2014 Miata MX-5 Club interior
Reviewed by Susan Frissell
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Our test Club edition Miata came equipped with a good deal of standard equipment, but no options, which today is unusual. We drove the Miata Grand Touring edition and the Club back/back and could definitely feel a difference; the former a much more comfortable sportster. The Club, of course, a sportier edition, has a harder ride with more road noise.
We experience some trouble with the retractable hardtop, meaning when putting it back up, it didn’t seem to click into place, for some reason. So when in gear, the buzzer sounded all the while. We weren’t able to figure out why this occurred as the top seemed to lower and raise correctly.
Standard equipment on the Club includes the usual safety features: ABS, tire pressure monitoring system, electronic power assisted rack/pinion steering, Dynamic Stability control/traction control, advanced dual front/side airbags, limited slip differential, remote keyless entry and anti-theft engine immobilizer.
The standard features included power door locks/windows, driver seat height adjuster, mesh aero board for the wind drag, dual power remote mirrors, cruise and audio controls on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, halogen headlamps, center console, dual exhaust outlets.
The MX-5 is rear-wheel drive vehicle (as all performance sports cars should be!!) and handles well on dry surfaces. It becomes somewhat skittish when navigating wet pavement, but one still feels he/she can maintain control. We found our Club version somewhat noisy, through windows/top mesh. Its ride is harsh, not as ‘refined’ as the Grand Touring version. Our test car also had a few clunks, rattles we didn’t investigate but certainly were aware of.
One cannot help but love the Miata, MX-5 sportster. As of July 2014, total production volume of the Mazda MX-5 exceeded 940,000 units and it continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the best-selling two-seater sports car. This highly celebrated model has received over 200 awards from around the globe including Japan Car of the Year 2005-2006. They also maintain the largest fan club of any, including Mustang and Corvette.
Soon to be introduced-pictures and some details just released to the public September 3-will be the all-new and redesigned 2015 MX-5. This car is a stunner and resembles not only the BMW (rear) but the new Jaguar XF sports car (front), and will be both lighter and more compact. This iconic car best represents Mazda’s vehicle-engineering philosophy: “The pursuit of driving pleasure.â€
“Innovate in order to preserve” was the motto for the fourth generation. Environmental and safety demands are much more stringent for 2015, and certainly much improved since the MX-5 was introduced 25 years ago. The fourth generation stays true to the model’s original aim of offering the pure driving fun that only a lightweight sports car can. It achieves this through Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology.
Competition for the MX-5 Miata includes the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S. In this writer’s view, there are not that many similarities; the Miata a much more agile and fun car to drive. Our test MX-5 Club version came equipped with the black retractable hardtop. Upon reflection, if opting to purchase a Miata, we would opt for the manual cloth top; a very simple top to take down-can actually be done while sitting in the driver’s seat!
Where the Miata disappoints is in its dated, somewhat cheap interior. The dash/IP is sporty enough, but the controls, dials seem dated. The sound system is way inadequate; sound is tinny and hard to decipher. It would be worth it for buyers to pull out the OEM audio system and pop for a more sophisticated radio/CD/navigation package. Seating is somewhat comfortable, but one is sitting low. 
Not really a ‘performance’ car, per se, the Miata can feel a little underpowered at 167 horsepower. However, with six gears, one is able to get it up to speed, for instance, when navigating the highway or open road. Believe, it’s adequate for this size car.
One other thing that was noticed is that the shifting the manual transmission in the Club seemed easier than when driving the Grand Touring edition. Attempting to shift the G.T. Miata into reverse was always a frustrating exercise.
And finally, if you’re not smiling when driving the Miata, you need to practice having more fun! And we challenge you to find a car that is more fun or feels more agile when driving on those twisty roads.
SPECS
MSRP: 28,665; total vehicle price $29, 460, destination $795
Engine: 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve, I4 VVT, 167 hp., 140 lb. ft. torque
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: 91.7 in.
Height: 49.0 in.
Width: 67.7 in.
Length: 157.3 in.
Weight: 2,593 lbs.
Tires: 205/45R17 performance
Wheels: 17-inch alloy
EPA fuel economy: 24/28 mpg.
Warranty: 3-yr./36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited; 5 yr./60,000-mile Limited Powertrain; 3 yr./36,000-mile 24/7 roadside assistance.
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