After extensive testing and research, CR determined this car to be:
- SAFE AND RELIABLE
- GOOD PERFORMANCE
- COMFORTABLE AND CONVENIENT
one of our 23 recommended Sports cars
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Road Test Results
Overall
Acceleration
Transmission
Braking
Emergency Handling
Fuel Economy
Ride
Noise
Usability
Owner Reports
Predicted Reliability
Predicted Owner Satisfaction
Highs
- One of the few affordable roadsters on the market
- Agile and super-fun to drive
- One of the best shifting manual transmissions you can buy
- Easy manual top operation
- 34 mpg overall translates into guilt-free fun
- Eager and willing engine
- Exhaust sounds invigorating
Lows
- Excruciatingly loud on highway
- Jittery ride
- Tight, low cabin won't fit everyone
- Infotainment system requires a learning curve
Best Version to Get
Overall, the Club is the best value. We wouldn't talk you out of the Grand Touring -- those heated leather seats and blind spot warning are nice -- but it likely gives up a bit of handling sharpness.
It's tempting to stick to the base Miata with its simple audio system. Doing so sacrifices the Club version's Bilstein shocks, limited slip differential, and larger wheels, but the expansive Miata aftermarket can address those desires.
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Consumer Reports puts people first. For more than 80 years, CR has provided consumers with independent research, ratings and recommendations to help make good purchase decisions. As a nonprofit consumer testing and advocacy organization, CR works with businesses and government to improve the safety, performance, value and reliability of products and services.
Every year CR puts manufacturer claims to the test for thousands of products, from cars and appliances to baby products and sunscreens. CR purchases all the products that we test and uses scientific research methods to develop our ratings.