Review: The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is one of the all-time great sports cars

The term GOAT gets thrown around a lot these days, but in the case of the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, it’s absolutely appropriate. The things you seek in a fun, affordable car are available right now. The new Miata is a gift, and if everyone could experience or own one, the world would be a better, happier place. 

I’ve spent plenty of time with the Miata. I owned a 1991 NA, as well as a 2022 Club trim with the soft top. I loved them both and regret their too-soon departure out of my garage. I also just finished testing an ND3, a 2024 Grand Touring RF model. I’ve owned its closest competition, the Toyota GR86.

After spending significant seat time in all of them, I can unequivocally say that the current MX-5 Miata generation is one of the greatest sports cars of all time and the best iteration of the Miata yet. It’s thrilling, fun, affordable, approachable, likable and honest in all the best ways a sports car can be.

After the equivalent of more than a year behind the wheel of the current generation Miata, here are my top reasons why the ND3 Mazda MX-5 Miata is so great, with careful note of a few downsides. 

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Photo credit: Mazda USA

Effortlessly fun to drive

There is perhaps no other vehicle more purpose-built for fun than the MX-5 Miata, and it wonderfully succeeds for several reasons. Chief among those qualities is the sublime manual transmission and the high-revving 181 horsepower naturally aspirated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. It’s a true joy to rev out, and the shifter is one of the best on the market. The clutch is likewise smooth and light and never tiresome, even in traffic. 

And lest 181 horsepower sound embarrassingly low in the days of 500 horsepower Porsche Caymans, remember that the Miata weighs just over 2,400 pounds. That’s an amazingly low weight these days and makes for an excellent power-to-weight ratio. It rips, too; it's been clocked going from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.

The power is thankfully just enough — just enough to have a lot of fun with but isn’t so much that it’s going to land you in trouble every time you get behind the wheel. Add in some excellent, light on-center steering and suspension dynamics, and it’s no surprise this formula wins time and time again. 

Adding to the fun factor is the open top. With the Miata, you can choose a traditional soft top or a retractable fastback roof option (thus the RF nomenclature). I enjoyed owning the soft top version, but if I were to do it again (which honestly, I probably will), I would choose the RF.

With the top open it feels just like the soft top, but it has a bit of sophistication with it closed. It’s a brilliant design and will look good for years to come.

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The Mazda MX-5 looks exotic

Speaking of looks, it’s amazing how exotic the RF model looks, especially considering the price tag. It looks Lotus-esque and is unquestionably beautiful. For less than $40,000, you probably won’t find a better looking car. My personal pick would be the Club trim, as it adds attractive BBS wheels, red caliper Brembo brakes and a slightly aggressive gloss black appearance package. 

Photo credit: Mazda USA

2024 Mazda is analog to its core

In an age where turbos, hybrids, batteries and screens dominate even the most prized sports cars, the Miata refreshingly keeps things analog. Sure, there is enough tech to feel modern, including wireless Apple CarPlay, Alexa, heated seats, a limited-slip differential, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and more. But the tech is never the focus, and it never overwhelms. 

This is a glorious old-school approach to motoring: A naturally aspirated engine, a manual transmission, an analog instrument cluster and few screens to speak of. Turns out, this is the vacation you didn’t know you needed.

Miata is reliable, with inexpensive maintenance

With that naturally aspirated motor and straightforward mechanics comes a reliable and inexpensive to maintain sports car. It doesn’t require any special servicing, and oil changes and tires are cheap. And because of its light weight, you won’t be replacing tires and brakes very often, which cuts down considerably on consumable costs — especially compared to its heavier, more expensive competitors. 

Photo credit: Mazda USA

Amazing fuel economy

Usually, high-performance fun comes at the sacrifice of fuel economy. Not so with the Miata. Our tester was estimated at 26 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. After a week of fairly aggressive mixed driving, our tester averaged just over 32 mpg. On some of our longer drives, it was easy to achieve nearly 40 mpg. 

New Miata has decent trunk space

Having lived with a Miata for some time, I can attest that the trunk space is surprisingly accommodating. I frequently made fairly large grocery and Costo runs and was always surprised at how much I could fit in the trunk. No, a Miata is not a practical car in the sense that it's a dedicated two-seater, rear-wheel-drive sports car, but it is functional enough to be your daily driver. 

2024 Mazda Miata is affordable

And lastly, one of the best things about the current generation MX-5 Miata is how much fun it provides for the money. Our loaded Grand Touring RF came in at just under $39,000. A Club trim, with Recaro seats, Brembo brakes, BBS wheels and appearance package, comes in just over $42,000.

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Photo credit: Mazda USA

Snug cabin and slightly strange seating position

When it comes to drawbacks, they are few and minor. First on the list is the cabin. It’s small. Like, very small. I’m 5 feet, 9 inches tall and about 180 pounds and it fits me perfectly. If I was any larger, the interior would quickly feel tighter than it already is.

There’s not a lot of space in there, and it honestly feels like only one step up from riding a motorcycle — which is both awesome and at times frustrating. Passenger space is even more limited than the driver, as there’s not as much legroom and there is a fairly significant hump in the floor occupying what little floor space there is. 

Also, and I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something about the driving position feels slightly off to me. Maybe it’s the angle of the door panels or how the steering wheel is aligned with the dash and hood, but it doesn’t feel quite right. It’s no biggie, just … off.

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Cabin storage is limited in 2024 Miata

As with the tight fit, there’s little storage space in the cabin. There is a small nook for a phone and wallet in front of the shifter, another small nook under the armrest and a lockable box between the seats, but that’s it. No door pockets, no glove box — nothing. It’s fine and definitely still doable but still, it’s a little strange not to really have any storage space. 

Photo credit: Mazda USA

The suspension can be slightly stiff

I noticed this more on my Club trim than on the Grand Touring tester (curiously, both sported Bilstein shocks), but the suspension was almost too stiff. I wish it were about 20% softer on both trims. Doing that would make daily driving a perfect chef’s kiss.

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Final thoughts

The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a love letter to the joy of driving. It’s not the most powerful car, nor is it the most spacious or high tech, but that’s precisely what makes it so special. Mazda has distilled the essence of driving fun into a lightweight, nimble package that feels like an extension of the driver.

Whether carving up a canyon road, cruising through the city with the top down or just making a quick grocery run, the Miata is a beautiful reminder that driving can still be a pure, visceral, engaging and friendly experience. For those who prize those things, without breaking the bank, the current generation Miata is as close to driving perfection as you’ll find at any price.

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Pros

• Endlessly fun to drive, in any circumstance

• Exotic looks

• Analog mindset

• Reliable

• Inexpensive to maintain

• Excellent fuel economy

• Affordable

• Captures the joy of driving

Cons

• Tight cabin

• Not much storage space

• Slightly stiff suspension

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.