“Zoom, Zoom” icon gets a retractable hardtop

(This review is representative of model years 2006 & 2007)

Sixteen years and more than 700,000 sold, the Mazda Miata reaches iconic status and holds a place in the Guinness book of records as the best selling sports car of all time.

Now comes the third-generation iteration that doesn’t share one single trait with its successful antecedents, including their name.  Dropping the Miata, the roadster is simply known as the MX-5, aligning this model with other Mazda products that use alphanumeric nomenclature.  Confusingly, however, Mazda will still use the Miata name when advertising the car.

What hasn’t changed about the spunky little roadster is that driving it is still about having fun, and it’s better in every way. 

For most, the MX-5 strikes little visual difference from the previous generation Miata.  The black honeycomb grille still sports a happy face, but the fenders now flare in an aggressive fashion similar to its pricier big brother, the RX-8.  The car’s aluminum hood is higher, necessary to pass new pedestrian crash standards.  Gone is the little hump on the trunk’s rear edge; new are the multi-element clear-cover taillights. 

While the overall length has grown less than an inch and the width only 1.6 inches, Mazda stretched the wheelbase 2.6 inches. The interior feels much roomier in a cabin that now has 50 cubic feet of room, up from 46.  However, I didn’t detect any additional leg or head room, so taller drivers will still want to scratch the MX-5 from their shopping list.

Miata has always had a manually operated folding top and for 2006 the operation couldn’t be simpler.  Without leaving the driver’s seat, simply unhook one latch above the windshield and the top easily drops straight back into its folded position behind the headrests and snaps into place.  The forward section of the Z-fold design forms a hard tonneau boot cover, eliminating the need to stretch a cover in place.  The folded top does not intrude into precious trunk space.

New for 2007 is a power-retractable hardtop model.  Mazda says it makes the MX-5 an all-weather, all-50-state car.  The retractable model costs $24,945, compared with the base $21,000 MX-5.  That has to be the automotive bargain of the year. 

As for the top’s operation, it’s as simple as putting the tranny in neutral, pushing the one-button headliner latch, pushing a second button and voilá!  In a mere 12 seconds the little funster goes from hardtop to convertible without encroaching on even an inch of valuable trunk space. Another 12-seconds reverses the process. 

Other changes for 2007 include an auto-down feature for the passenger window and two new exterior colors, Stormy blue and Highland green.

The interior- let’s call it a cockpit- while small, is attractive, well laid out and feels just right for the car.  The instrument clusters are straightforward with white numerals and red needles on black-faced gauges. 

The dash in my tester was a monochromatic finished in shiny piano black graphite with matte silver accents on gauge trim, door handles, the three spoke steering wheel, shift knob and console, air vents and the back-of-the-seat headrest roll bars.  Our upscale Grand Touring edition tester came with standard leather upholstery.  Cloth seats are standard on the entry-level Club Spec model. 

All controls are simple and easy to use with twist knobs for the audio, heating/air-conditioning systems and redundant radio and cruise control buttons located on the steering wheel.  Power window switches are located on the console between the manually operated seats. There are cup holders built into the doors.  I liked the lockable console bin between the seats.

The MX-5 is available in six trim levels with the stripped down Club Spec starting at $20,995 including $560 destination charge.  This is a very basic model that comes with a 5-speed manual transmission instead of the 6-speed. It has a cloth interior and is not available with air conditioning or cruise control.

The next in line is the Base at about $1,000 more. It adds air conditioning but no options are available for this model. 

Standard equipment is added exponentially as trim level and price increases to the Touring, Sport, Grand Touring and the small run of 3rd Generation Limited models. Only 3,500 will be available worldwide of the Limited models, identified by a numbered plate on the center console, a special Velocity Red Mica exterior paint finish and red leather seats (black optional).  We tested the Grand Touring with a seven-speaker Bose audio system, optional $500 Bilstein shock absorbers and fancier interior. 

Miatas are known for excellent gas mileage, precise handling, responsive steering and excellent balance from its perfect 50/50 front to rear weight ratio.  On fast curves the car handles with aplomb when pushed hard, cornering flat, confidently.   The ride might be too firm as a daily driver for some.

You still have to shift a lot, but that’s the fun of driving a roadster.  The six-speed manual is world class with shift throws merely a flick of the wrist.  I can’t imagine anyone opting for the $1100 six-speed automatic that comes with steering wheel paddles to override the computer system. 

Horsepower has been upped to 170 in the new 2.0-liter inline 4 cylinder.  It drops to 166 with the automatic.  Zero to 60 takes just over seven seconds.  Don’t confuse the MX-5 as a racer’s car.  It isn’t.  While it’s just as happy cruising at 70 as it is darting in and out of city traffic, the MX5 is about the top-down joy of driving.

Side airbags are now standard and have been incorporated into the seat backs.  Front airbags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, yaw and traction control are now all standard.  There is no crash test data for the MX-5.

Having been the standard for affordably priced top down fun in a two-seat sports car, the ever-popular Miata now faces a serious challenge from the likes of a sold-out-for-2006 Pontiac Solstice and soon-to-be-introduced Saturn Skye, both in the same size and price class.  That said, the new Miata – oops-MX-5  – is better than ever with much to like and very few faults.