Mazda MX-5 Review: Why This Tiny Roadster Still Makes Big Cars Feel Pointless
07.01.2026 - 11:56:44
You sit in traffic, surrounded by crossover clones, each one taller, heavier, more stuffed with screens and drive modes than the last. Your car does a hundred things automatically, yet somehow it makes you feel nothing. When was the last time you drove just because you wanted to?
That itch for simple, honest, analog driving is exactly the problem the Mazda MX-5 is built to solve. While the world races toward bigger, heavier, more digital everything, Mazda has doubled down on a tiny, lightweight, rear-wheel-drive roadster designed for one thing: joy.
The Solution: A Modern Classic That Still Gets It
The Mazda MX-5 (known as the Miata in many markets) doesn't try to be all things to all people. It doesn't pretend to be a family hauler or an off-road warrior. Instead, it focuses obsessively on what made people fall in love with driving in the first place: low weight, a fizzy naturally aspirated engine, rear-wheel drive, and a manual gearbox that feels like it was machined just for your right hand.
For 2024/2025, Mazda has carefully refined the current ND generation MX-5 rather than reinventing it. According to Mazda's official site, you still get the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder (in Europe it's 135 kW / ~184 hp), rear-wheel drive, a choice of manual or automatic (market dependent), and your pick between the classic soft-top or the retractable fastback RF. What changes are the details: steering, stability control logic, lighting, and infotainment have all been quietly modernized without diluting the core recipe.
Why this specific model?
Plenty of cars are fast. Very few are genuinely light and playful anymore. That's where the Mazda MX-5 still stands in a class of one.
Current models hover around the 1,100 kg mark (roughly 2,400 lbs, depending on trim), which is staggeringly light by modern standards. On real roads, that matters more than headline horsepower. The MX-5 feels eager at sensible speeds. You don't need a racetrack or triple-digit velocity to have fun; a twisty B-road or your favorite on-ramp will do.
Mazda has also updated the steering and electronic aids. Recent reviews point out that the revised steering tuning and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) logic feel more natural and less intrusive, letting you exploit more of the chassis before the computers tap you on the shoulder. This is crucial for everyday confidence: the car flatters inexperienced drivers while still giving experts room to play.
And then there's the transmission. Enthusiasts on forums and Reddit are almost unanimous: the six-speed manual is the one to get if you can. The throw is short and precise, the clutch is light yet communicative, and the gearing is matched to the engine's character. It's the kind of manual that reminds you why you ever cared about shifting yourself in the first place.
In day-to-day life, the MX-5 surprises you with its usability. There's Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support on the latest infotainment updates, integrated navigation (market dependent), heated seats on higher trims, LED headlights, and a cabin that, while snug, is cleverly packaged. You won't confuse it with a big GT car, but as a daily for one or two people with light luggage, it can absolutely work.
At a Glance: The Facts
| Feature | User Benefit |
|---|---|
| 2.0L Skyactiv-G naturally aspirated engine (approx. 184 hp in EU spec) | Immediate throttle response and a linear power band that encourages you to rev it out and feel the engine, instead of waiting for a turbo to wake up. |
| Rear-wheel drive with near 50:50 weight distribution | Balanced, predictable handling that makes back roads playful rather than scary, even for less experienced drivers. |
| Approx. 1,100 kg curb weight (model and market dependent) | Lightweight construction means agile turn-in, short stopping distances, and fun at legal speeds instead of only on racetracks. |
| Six-speed manual transmission (automatic available) | Crisp, short shifts turn every gear change into a small moment of satisfaction; automatic offers convenience if you're stuck in heavy traffic. |
| Soft-top and RF (retractable fastback) body styles | Quick, simple open-air driving with the fabric roof, or a more coupe-like look and extra refinement with the RF. |
| Modern infotainment with Apple CarPlay / Android Auto support | Easy access to navigation, music, and calls from your phone, blending analog driving feel with the digital tools you actually need. |
| Advanced i-Activsense safety tech (market/trim dependent) | Available features like lane assist and emergency braking add peace of mind during daily commuting without dominating the driving experience. |
What Users Are Saying
Spend five minutes on Reddit threads and MX-5 forums, and a clear pattern emerges: people don't just like their MX-5s; they bond with them.
The praise usually hits the same notes:
- Fun at sane speeds: Owners love that they can enjoy the car without risking their license. It feels alive at 30–60 mph.
- Reliability: Mazda's simple, well-proven hardware gets high marks. Long-term owners report relatively low running costs compared with other sports cars.
- Manual gearbox: Reddit users routinely call it one of the best shifting experiences in any modern car, at any price point.
- Community: There's a strong culture around MX-5s—meets, track days, DIY guides, and friendly advice make ownership feel like joining a club.
The complaints are just as consistent:
- Space: It's small. Tall drivers (over ~6'2"/188 cm) sometimes struggle to get comfortable, and storage is limited.
- Noise and ride: Especially with the soft-top, wind and road noise are part of the deal. On rough roads, the ride can feel firm compared to a larger car.
- Practicality: If you regularly carry more than one passenger or lots of cargo, this is not your only car.
Overall sentiment, though, is overwhelmingly positive. Many owners describe the Mazda MX-5 as the car that made them fall in love with driving again, and a surprising number of them say that even when they “upgrade” to something faster, they end up missing the MX-5's character.
Behind this philosophy is Mazda Motor Corp., traded under ISIN: JP3868400007, a company that has stubbornly protected driver-focused cars long after many rivals pivoted fully to SUVs and EVs.
Alternatives vs. Mazda MX-5
The Mazda MX-5 doesn't live in a vacuum, but its direct rivals are surprisingly few.
- BMW Z4 / Toyota GR Supra: Both are powerful, rear-wheel-drive sports cars, but they're much heavier, more expensive, and more GT-oriented. They offer more straight-line performance and comfort, but less of the MX-5's "go-kart" feel and simplicity.
- Mini Convertible: Front-wheel drive, more of a stylish city car than a focused roadster. It's fun, but the driving purity just isn't the same.
- Hot hatches (VW Golf GTI, Hyundai i30 N, etc.): Incredibly capable and practical, with real back seats and big trunks. However, they can't deliver the top-down, rear-drive roadster experience that defines the MX-5.
- Used Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86 / GR86: As lightweight, rear-drive sports coupes, these are probably the closest in spirit. They do offer two tiny rear seats and a fixed roof; the MX-5 counters with an open top and even more intimacy in the driving position.
Where the Mazda MX-5 wins is on purity and accessibility. It isn't trying to be the fastest, or the most luxurious. Instead, it delivers the most smiles per mile for the money, and it does so without demanding race-driver skills or a racetrack.
Final Verdict
If you judge cars by cargo volume, touchscreen inches, or the number of driver assist modes, the Mazda MX-5 will always lose on paper. But if you measure a car by the way it makes you feel when you crack the roof open at sunset and downshift into a sweeping corner, it's hard to think of anything better at this price point.
The MX-5 is not perfect. It's not meant to be. It's unapologetically focused: two seats, small trunk, lots of noise, minimal fuss. What you get in return is something incredibly rare in modern motoring—a car that makes even a run to the grocery store feel like a stolen moment of freedom.
If you can live with the space and you're honest about how often you really need more than two seats, the Mazda MX-5 belongs at the very top of your shortlist. It's more than a hero product in Mazda's lineup; it's a reminder that driving can still be an experience, not just a task to be automated away.
In an era obsessed with bigger, faster, and more digital, the Mazda MX-5 chooses to be lighter, purer, and more human. And if that sounds like exactly what your daily life has been missing, you already know your answer.
