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2019 Mazda MX-5 Review by David Colman +VIDEO
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club RF
Just might be the best Miata Mazda has ever produced
By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club RF
Over the past three decades, I have had the privilege of testing every new iteration of the Mazda Miata. Since 1989, Mazda has crafted four generations of their elemental two seat roadster. The most
recent version was introduced in 2015, when, for the first time, the convertible was joined by a new disappearing hardtop model designated RF for Retractable Fastback. Although this sports car's name,
shape, engine and performance have all changed substantially over the years, the 2019 MX-5 RF is arguably the best Miata Mazda has ever produced.
When it first hit the market in 1989, this diminutive 2 seat convertible was born to replace affordable British sports cars like BMC's Sprite and MG's Midget which had recently ceased production.
At an introductory price under $20,000, the first Miata offered a 1.6 liter engine producing 115hp. A 5-speed manual transmission was the only gearbox offered. The big news for 2019 is a substantial horsepower
increase. Although a sophisticated inline 4 cylinder motor still powers the MX-5, displacement capacity now stands at 2 liters, and horsepower jumps from last year's output of 155hp to 181hp - an 18
percent increase. Torque output rises from 148lb.-ft.to 151lb.-ft.. Most significantly, the added power drops the car's 0-60mph time to just 5.5 seconds.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club RF
Our 2019 test subject was a "Miata Club RF" painted an understated Ceramic Metallic, and equipped with a "Skyactive-Drive 6-SPD Sport Mode" automatic gearbox. The automatic transmission
is both a blessing and a curse. If your normal driving routine involves continuous stop-and-go traffic, you will learn to appreciate the total automation this transmission offers. Simply park the console
mounted stick in Drive and let the gearbox handle all those pesky gear changing obligations. If you're feeling frisky, you can sort through the 6 available speeds manually by slotting the lever into Manual
Shift Mode which Mazda says, "allows you to control engine rpm and torque to the drive wheels much like a manual transmission when more control is desired." A pair of small shift paddles behind the
steering wheel facilitate manual mode operation, though you can accomplish the same effect by bumping the console stick fore and aft.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club RF
The curse of the automatic is that it invariably detracts from the immediacy that exists between driver and car. This connection has always been a core value of the Miata experience. For example, when the
fully automatic range is engaged, the gearbox performs upshifts and even downshifts that are unnecessary and annoying. These shifts are accompanied by a droning resonance from the exhaust system. Since the
MX-5 is one of the last cars to provide a sense of complete human control, losing even a fraction of that intimacy is painful. Luckily, the Miata otherwise remains the same straightforward vehicle it has been
since birth. Unlike most new vehicles today, the MX-5's dashboard features few buttons or menus to confuse the driver. Yes, there's a 7 inch color touchscreen display to help manipulate controls for a
variety of functions, including entertainment, navigation and the like. The one button you will most enjoy activating controls the retractable roof. One push starts a mechanical juggling act that first drops
the side windows, then detaches the roof from the windshield header. The top panel folds in on itself and the whole shebang disappears into the compartment separating the cockpit from the trunk. The RF takes
less than 10 seconds to complete its mission, and about the only thing it fails to take care of is raising the side windows after your erect the roof.
2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club RF
Since its introduction, the weight of the 2,335lb. MX-5 has increased by a scant 146lbs. So none of the Miata's patented dance floor moves have been eroded by heavy Elvis weight gains. This sports car
remains as athletic as ever, with fully independent front and rear suspension modulated by front and rear anti-roll bars, disc brakes at all corners, and piano black 17 inch alloy rims mounting 205/45R17
Bridgestone Potenza S2001 rubber with a grabby treadwear rating of TW280.
Although the MX-5 has matured in many ways from its earlier incarnations, it still passes the litmus test for a true sports car. Subtly, Mazda continues to improve every new generation without losing sight
of the original vision quest: create a small, affordable sports car with enough performance to please the purist.
