Video: 2016 Mazda MX- 5 Miata Review

Mazda has made countless improvements and even rolled back some transgressions from the third generation, called the NC. We've got a lot to cover, so buckle up. The 2016 is unquestionably the best looking Miata in history with a touch of wickedness it always needed, but certainly has never had. Now it is shorter from bumper to bumper than it's ever been and wider for more stability. But perhaps the biggest improvement is it has lost roughly 150 pounds over the previous generation. This is the club, which is the sportiest actually even though it's not called the sport. This car also has an option package that's available only on the club, it's called the Brembo/BBS Package. It adds the side sills here and a rear bumper apron. As the name suggests, it also adds BBS brand wheels in gloss black and Brembo front brakes. They are single piston, just like the stock ones. They definitely add a little bit to the pedal feel, a little bit of grip, but for what it's worth the stock ones do a pretty good job. The club has a few exclusive functional items, including under the hood a strut tower brace, a limited slip differential and a sports suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers. It's kind of like the brakes, the stock suspension handles very well and is also comfortable. If anything, they could have gone a little bit further with this. Like before the engine is a two liter four cylinder, but it's a completely new engine. This one has a little bit less horsepower, a little bit more torque, but because the car is so much lighter, it makes the car quicker. Zero to 60 is about six to seven seconds. It also gives better mileage. It's up 25 to 30% to about 30 miles per gallon combined. Now you'll notice that there is a metal valve cover, which Mazda itself points out is not cheap and is actually heavier than plastic. So why did they do it? Because Mazda says no one wants to open the hood and see a bunch of plastic. To that I say, bravo Mazda, bravo. Even though the interior dimensions aren't that different between 2015 and 2016, Mazda has made many changes inside that make it feel roomier and more comfortable. For one thing, even though the roof is 10 millimeters lower, you sit 20 millimeters lower for a net gain in headroom. Also the hood is 22 millimeters lower, so you don't feel like you're in a foxhole. The steering wheel is smaller. Wouldn't mind a thicker rim, but otherwise it's an improvement. Likewise, the tilt adjustment now goes higher for more leg clearance. The back rest goes back a little bit farther, which can help with headroom if you're taller. The seats themselves have an underlying tensioned mesh fabric instead of the usual springs and cushions. So with thinner seats gives you a little bit more room. Some people want a height adjustment, I feel like we're fine with just the tilt here. I always enjoy when automakers redesign a car and start acknowledging what was wrong with the previous one. For example, in the third generation Miata, the driver wasn't exactly centered on the pedals. Now in the 2016, they've moved the occupants inward a little bit, lines things up between that and the windshield coming back a little bit. The driver actually has a wider field of view. The power retractable hard top is gone, don't know whether it will be coming back or not, but the manual top could hardly be easier to use. It is much improved. One example, they've added this neat feature where you flip the lever and it pops up, so it's within reach. And you can just fling it forward. Top itself is lighter, there's less friction in the joints. If anything, it's a little bit harder to close because you got to get it down into that position. One other note, something they've acknowledged is that one of the cross ribs was right above the driver's head, which for tall people meant that when you go over a bump you would brain yourself. They have changed that to a soft portion right up here. And they've actually put an aluminum panel in the front of the roof here to prevent buffeting. It helps a bit, certainly not a quiet car inside. As a guy who's six feet tall, I have to say, I am definitely more comfortable in this car now than in the previous generation, especially with the top-up. Mazda has wisely moved the cup holders from here where they interfere with the shifter to back here. They are removable, fit into ports back here. There's actually an extra port on the passenger side that might be a better location for it. Now the controller for the media system that comes in the top two trim levels is right here. And I'm telling you, if you were wearing like a thick coat, maybe something for winter, you are going to hit the enter button a couple times. The shifter itself is really nice. Six speed manual is standard. It's not quite to the level of the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ, which is my favorite shifter, but it still vibrates with the engine and jostles around a bit, which I like, 'cause it reminds you that you're actually driving. The Miata remains a handling champ. It has excellent front to rear balance. It's extremely controllable. Road holding is better than ever in this version. And the steering is now electric assist. Some people think it's a little too soft. I think the feedback could be a little bit better, but by and large, it's still very much a Miata. A very visceral experience. It feels like an extension of the driver, in ways some roadsters that costs twice or three times as much, don't achieve. Now here's a little advice for you from uncle Joe, if you're watching this video you're probably kind of interested in this car. I'm telling you, buy one. Even if you buy a used one, you have to buy it while you can. I own one, a 2002 special edition. I have a long list of cars I wanna buy next when I get tired of it. You know what? I never get tired of it. This is a car you've gotta own. (car trunk slamming)