Mazda MX-5 Miata is big where it counts - ConsumerReports.org
Mazda just launched a redesign of its spry, nimble, lithe, and brisk two-seat MX-5 Miata convertible. Its buyer base seems evenly split between the secretary-and-hairdresser crowd who adores the Miata’s cuteness factor, and the weekend club racers who find the ragtop’s just-right balance of light weight, sufficient power, and crisp handling... In an era of cars getting larger with each redesign, it’s heartening to see that Mazda actually made the MX-5 smaller and lighter (by about 200 pounds). One can imagine the triumphant shouts from the R&D studios, “Hiroshi, I shrunk the Miata. Among today’s Novocaine-infused “sporty” cars, the Miata retains the essence of old-school ragtops, where you feel like a unified cog unto the machine itself. The Miata rewards drivers who understand the concept of smartly carrying speed through a perfectly carved corner. The 2016 edition actually has less power—a 12-hp reduction to 155 hp—from its new 2. 0-liter four-cylinder engine. But because peak power comes at lower engine revs, and the gear ratios are perfectly spaced, the Miata feels quicker. Although Mazda carved out more space inside the cabin, you still wear the Miata like a worn-in pair of skinny jeans. Source: www.consumerreports.org
