2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata DriveFollow your heart

2024 Mazda: Since reading James Clavell’s Shogun, I’ve been brushing up on my Japanese every day. I can’t believe it took me 35 years to catch up on Blackthorne’s exploits, and I’m longing to see Japan again.

Interestingly, Mazda is celebrating the MX-5’s 35th anniversary this year. The much-hyped roadster made its debut at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989, just a few months before I was born. That year, the Hiroshima-based automaker built more than 45,000 cars, but that was just the beginning of an incredible journey.

When I made my first trip to Japan in 2016, the one millionth MX-5 rolled out of the factory, spanning four generations. Mazda will have produced 1,256,745 units by the end of 2023 – about 445,000 more than all three RX-7 versions combined. Like any other car, there are a lot of different views about it. Depending on who’s discussing it, it can range from “it’s great fun” to “it’s a hairdresser’s car.” Plus, I’ve found that most of the people who have negative things to say about it have never driven it.

You wouldn’t post a review for a restaurant you haven’t been to, right? A few years ago, I was on the verge of buying the Mazda NB MX-5, but I was only able to do a 10-minute test drive in the underground parking. It was small inside, and I’m a little over six feet tall. I also told myself that I needed more power than 140 horsepower. I chose it because I’d been dreaming of an RX-7 for a very long time. I’ve owned a Mazda for six years, and I have no regrets about going with the rotary engine.

But often, I think the Mazda-5 would have been the better choice. After sitting in one during a 2019 car show, I knew I had to drive a fourth-generation vehicle. I could be disappointed that it took me nearly six years to accomplish that goal, but instead I’m grateful I was alive to see it. It’s funny because I was able to drive one of the last RX-8 models in 2012. And the fact that I had the opportunity to drive one of the last models of the MX-5 – a small, nimble and exciting roadster that will make any driver smile – almost feels like fate.

Stepping into the front yard of the press car at the Mazda showroom, I began looking for the MX-5 among a sea of ​​other cars. Its size certainly sets it apart from the crowd. Compared to my FC RX-7, it’s 15 inches (400 mm) shorter and 154 inches (3,915 mm) longer. It’s just as tall as the FD RX-7, and on the first day of my test drive, it was unbelievable to park it next to an RX-8 and a .

Even after ten years of existence, the ND still looks modern. It’s instantly recognizable as an MX-5 despite its contemporary look. It now has new LED headlights, and if you look closely, you won’t be able to hide its smile. My least favorite aspect about the MX-5 is how Mazda has changed the back lights.

The Mazda newly designed 17-inch BBS wheels and red Brembo calipers may give away the model’s athletic nature to those who aren’t familiar with it (these brakes are awesome!). Although the new Aero Gray finish doesn’t look all that attractive at first glance, I still think it’s better than the “classic” Soul Red Mica. Although the MX-5 isn’t as showy as the RX-7 or RX-8, it still attracts some attention when driving. Knowing its hidden potential, it’s quite a thrill to go unnoticed like this.

Yes, looks matter, but are you still drawn to superficial beauty? Unless it’s a project car that’s been on jackstands for years, you’ll spend a lot more time inside your car than outside. After parking the 2024 Mazda MX-5 for a photo shoot or just a leisurely drive, I loved staring at it.

But even at a standstill, I like being in control. Expecting nothing less from a contemporary car, the new 8.8-inch central display meets every connectivity requirement for a seamless ride. However, that’s really just a small part of the story, and you’ll feel completely comfortable in the cockpit despite the slightly tight fit. The unity between driver and vehicle, or jinba-ittai, happens before you even press the start button. Although I had mixed feelings about the shift knob at first, the steering wheel is better than I imagined in terms of both look and feel.

It’s not as comfortable as the long one I used in my RX-7, but after a few hours of driving, I got used to it. The rev gauge, which you can enjoy reaching 7,000 rpm, is located in the center of the dashboard, as you would expect from a sports car. The Recaro seats are as well designed as the rest of the vehicle, and now feature a new material called Legnau that looks like suede and prevents slipping when driving at high speeds.

Even after hours of driving, these seats continued to fit me well, even though I recently gained 207 pounds/94 kilograms. Second to my favorite feature of the vehicle is Mazda’s construction of the cockpit!

If you’ve read any of my previous stories, you’re familiar with my passion for driving. Although I still appreciate slow-moving cars of all sizes, I prefer sporty cars. And if I had to pick just one argument in favor of buying an MX-5, it would be how much fun it is to drive. You’ll be smiling in no time because the smiles on the front end are contagious. I drove about 600 miles (965 km) in the 2024 MX-5 over the course of three days.

I drove for five hours on the first day before I reached the pickup location. Mazda was a very hot and sunny day (110 degrees Fahrenheit, or 43 degrees Celsius), and there was a lot of traffic. Like my RX-7, the MX-5 doesn’t like being in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and that’s not its strongest attribute.

The 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine didn’t take long to come to life at 2,500 rpm. Maximum power (184 PS) is available at 7,000 rpm, and maximum torque (151 lb-ft, or 205 NM) is available at 4,000 rpm. If you’re used to driving muscle vehicles, these figures won’t surprise you, but keep in mind that this car weighs 2,295 pounds (1,041 kg).

If you drive it well you can reach 62 mph (100 kph) in 6.5 seconds, but you shouldn’t base your decision on these figures alone. The little roadster has a ready-to-go attitude and it reminded me of the sporty nature of the Renault Clio RS197 that I used to drive a lot before.

The sound of the engine and exhaust will make you smile even more once you engage the induction sound enhancer. As mentioned earlier, I parked the MX-5 next to an RX-7 and RX-8 at a rotary-owners meet. It was a delight to drive with the roof down and music playing from the Bose speakers once the traffic cleared.

The base price of the 2024 Mazda MX-5 in the US is $28,895 (before taxes), but the vehicle I drove was priced at €39,980 or about $43,000. Driving a dull car is not worth your time, and the MX-5 is the perfect vehicle to get a new perspective. I’m glad I didn’t lose it, and I’ve already put it on my list of things I definitely want.