb. One million people driving MX-5s can’t be wrong, though, can’t they?
Up front, the defining characteristics are the low-slung nose and the obligatory short overhang. These two are tell-tale signs of the MX-5 Miata’s proficiency to hug the road, putting an emphasis on smiles per gallon rather than miles per gallon. To underscore the broad stance of the MX-5 Miata, the designers have integrated LED daytime running lights at the lower corners of the front bumper.
The hind part is where the MX-5 Miata’s exterior design links up through the muscular rear fenders. With the taillights positioned as inboard as possible, the little roadster’s hips appear to be wider than they actually are. While some might say that Mazda has copied Jaguar for the MX-5’s rear end, the combination lamps are a eulogy to the all three previous generations of the best-selling two-seat roadster in the world.
The canvas roof can spell trouble for taller people. With the manually folding soft top stowed away, taller drivers are hit by another teeny-weeny problem. Due to the cramped seating and the steering wheel which doesn’t telescope, taller drivers may feel very, very awkward onboard the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Trunk space isn’t to write home about either. With a maximum cargo volume of 4.59 cubic feet (130 liters), MX-5 Miata owners have a hard time squashing things in there. Be it a large bag of groceries or a run-of-the-mill soft bag, this car is definitely not made for hauling.
Don’t, however, think that the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is rubbish to live with. Even the entry-level trim level comes as standard with air conditioning, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming, six speakers, and power windows.
Moving on up to the mid-range Club grade, the size of the wheels grows from 16 to 17 inches, the daytime running lights switch from halogen to LED, the infotainment system is upgraded to a 7-inch touchscreen, and the audio system comes in the form of a Bose-developed 9-speaker unit.
The top-of-the-line Grand Touring, however, is the cream of the crop. In this configuration, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata comes as standard with goodies such as automatic climate control, satellite navigation, auto on/off and adaptive headlights, leather-trimmed heated seats, and a plethora of safety features.
A limited-slip differential is also available, but to enjoy it, you’ll need to opt for the six-speed manual transmission. Regardless of trim level or optional extras, the MX-5 Miata with the automatic transmission can’t be equipped with a limited-slip diff.
With the optional six-speed automatic transmission, the MX-5 doesn’t like to be hurried. EPA-rated fuel economy, on the other hand, favors the SkyActiv-Drive slushbox, as in 36 mpg (6.5 l/100 km) highway versus 34 mpg (6.9 l/100 km) for the manual.
In Europe and a handful of other places, the fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata is also available with a 1.5-liter variant of the SkyActiv-G powerplant. The smaller engine develops maximum torque higher in the rev range, which means that the driver needs to row through the gears like a man on a mission to squeeze out the best the MX-5 Miata has to offer.
Happily, however, we can get an idea about how crashworthy the MX-5 Miata has got thanks to the Euro NCAP. The safety performance assessment program from the Old Continent has awarded the European-spec 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata four stars out of five, which is good enough for this type of vehicle.
The structure of the MX-5 Miata offers good protection for the knees and femurs of both the driver and passenger. On the downside, the driver’s airbag didn’t have sufficient pressure to prevent the dummy’s head from hitting the steering wheel through the airbag material.
Even though it can be had with rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata doesn’t do autonomous emergency braking. Not even as an option.
If it weren’t a world-class automobile, then the MX-5 Miata wouldn’t have earned the coveted title of 2016 World Car of the Year. On that note, it wouldn’t have enjoyed such a huge, loyal following.
What Mazda has created here isn’t an all-new generation of the MX-5 Miata. It is, in fact, a new yardstick regarding pure driving experience.
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