5 Reasons Why the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Is Worth the Money
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata continues the diminutive sports car model’s legacy of ticking boxes. It’s sharp, exciting, and just practical enough to be a daily driver (unless you move furniture for a living). Still, the MX-5 Miata has specific qualities that make it worthy of every convertible fan’s shortlist, like its available manual transmission and an RF trim with a power-retractable roof.
Is it worth it to buy a Miata?
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a worthwhile sports car in the segment. In addition to sleek looks and a city-friendly wheelbase, the Miata has many attractive qualities.
- Available manual transmission
- Sharp, responsive handling
- Eager acceleration
- Commendable fuel economy
- Power retractable roof panel model as well as a soft-top
Is a Miata better in manual or automatic?
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata offers a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic unit. However, the manual is a must for owners who want a thoroughbred sports car with track-worthy driving dynamics.
Of course, an automatic transmission lends itself to daily driving more so than a six-speed stick. However, the automatic is better suited to lazy and meditative coastal cruises than quick launches. In Car and Driver’s testing, a manual-equipped 2022 model hit 60 mph 0.8 seconds faster than the automatic.
Does a Miata have good handling?
One of the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata’s finer qualities is its eager, sharp handling. Its diminutive size and wheelbase make it agile, especially for its budget-sports car price point. Moreover, the Miata weighs nearly 500 lbs less than its closest competitor, the Subaru BRZ. As a result, it’s very athletic.
How fast does a Miata go from 0 to 60?
The Mazda MX-5 isn’t a drag racer by any means, but its light weight and rev-happy 2.0L inline four-cylinder engine delivers commendable acceleration. Specifically, a new Miata could hit 60 mph in around 5.7 seconds with the six-speed manual transmission and soft top.
Does a 2023 Mazda Miata get good gas mileage?
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata boasts some of the best gas mileage in the segment. The small fry sports car will return around 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. Still, the Miata’s RF trim with the power roof panel is heavier and may impact fuel economy.
In comparison, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 are hopeless to compete with the gas-sipping manners of the Miata. Specifically, a 2023 Toyota GR86 gets around 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, per TrueCar. Furthermore, the gasoline gulf shrinks compared to the entry-level Ford Mustang EcoBoost. However, the EcoBoost is still around five mpg behind the MX-5 in both categories.
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata offers two ways to drop the top
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible has a traditional soft top that operates in seconds. Of course, we expect nothing less from one of the last great roadsters. However, the MX-5 Miata also offers an RF trim with a power-retractable roof panel for extra stiffness, albeit extra weight also.
Is Miata always the answer for you? Tell us in the comments below!
