The Mazda MX-5 Miata: A Sports Car Tradition

Since its introduction over 20 years ago, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has been all about driving fun. Amanda agrees that this is indeed true. The MX-5 Miata has a few changes in 2013, including a freshened up front end, new color treatment, and a revised wind blocker for the retractable hardtop model. This change was made to enhance the overall driving experience of the vehicle.

The Touring trim was replaced by an all-new Club trim, which is based on the sport model. The top-of-the-line Grand Touring round out the lineup, offering an exciting driving experience for enthusiasts. One of the standout features of the MX-5 Miata is its manual folding soft top, which is standard on most models but can be upgraded to a power retractable hardtop that automatically stows away in just 12 seconds.

The MX-5 Miata is a sports car in this small sports car tradition, and as such, it has a compact cabin and tiny trunk. This means that carrying a week's worth of groceries will not be possible, so drivers need to plan accordingly. The Miata is fun to drive, but it may not be the most comfortable vehicle for tall people, with cramped legs being a particular issue. However, the controls and instruments are easy to reach and have good wealth position, making it an enjoyable driving experience.

There is also limited interior storage and technology, including Bluetooth connectivity and an audio input jack. However, the Grand Touring trim features an advanced audio system that automatically adjusts the audio based on exterior noise level and vehicle speed. This feature is cool, but the lack of navigation and USB input may be a drawback for some drivers.

Despite its limitations, the MX-5 Miata makes up for it with its incredible handling and responsive driving experience. The two-liter inline-4 engine produces just 167 horsepower and 140 pound feet of torque, which may not seem like a lot, but the vehicle's weight of only 2,400 pounds makes it peppy and fun to drive. The acceleration may not be brisk, but the handling is incredibly responsive, making the MX-5 Miata feel like a little go-kart on the road.

There are several transmission options available for the MX-5 Miata, including a 5-speed manual in the base model and a six-speed manual in the Club and Grand Touring trims. Additionally, an optional six-speed automatic transmission is also available. Drivers who opt for the six-speed manual can add a suspension package with Bilstein shocks and a limited slip differential for improved handling.

The fuel economy of the MX-5 Miata varies depending on the transmission option and driving conditions. With a 5-speed manual, the vehicle achieves an estimated 22 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway. The MSRP of the base model starts at $23,000, with a hardtop Grand Touring starting at $29,250.

It's worth noting that Mazda offers a five-year powertrain warranty, which covers repairs and replacements for engine and transmission components. Other vehicles to consider in the same price range include the pricier Mini Cooper Roadster and the Volkswagen Eos, which offer more tech features and improved comfort. Despite its limitations, the 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata is perhaps the most driving fun you'll find for the money, turning on a dime and offering an affordable driving experience that is hard to beat.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enever since its introduction over 20 years ago the Mazda mx-5 miata been all about driving fun don't you agree Amanda absolutely the mx-5 miata has a few changes in 2013 to Jeff with a freshened up front end the new color treatment and a revised wind blocker for the retractable hardtop model the Touring trim is replaced by an all-new Club trim based sport and top-of-the-line Grand Touring round out the lineup a very easy to operate manual folding soft top from standard but the more popular power retractable hardtop automatically Stow's away in just 12 seconds the mx-5 is a sports car in this small sports car tradition and that means the cabin is small and the trunk is tiny so don't plan on carrying a week's worth of groceries back there the Miata is fun to drive but it's not a car that tall people are going to find very comfortable that's right six footers will have the cramped legs and you can't refine the seat when it's adjusted all the way back you know what it's lacking in hip room to the controls and instruments are easy to reach and wealth position but there's not much interior storage not much technology either bluetooth connectivity and audio input jack but the audio pilot system in the Grand Touring trim is cool it'll automatically adjust the audio based on the exterior noise level and vehicle speed very cool but no nav system and no USB input once underway all those sins are forgiven this is a fun ride again in that true sports car tradition the two liter inline-4 makes just 167 horsepower and 140 pound feet of torque but the mx-5 miata weighs only 2,400 pounds it's peppy even if the acceleration isn't brisk but the handling is incredibly responsive this thing's like Drive little go-kart there's a 5-speed manual in the base model and a six-speed manual in the club and brand touring or not partial to the available six speed automatic transmission besides with the six-speed manual you can add the suspension package with build sine shocks and limited slip differential top fuel economy is 22 in a city 28 on the highway with a 5-speed manual ace MSRP is 23,000 $720 a hardtop Grand Touring starts at twenty nine thousand two hundred and fifty dollars powertrain warranty is five years 60,000 miles other vehicles to consider include the pricier Mini Cooper roadster and the Volkswagen Eos which will get you more tech features and it's a bit more comfortable the 2013 Mazda mx-5 miata maybe the most driving fun you'll find for the money it turns on a dime and it's affordable what do you think Amanda absolutely Jeff and even though you can't bring a lot of stuff and there's not a ton of room there's still plenty to enjoy with the mx-5 miata experienceever since its introduction over 20 years ago the Mazda mx-5 miata been all about driving fun don't you agree Amanda absolutely the mx-5 miata has a few changes in 2013 to Jeff with a freshened up front end the new color treatment and a revised wind blocker for the retractable hardtop model the Touring trim is replaced by an all-new Club trim based sport and top-of-the-line Grand Touring round out the lineup a very easy to operate manual folding soft top from standard but the more popular power retractable hardtop automatically Stow's away in just 12 seconds the mx-5 is a sports car in this small sports car tradition and that means the cabin is small and the trunk is tiny so don't plan on carrying a week's worth of groceries back there the Miata is fun to drive but it's not a car that tall people are going to find very comfortable that's right six footers will have the cramped legs and you can't refine the seat when it's adjusted all the way back you know what it's lacking in hip room to the controls and instruments are easy to reach and wealth position but there's not much interior storage not much technology either bluetooth connectivity and audio input jack but the audio pilot system in the Grand Touring trim is cool it'll automatically adjust the audio based on the exterior noise level and vehicle speed very cool but no nav system and no USB input once underway all those sins are forgiven this is a fun ride again in that true sports car tradition the two liter inline-4 makes just 167 horsepower and 140 pound feet of torque but the mx-5 miata weighs only 2,400 pounds it's peppy even if the acceleration isn't brisk but the handling is incredibly responsive this thing's like Drive little go-kart there's a 5-speed manual in the base model and a six-speed manual in the club and brand touring or not partial to the available six speed automatic transmission besides with the six-speed manual you can add the suspension package with build sine shocks and limited slip differential top fuel economy is 22 in a city 28 on the highway with a 5-speed manual ace MSRP is 23,000 $720 a hardtop Grand Touring starts at twenty nine thousand two hundred and fifty dollars powertrain warranty is five years 60,000 miles other vehicles to consider include the pricier Mini Cooper roadster and the Volkswagen Eos which will get you more tech features and it's a bit more comfortable the 2013 Mazda mx-5 miata maybe the most driving fun you'll find for the money it turns on a dime and it's affordable what do you think Amanda absolutely Jeff and even though you can't bring a lot of stuff and there's not a ton of room there's still plenty to enjoy with the mx-5 miata experience\n"