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Christopher Jackson | 9/6/2007 | Mazda
There are two ways to approach the new Miata: from the perspective of a current Miata fan, and from the perspective of the newcomer. Like with many cars that have die-hard followings, it's impossible to approach the Miata with an unbiased eye.
I'll do my best to explain both; since I own a Miata, I recruited several non-Miata people to be my eyes and ears as to how the other half perceives this car. It's clearly got some drawing power; my father, a retired automotive engineer who can find something wrong with just about any car I bring by whether it's from Detroit, Hiroshima or Stuttgart, went out and bought a 2006 Miata after checking my test car out. Clearly, Mazda has managed to retain the roadster's magnetic charm.
This is the third generation of Mazda's popular roadster. The Miata has been credited with resurrecting the sports car in this country, and that's probably not hyperbole. For those unfamiliar with the Miata, here's a quick recap; it debuted in 1989 as the only low-priced, modern two-seat roadster on the market. It turned the sports car world on its ear by successfully emulating European roadsters without the notorious unreliability of those cars, and its precise handling and good fuel economy endeared it to racers and commuters alike. Copies quickly sprang up, from the forgettable Australian Mercury Capri to the BMW Z3. The second-generation Miata bowed a decade later, with a more aggressive design and further refinements. The 2006 model is the second complete redesign of the Miata. There's a lot more competition these days of course. The performance and style bar has been raised, and the new MX-5 Miata has been beefed up accordingly with an all-new, stronger body, more powerful standard engine and sharpened reflexes.
The design is rounder and more aggressive, but still keeps some of the familiar Miata styling cues. The long-hood, short-deck sports car proportions are classic. It's still a cute and friendly design to new eyes, but those used to the outgoing Miata's gentle curves will notice a much harder edge to the new car. The obvious fender flares and tapered nose are reminiscent of the MX-5's big brother the RX-8, and the taillights incorporate silver elements like some popular aftermarket pieces. A pair of roll hoops behind the front seats is also visible with the top down, and their satin silver trim is reminiscent of classic sports-racers. The strongest visual carryovers to the old Miata are in the basic shapes, of the doors, taillights and silhouette.
The cockpit is still for two only, of course. Whether it's more or less snug than before seems to depend on the driver. The wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer to improve cabin room, but some passengers said they had less space than in the older Miata. Materials are improved, and the new Miata's cabin is a more colorful place to be than in the past. A handsome piano-black panel decorates the T-shaped dash. The seats have been improved, with better fore and aft travel. In front of the driver, the gauges are laid out in exactly the same positions as in the outgoing Miata. We didn't care for the largely useless cubby hole behind the driver's elbow, and the top has been redesigned. There are four cupholders, including handy large bottle holders in the doors. The new Z-fold top seals better on the freeway, and latches itself closed instead of requiring a boot. The trade-off is that one can no longer open the non-power assist top without getting out of the driver's seat.
The road is what the MX-5 Miata has always been about, however. New Miata drivers will find this 2500-pound car instantly responsive and tossable. Owners of the previous car will immediately notice that it's a couple hundred pounds heavier than their Miatas. The Miata is an exemplary handler in any case, with telepathic responses. It's happiest when it's being driven hard. A double wishbone front suspension is the stuff of race cars, and the multi-link rear allows a degree of throttle steer that will delight enthusiasts. A sport suspension packae adds Bilstein shocks and a limited-slip differential. The new MX-5 is fractionally more sport-oriented; that is, around town, it feels stiffer than the current car. It's tense--the cheerful spirit is the same, but the new Miata feels like it's ready to attack at a moment's notice.
Under the lightweight aluminum hood, there's more horsepower thanks to the new 2.0 liter engine. Shared with the Mazda3, Mazda5 and Mazda6, the new sixteen-valve four-cylinder is an eager performer with 170 horsepower. On paper, this addresses many concerns that the Miata lacked for power, though it's still shy of most competitors. On the road, acceleration is brisk. The Miata doesn't have as much power as a Pontiac Solstice or Mercedes SLK350 because it's so light it doesn't need it. To the Miata-experienced, the new car feels about the same as before, thanks to the additional weight. The power increase means that there's more passing power, but the six-speed manual transmission's gears are about the same as before so freeway travel still requires a tolerance for high revs. A five-speed manual and six-speed automatic are also available.
Is it better than before? That depends on how attached you were to the last-generation Miata. Taken on its own merits, the 2006 MX-5 Miata retains the light, eager, tossable feeling that made the car a hit from the start. It's equally ready to be an intimate backroad carver or a track champion. Until recently, the Miata had the lower end of the roadster market all to itself, but with the recent introduction of the Pontiac Solstice, there's some competition on the horizon once again.
There are now six flavors of Miata to choose from: the stripped-down Club Sport, base MX-5, Touring, Sport, and the line-topping Grand Touring. Our tester was a Grand Touring, of course, and it stickered for $24,495 once the sport-tuned suspension was added.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2006 Mazda MX-5.
Length: 157.3 in.
Width: 67.7 in.
Height: 49.0 in.
Wheelbase: 91.7 in.
Curb weight: 2498 lb.
Cargo space: 5.3 cu.ft.
Base price: $24,435
Price as tested:$25,495
Engine: 2.0 liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder
Drivetrain: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower: 170 @ 6700
Torque: 140 @ 5000
Fuel capacity: 12.7 gal.
Est. mileage: 24/30
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