The interior of the 2017 Mazda Miata is a model of simplicity.Fast facts
- Model: 2017 Mazda MX-5 (Miata) RF - Exterior color: Machine Gray Metallic - Interior color: Black/Gray - Engine: 2.0-liter, four-cylinder - Horsepower: 155 - Transmission: six-speed manual - Fuel economy: 33 mpg highway, 26 mpg city - Local Dealer: Tim Short Mazda, 6015 International Drive - Price (as tested): $34,310
View other Test Drive stories by Mark Kennedy
Looking for a used or new car?
We tried hard to find a flaw in the new Mazda MX-5 (Miata) RF. Honestly, we did.
It's certainly not to be found in the curvaceous, Porsche-like sheet metal; or in the sweet, 2-liter Skyactive engine. Nor is there any fault to be found in the ingenious fold-away targa top, or the blissfully simple switches and gauges, or the glove-soft leather seats.
No, the only teeny flaw we could find in the Miata RF were the unremarkable (ok, flimsy) plastic sun visors.
Wait, but who needs sun visors in a car built for sun worship?
Nevermind, then. We officially pronounce the Mazda Miata RF "practically perfect," as long as you can get by with two seats and a single cup holder.
Carl Pemberton, manager of internet sales at Tim Short Mazda on International Drive here, says his store has two Mazda MX-5 RT's in stock this Memorial Day weekend, including a white Grand Touring model much like our Machine Gray factory tester.
"We sell them super fast," says Pemberton, who notes that the new-for-2017 RF (retractable fastback) has eclipsed the popularity of the traditional Miata roadster soft-top.
If you are lucky enough to purchase a new RF, you will spend the first month showing off the automated roof, a 13-second process that involves a lift-away fastback panel that shifts backward while the targa panel ducks into a storage hole behind the seats.
The process looks like a scene from a Transformers movie. The roof can be raised or lowered as the car travels speeds up to 6 mph. Flipping the roof toggle on the fly is sure to attract attention.
Anecdotally, we have noticed that the two-seat Miata is the car most likely to be owned by automotive journalists; which is quite an endorsement. People who drive cars for a living gravitate to the MX-5.
It makes sense. Since its introduction in 1989, the MX-5 has gained a reputation for being a reasonably-priced, insanely fun-to-drive sports car. That it also embodies traditional Mazda reliability is a deal sweetener.
DESIGN AND FEATURES
The automotive press seems to be in general agreement that the new Miata RF is the sexiest MX-5 Mazda has ever produced. The fastback roof-line is simply stunning, leaving some comparing the Miata RF to a poor-man's Porsche 911 targa, which starts at about $90,000. Even with the targa top stowed, the fastback panels remain in place and define the car's profile.
Purists may balk, claiming the soft-top roadster (a full convertible) is the only true Miata, but even Mazda predicts at least half of MX-5 sales will be these new targa-top models that look like coupes.
Just riding around town, the rear-wheel-drive RF is a certified head-turner. Frankly, it looks like an all-new Miata. The traditional MX-5 bodywork does not attract nearly as much attention. We found ourselves circling the car again and again admiring the lines, especially the rear third of the car, which is energized by the fastback design.
Evolutionary upgrades to the interior of the Miata have made it much more comfortable over time, perhaps a concession to the aging baby boomers who have always been the MX-5's most reliable customers.
Our grand touring version has such upscale amenities as heated side mirrors, remote keyless entry, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, a Bose 9-speaker sound system, satellite radio, navigation, a 7-inch color touch screen, heated seats, and adorable little rain-sensing windshield wipers.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
At the end of the day, the MX-5 Miata is a perfectly balanced sports car that sometimes feels more like an exoskeleton than an automobile. Sliding into the driver's seat almost feels like putting on a mechanical suit that will move with your body.
The MX-5 is powered by a normally aspirated, 2.0-liter engine that pours out 155 horsepower. While every car-maker seems to be churning out turbocharged engines, there is something delightfully simple about the Miata's non-turbo power-train.
Our tester, which retails for $34,310, is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission - which will be the right choice for most enthusiasts. Long recognized as one of the smoothest shifting cars on the planet, the Miata ticks through its gears with dutiful precision.
The Miata can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is quick but doesn't do justice to the actual driving experience. Agility is where the MX-5 really shines. Its near 50-50 weight distribution makes it a delight to pilot through twisting roads.
BOTTOM LINE
The retractable fastback option adds $2,755 to the price of a base Miata, which seems well worth the money when you consider the technology involved and the all-season advantages of a hard top.
A base Miata roadster starts at $25,790 and our highly-optioned targa has an MSRP of $34,300. The government says to expect 33 miles per gallon highway and 26 miles per gallon city.
The MX-5 competes with the mechanically similar Fiat Spider, the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota 86.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.