Since its inception in 1990, the Miata has always prioritized precise handling over speed. Even the quick Mazdaspeed, produced in 2004 and 2005, wasn't exactly a speed demon. But the lightweight roadster could always hang with the best of the them in the corners.

For 2013, the MX-5 Miata gets a slight facelift that gives the "cute" sports car a more aggressive outward appearance.Three trim levels – Sport, Club and Grand Touring – share a 2-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine. It pumps out 167 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 140 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm in Sport and Club models with a manual five-speed transmission. Output drops to 158 horsepower at 6,700 rpm with an optional automatic transmission, which is standard on the Grand Touring model.

Acceleration isn't stunning, but a Miata with a manual transmission can hit 60 mph in under seven seconds, and return 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Put a Miata in the twist, however, and accolades flow. Standard 16-inch wheels wrapped in 205/50R16 performance rubber keep it glued to the tarmac, and gas-filled shocks combined with front and rear stabilizer bars to minimize body roll. An optional sport-tuned Bilstein suspension system and 17-inch wheels only enhance the Miata's corner-devouring capabilities.