2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The all-new Mazda Miata MX-5 is available in 3 trims, Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. The new Miata comes with a base price of $25,730 for the manual and $27,080 for the automatic variant and goes up to $30,780 for the manual and $ 31,855 for the automatic transmission.

The new Miata comes with a 2 L 181 hp SKYACTIV-G DOHC 16-Valve 4-cylinder VVT engine for all the variants along with 6-speed SKYACTIV-MT transmission for manual variants and 6-speed sport automatic transmission for the automatic variants.

The Sports variant comes bundled with all the standard features. The Club variant comes with some upgraded features like sports-tuned Bilstein Shocks, Limited slip differential, Black rear lip spoiler to name a few along with all the standard features. The top-most trim, Grand touring comes with all the features of Sport and Club but loses the transmission upgrades from the Club variant. Also, the Grand touring comes bundled with some additional features like 17” aluminum-alloy wheels in Dark Silver finish, Auto on/off headlights and many more.

Trim	Sport	Club	Grand Touring
MSRP (M/T)	$25,730	$29,590	$30,780
MSRP (A/T)	$27,080	$30,190	$31,855
Key features	16” aluminum-alloy wheels in metallic black finish	17” aluminum-alloy wheels in metallic black finish	17” aluminum-alloy wheels in Dark Silver finish
	LED headlights	LED daytime running headlamps	Auto on/off headlights
	MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system	Bose 9-speaker audio system with AndroidPilot, Driver and Passenger headrest speakers with subwoofer	Adaptive front-lighting system
	7”full-color touchscreen	Black cloth-trimmed seats with red accent stitching	Leather-trimmed seats
	Aha, Pandora, stitcher internet radio integration	SiriusXM Satellite radio	Lane departure warning

We recommend

All variants are really great but the Club version is the one we will recommend as it gets some additional upgrades like red Brembo brakes at the front, 17” BBS wheels and Recaro seat package along with some mechanical upgrades.

While in the city, the 3 cars give the same mileage and while on the highway, the 124 Spider takes the lead, followed by the Miata and the Bug at last. The only place where VW wins is the tank capacity, where the bug takes the lead followed by the Miata and the 124 Spider sharing the 2^nd place.

Models	Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T	124 spider Abarth M/T	VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
MPG (hwy)	34	35	33
MPG (city)	26	26	26
MPG (combined)	29	30	29
Tank cap. (gal.)	11.9	11.9	14.5

“The Miata's interior is well-crafted with a pleasing and relatively ergonomically friendly design” – Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

The interior quality is fine with some visible plastic highlights. Like other roadsters, the Miata’s cabin is not so spacious and a 6-ft tall person will find some difficulty getting in. The cup holders are not that great and so is their position. A tiny glove box is present in between the seats. With the wind hitting the hairs, the interior sounds noisy, but all the fun lies in this part.

Models	Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T	124 spider Abarth M/T	VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
Passenger Capacity	2	2	4
Front row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	37.4/52.2/43.1	37.4/52.1/43.1	39.3/55.3/41.3
Second row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	-/-/-	-/-/-	37.6/43.1/31.4

The Miata has similar stats when compared to the 124 Spider. The bug bags the first place with the highest numbers and also because of the availability of the second row. Also, the Bug has some extra features like Nappa leather front and rear seat upholstery with driver and passenger heated cushions which makes it a great car in terms of seating and interior. 

Infotainment System

The infotainment of the Miata feels outdated as there is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto available, but Mazda has provided USB ports that make it simple and convenient to connect the phone without any hassle.

Mazda has also provided 9-speaker Bose audio system provided in the headrests which makes the ride entertaining. The 7” touch panel provided by Mazda can be operated with a center-console knob as well.

Cargo space

The Miata has the least amount of cargo space among its rivals. Its cargo space is only big enough to accommodate a couple of small bags.

Models	Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T	124 spider Abarth M/T	VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
Maximum interior cargo volume (cu.ft.)	4.6	4.9	7.1

The Bug has the highest amount of cargo space and takes the crown.

“With the exception of newly designed alloy wheels in 16- and 17-inch sizes, this refreshed 2019 version doesn't take the usual "styling updates for the sake of it" approach. Improvements are focused on the driver and the driving experience” – autotrader.com

Design and Dimension

The Miata is the lightest and smallest car among its rivals, yet the most powerful among its competitors, all thanks to the lightweight chassis and other mechanical upgrades made by the company. Mazda has made the new Miata low by reducing its ground clearance to 4.9” from the previous generation that had 5.3” of ground clearance.

Models	Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T	124 spider Abarth M/T	VW Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T
Curb weight (lbs)	2339	2436	3239
Length (in)	154.1	159.6	168.8
Width (in)	68.3	68.5	71.9
Height (in)	48.6	48.5	58
Ground clearance (in)	4.9	-	5.6
Wheelbase (in)	90.9	90.9	100.1
Track width (in) F/R	58.9/59.2	58.9/59.1	62.2/61.1

The overall dimensions of the Miata are almost similar to that of the 124 Spider, yet the Miata has retained its fundamentals. The Bug has the biggest dimensions of all and hence takes the crown. Though these cars are not meant to be taken off-road, the Bug again takes the lead with the most ground clearance of 5.6”.

Exterior Features

The 2019 Mazda Miata MX-5 comes with the following features-

• 17” aluminum-alloy wheels in metallic black finish
• Black rear lip spoiler
• Black front air damp
• LED daytime running lamps

The new Miata has a well-balanced body structure and a stable ride which adds to the overall safety of this car. Mazda also offers a variety of safety features that make this little sports roadster a safe choice to go with. Following are some safety features-

• Panic alarm
• 4-wheel ABS brakes
• Occupant sensing airbags
• First aid kit
• Rear parking camera
• Electronic stability control
• Power door locks with speed sensor
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Red cross-traffic alert

Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T v/s Fiat 124 Spider Abarth M/T

Both the Mazda Miata MX-5 and the Fiat 124 spider Abarth are sister cars and share a great number of similarities from the manufacturing plant to the platform, yet they are quite different. The new Miata is more powerful than the 124 Spider and this makes it the perfect choice for the power lovers. The new Miata club costs $300 more than the 124 and gives a bang for its buck.

Mazda Miata MX-5 Club M/T v/s Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Final Edition SEL A/T

When the two classics are pitted against each other, the battle becomes worth watching. Both the classic Bug convertible and the Miata are quite popular and with these new launches, both the manufacturers have taken their rides to the next level. The Miata is a fun-centric car with a hint of fun and thrill whereas the Bug focuses more on the practicality with fun. Both cars are drop-top but the Miata is more powerful than the Bug and gives more meaning to the money spent.

There is a common notion that fun and practicality can’t go hand-in-hand and Mazda took this as a challenge and proved this notion wrong. The Miata is the perfect combination of both power and fun, from its powerful little motor churning out a huge amount of power to the stability of the body and the drop-top,

When the price tag is taken into account, the classic bug proves to be the costliest decision among the cars. Between the Miata and the 124 Spider, both of these have many similarities yet they are different when it comes to their heart, so the choice rests in the hands of the buyer.

Miata is for the ones who are really on a tight budget but want some serious fun, are rpm junkies and want a highly engaging drive. But if you are a family person and want the big boot space, then the classic Bug is the perfect choice for you.