What's New
Driving enthusiasts can rejoice: the Mazda Miata is back for another model year. The 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata gets a few tasteful updates, with new features for every trim. Grand Touring models now share a standard sport suspension, Club trims add Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, and base models gain standard active safety like blind-spot monitoring.
Choosing Your Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata comes in three trims: Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. Pricing starts at $27,525 including destination for the Sport and extends up to $32,615 for the Grand Touring.
The classic convertible roof is the default, but the two upper trims are available in RF ("retractable fastback") form, which uses a hard targa-top roof instead of the usual fabric. The RF is $2,755 more expensive than the standard version.
Engine Choices
All Miatas use the same engine. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplant was re-tuned in 2019, boosting output to 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque. That’s a substantial boost over the previous engine’s 155 hp, especially in a car as light as the Miata, but it’s still not quite as much as competitors like the Toyota 86.
Drivers have their choice between a manual and automatic transmission, both with six cogs. The automatic gets less expensive the higher the trim: $1,350 in Sport models, $600 in Club, and $525 in Grand Touring.
Purists who choose the manual won’t suffer too much at the gas station. It earns the Miata an EPA-estimated 26 miles per gallon city, 34 mpg highway, and 29 combined compared to the automatic's 26/35/30 mpg (city/highway/combined).
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The MX-5 Miata is a classic two-seater sports car, and it has helped define that genre for its three decades of existence. As such, it’s not designed to carry much aside from its two passengers.
Cargo capacity is about as poor as you’ll find – just 4.59 cubic feet in the convertible or 4.48 in RF models.
Safety Features
The MX-5 is a small and light car, but it’s better prepared than ever in the safety department for 2020. Automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning are standard across the range. That’s unusual in a dedicated sports car.
The Grand Touring adds traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, and adaptive front headlights.
Connectivity
Infotainment uses the same interface as 2019’s Miata: a 7-inch touchscreen, which can also be controlled by a rotary knob underneath the shifter. Bluetooth, HD radio, a USB port, and Aha, Pandora, and Stitcher integration are included.
For 2020, both Club and Grand Touring trims come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. The Club also upgrades to a nine-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio, and a second USB port. The Grand Touring further gets a navigation system.
The MX-5 Miata Sport keeps things basic, but the added safety equipment helps justify the price increase over last year’s model. The Sport trim also comes with keyless entry, push button start, and a leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob. The exterior wears 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and LED headlights and taillights.
The Club trim brings some substantial performance upgrades. Among them are a limited-slip rear differential, a sport suspension with stiffer springs, and a lower ride height. The wheels are swapped out for 17-inchers, the nose gains LED daytime running lights, and the back gets a black rear lip spoiler. Smartphone compatibility, the Bose audio system, heated seats, and silver accent stitching also come standard.
The Grand Touring trim is the closest you’ll get to luxury in a Miata. Mazda includes more creature comforts than the Sport or Club, including rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic climate control, and leather-trimmed seats. Navigation comes standard, as do automatic headlights, automatic high beams, adaptive front lights, traffic sign recognition, a trunk light, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Performance enthusiasts need not shy away: for 2020, the Grand Touring shares the Club’s suspension upgrades.
Compare MX-5 Miata Trims Side-By-Side
The 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a driver’s car, and we prefer it with a manual transmission. We’d spring for the Club trim and wouldn’t say no to an RF body.