The MX-5 has aged even more as the fourth generation of Mazda’s iconic roadster was unveiled in September 2014 before entering production in March 2015 in the United States with minor changes. New for the 2023MY is the Zircon Sand exterior paint, an optional color we’ve seen on the Japanese and European versions of the Miata.
Introduced for 2022MY, Kinematic Posture Control appears to have been well received by customers and will continue to be embedded in rear-wheel drive convertibles. As a refresher, KPC applies a gentle brake on the inside rear wheel when cornering to reduce body roll and keep the MX-5 firmly attached to the road. This isn’t the only Mazda featuring this technology as the new CX-60 midsize SUV (sold outside the US) also incorporates the system.
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There are no changes under the hood where the MX-5 retains the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine. The four-pot factory continues to produce 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 151 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, following the introduction of the ND2 for 2019MY. Depending on the trim level, the NA engine is linked to a six-speed manual or automatic with the same number of gears.
In other markets, Mazda continues to sell its popular cabrio with the 1.5-litre unit, which was originally thought to be the only engine available for the Miata. Later in the development phase, the company learned that Americans weren’t going to buy a car with such a small powertrain and flashed a 2.0-liter unit before upgrading it a few years later.
As for price, starting at $28,050 for the MX-5 Miata Sport with a six-speed manual gearbox. Available only with a black soft top, the base trim level costs $400 more than before. If you prefer the added sophistication and convenience of the hardtop version, the RF starts at $35,350.
The big gap between the two is explained by the fact that the RF is not available in the Sport trim as it started as a Grand Touring with more equipment included. As before, automatics are only available for the fancier Grand Touring, priced at $33,550 for the soft top and $35,900 for the RF. This trim level also gets an exclusive Terracotta Nappa leather interior for an additional $300.
The most expensive remains the manual-only Club with the Brembo BBS Recaro Package, costing $36,050 for the soft top and $38,550 for the RF. Destination and handling is an additional $1,275 or $1,320 if you happen to live in Alaska. This means you’ll spend less than $40,000 on the MX-5 Miata Club RF with the Brembo BBS Recaro Package.
We can deal with last year’s ND generation Miata as spy shots of a test mule have been captured by the car’s paparazzi. Mazda has promised to stick with the RWD formula with the combustion engine, but expects a dose of electrification to keep regulators happy. A mild hybrid system can be planned, and hopefully, it won’t come with a huge weight penalty.
