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There are very few cars in the current market that can instill heart-racing fun with less than 200 hp under the hood. However, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of them. It’s tight steering, exceptional handling, and super-light curb weight make for a superb combination of motoring thrills and top-down fun. Mazda made a few changes to the MX-5 Miata for the 2022 model year, so here’s everything you need to know it.

The 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata is helping to save the manuals

A gray 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata on a city street
2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata convertible sports car | Mazda

First and foremost, we’re happy to report that the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata will come with a six-speed manual transmission. In fact, all four of its trim levels – Sport, Club, Club with Brembo and Recaro package, and Grand Touring – will all come with a stick shift. However, if you still would rather drive a Miata with two pedals, then you’ll need to opt for the top-trim Grand Touring to get the six-speed automatic as the other trims only come with a stick.

Second, no matter which trim level you pick, every MX-5 is powered by the same Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. That engine puts out 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, which is sent solely to the rear wheels. That might not sound like much, but keep in mind that this little roadster only weighs 2,345 pounds, which is around 400 pounds lighter than a 2022 Honda Civic. That power-to-weight ratio equates to 0-60 times of 5.7 seconds, according to Car and Driver’s testing.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport has a black soft top

If you prefer the traditional convertible look and want a black soft top, then you’ll have to go with the base MX-5 Miata Sport trim level. Don’t worry, the lack of a metal roof doesn’t mean that it’s not safe, though. Every MX-5 comes standard with dual front airbags, door beams, side-impact airbags, and a few i-Activsense safety features. These features include Blind Spot Monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, Smart City Brake Support, and a Lane Departure Warning.

A new Platinum Quartz Metallic paint job joins the exterior color palette this year, which is complemented by the base trim’s black 16-inch wheels. Other notable features on the Sport trim include a seven-inch infotainment display with Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration, cloth seats, and a six-speaker audio system with dual USB inputs.

The Miata MX-5 Club is great for driving enthusiasts

2022 Mazda MX-5 miata in white
2022 Mazda MX-5 miata in white | Mazda

If you like to carve up the canyons on the weekends and need a little more stickiness from your Miata, then the Club trim level is the one to get. This trim level comes with sport-tuned Bilstein dampers, a front shock tower brace, and a limited-slip differential. Other additional features include wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, a Bose premium audio system with 9 speakers, and black 17-inch wheels.

The MX-5 Miata Club with the Brembo BBS Recaro package

If you want to up the fun-to-drive quotient with your 2022 MX-5 Miata, then you can opt for the Miata Club with the Brembo BBS Recaro package. Any car enthusiasts familiar with those three brand names can likely tell that this version of the MX-5 includes racecar goodies like Brembo front brakes, gunmetal 17-inch BBS wheels, and Recaro sport seats. What’s even better is that those seats are heated as well.

As for the exterior updates, this trim level comes in either soft-top guise or with a black-painted retractable hardtop. It also has an aero kit with gloss black side sill extensions and a rear bumper skirt.

The Grand Touring trim gives you the most Miata for your money

2022 mazda mx-5 interior
2022 Mazda MX-5 Terracotta interior | Mazda

If you want more of an upscale feel to your Miata, then you may want to opt for the top-trim Grand Touring. This level includes more comfortable features like heated leather seats, dual automatic climate control, an auto-dimming mirror with Homelink, as well as the option for Terracotta Nappa leather seats.

Other features include an adaptive lighting system, high-beam control, and traffic sign recognition. As you can imagine, this trim level is available with either a soft-top or a retractable hardtop.

The Kinematic Posture Control is the largest change for this model year

2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata on the city streets
2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata on the city streets | Mazda

In case you were wondering, the biggest change to the MX-5 for 2022 is the addition of a Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) feature. No, it’s not some type of special lumbar support for long trips. Contrary to what it sounds like, the KPC feature adds brake pressure to the inside wheel under hard cornering to suppress body roll and tighten up the car’s cornering ability. As if the Miata didn’t handle well enough, now it handles even better.

How much does the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata cost?

Mazda priced the 2022 Miata Sport at $27,300 (before the destination charge), which increases to $30,800 for the Club trim. If you want the Brembo and Recaro package, then that will add another $4,500. The top Grand Touring trim starts at $32,300 for the automatic version while adding a six-speed manual adds another $500 to that price tag.

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Adding a retractable hardtop to any of the higher trim levels adds another $2,700 to the bottom line – but it’s well worth the money. Look out for the 2022 Miata at your local Mazda dealerships soon as it’s due to hit showrooms this month.

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