Performance is one category the Miata draws the most debate on. Some say it needs more power, while others say it’s all about the chassis. Whichever camp you reside in, I defy you not to get out of the driver’s seat with a massive grin on your face. The slow-car-fast principle resonates here more than almost any other car on the market.The Miata’s 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder produces 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque and is paired by default to a six-speed manual gearbox. You can get an automatic, but we’d caution against it as it’s not in keeping with the Miata’s character.In comparison, rivals are vastly more robust. The GR86 now makes 228 hp and 184 lb-ft, which would seem like game over. But it’s heavier than the Miata, at 2,811 to 2,452 lbs, and that 300-pound-plus difference is massive at this end of the market. It’s for that reason that you’re looking at around six seconds to 60 mph. The rag-top saves you a little more, but in Colorado at least, the solid roof is a boon and goes a long way to making the Miata RF a four-season car with just a change of tires.Other important performance items of note are Bilstein shocks and a limited-slip differential, plus something new for 2022 called Kinematic Posture Control to help refine its handling dynamics even further. But at its core, it’s remarkably simple, and a case of “what more do you need?”
Driven: 2022 Mazda Miata RF Is Still Fantastic Nearly A Decade On
