2022 Mazda MX-5 (Miata) Review | THIS is the BEST SPORTS CAR you can buy for under $100,000 

It's not "like a roadster feel". It is THE roadster feel. The #1 selling roadster of all time.

Nice to see someone drive one the first time and feel what they have heard about. I had a bunch of turbo AWD drive cars that were much faster than my MX-5. Drove a MX-5 ND1 and bought one. Pandemic trade in prices were so good, I traded it in on a ND2. I daily drive mine and it does daily commuting and errand running very well while putting a massive grin on your face. It can be a daily driver in two car family. I can use my wife's sedan if more space is needed.

Excellent review. At 6'1", people constantly ask how I get in this MX-5. My answer is: Monthly payments. I'm on my 4th MX-5 now. I've had a '16, '17, '19 and put approx. 80k miles on each. I now have the 2023 GT and as with all the others, I can't stay out of it. I have the Platinum Quartz w/Terracotta, Napa leather seats and immediately bought the Goodwin RoadsterSport Race muffler for it. This muffler is actually a straight pipe with the Helmholtz chamber attached perpendicular to the straight pipe. It provides quicker throttle response, of which was immediately felt. Again, excellent review.

I have a 2021 MX-5 Sport, best car ever…smiles for miles…

Great review! I just bought an MX-5 RF GT a few weeks ago. It was a couple of years old and really cheap with 2700 miles on it. I agree with everything you’ve said about the driving experience. I bought mine online without ever driving one so I was having a lot of faith in reviewers. Luckily I agreed with virtually everything I’ve heard or read about this car. I’m an old guy and a part of me misses “analog” cars with rear wheel drive. To me this feels fairly analog. Probably as close as it gets in a new car these days. It’s not our only car but it is easily my favorite. Maybe my favorite ever.

You raised a lot of interesting points and I agree. The only negative of this car is the cabin space for my 5'11 height and size of the provided storage cubby spaces like the tiny one in between the seats. The rear one is obviously bigger but difficult to reach into, especially while driving. Otherwise, all things considered there is no better sports car if an excellent manual shifter and reliability are top priority. Amazing review Cameron. Your passion for this car is obvious with things like your appreciation of Gordon Murray's philosophy. Looking forward to the RS review and fingers crossed you go into as much detail as this one. RS has a few differences that may or may not add up to much like the lower unsprung mass, fixed brake calliper feel and firmer damper setup. Let us know if you can feel any of those extras in the RS.

Colin Chapman of Formula One Lotus fame was a big advocate for the lightness in the design of his cars. Less is more. I think that is what Mazda Engineers had in mind on their drawing board. Got the 2016 MX-5 Club version with the Brembo / BBS package here across the pond. Really a fun great car all around & making it a daily driver in 4 season weather by changing out the wheel / tires every late fall then back in early spring. Being single has advantages & this is one !

Nice review, cool to see you hitting the old pac!

Excellent review!

Who would've thought ProductReviews were able to make an in-depth video and have a great presenter!

At 6'0" the ND does feel a bit cramped with the top up, and it's not practical compared to anything in production today, but it's amazing to drive (as a dedicated drivers car) and is very inexpensive compared to anything that comes close today.

My 2021 2.0 Sports Tech has telescopic and up/down steering wheel adjustment. It does not have an interior boot (trunk) unlock.

Greetings from across the pond. My favorite car, I have owned two of them.

Great review

like all sports cars that do not cost 100k to make the MX-5 ND a real sports car, you need an exhaust that makes more noise and you need a serious setup because the original Miata is too high, then it's perfect as it is, I in the my MX-5 2-0 ND I put the Ulter exhaust with double central outlet + diffuser, ecutek map, headers, Ohlins R&T, OZ ultraleggera matte bronze, now it's beautiful and drives like a dream, I also had the BRZ but I didn't like the engine too slow, while the Miata despite having a 2.0 naturally aspirated engine like the BRZ the Miata goes much better the engine always pushes from 0 to 7400 RPM it is an elastic engine that is always ready and consumes little, more in the Miata soft top, remove or put on the soft top in 2 seconds even on the move, for me the MX-5 is fantastic both to drive but also beautiful in terms of design

As a young man I bought a new '64 MGB, then a new '66 MGB, loved them both. A lot of things in life happened after being drafted into the Army and getting married, kids, etc. Retired in 2003, drove automatic cars for years after the MG's. In late 2015, asking me if I'd seen the Honda S2000's. I'd seen a couple of them around, but they were always on the move and never had the chance to really get a good look at one. He asked me if I wanted to go look at them and of course I said yes. He called me back a couple mins later saying they had stopped making them. 1/2 hr. later he called, saying Mazda makes one that looks just like the S2000 and asked if I wanted to go check them out. I said, 1st see if they're still making them and he said they were, so he came over to me to a dealership and I drove one. I bought that 2016 the next day. Since, I've had the '17, the '19 and a 2023, of which was totaled in an accident last January. I have another 2023 now and love the Terracotta seats. If I'm going to have a car, I want it to be a Roadster, not a family car. I've put at least 80k miles or there abouts on each one I've had and loved every mile, still do.

3 options to open the trunk, third option look down by your legs beside the steering wheel . Press that button and it opens the trunk. Left leg side for canadian GS-P models , at least for my 2022 it is .

It is NOT lacking in practicality. It has twice the gas MPG as a V8 muscle car, the reliability is bulletproof, and you barely ever go through brakes, due to the light weight and manual transmission engine braking. It is lacking cargo space.

Yes it is dangerous getting into one of these because it will hook you. I’m driving my nc now for several years with no problems at all. I’ve just ordered the 2024 nd3. It just makes you smile. My other ride in the garage is a motorbike. Which makes it really hard to choose in the morning. Love this car can’t wait for the next

Honestly my new dream sports cars

great review...

Ah……..miles and miles of smiles. Agree with most of what you said, but as a 6’ 5” 120kg person I can tell you I have spent up to 6 hours driving the wife’s MX5 ND and I have no issues. And hers doesn’t have the in out steering wheel. For those who haven’t driven an ND, do yourself a favour. But bring the cheque book!

Great review, I was gonna get on of these at first, but ended up buying a 1990 NA Miata instead for cheap recently lol

I’ve had a 2021 for 3 months and didn’t know about the trunk release button and where manual was 😅

I need to drive mine to a dealership and test drive a new one back to back. Curious how my modded model feels compared to new.🧐

Are the seats better than the NC? Limited/no lumbar support? Kills you on a long drive. TBH I'd buy one IF they had Recaro seats, but they were only available in the limited edition in OZ.

Mx5 or Gr86? im starting to consider the mx but in my country the temperature could go up to 37c. is that a problem?

Nice review! What's the music's name in the video?

Touch doesn't work when the car is moving .. apparently is can be turned on in settings

I am 6 ft/6 1. What is your inseam re leg room?

In the US, the mound taking up leg room and the hand brake are both on the passenger’s side.

What about the Gr Yaris? Do consider it to be more fun than the mx-5? They are obviously a different approach (power, brakes, grip, hardtop hatchback, etc.) , but what would say are the keys differences in terms of driving feelings on the road? Which one would you choose as a daily driver, regardless of practicality? And compared to a fwd hot hatch like the i20n or fiesta st?

I love my Miata, but if 100K was really my budget I think I'd pick up a Porsche Boxter/Cayman GTS 4.0.

I agree with those who state ND can’t be one’s only car as it is not very practical. To address this issue I did not sell my 2013 Mx5 NC. This is my way to solve this little problem. Is this still impractical to you? Okay, I have other solutions. Best regards to all Miata’s enthusiasts.

It's nice to see a review with the Club and not the GT! The Club with BBS/Recaro Package is the best equipped MX-5 in my opinion. FYI there's also a trunk release on the dash below the Traction Control button.

Best car for twisty roads at ANY price, other then maybe a air cooled 911.

Amazes me you think the 2.0litre is sometimes underpowered. I've a 1.5 litre and have no issue with it. You can actually enjoy a bit of full throttle acceleration before catching up with the cars up ahead.

Mx-5 is a Roadster period The 👌

I bought the Abarth 124 Spider Manual Transmission The look is much better and Faster on all the MAJOR RACE TRACKS

All the tests in the majority of the reviews are for the 2.0l engine versions, and the 1.5l version? In Europe only 1.5l engine ND3 mx5 Mazda 2024 version is available, excepton in the UK, I think. The 1.5l make the car less mx5? I don´t think so at all,still a excellent roadster sportscar for the daily use. Thank you.

I have both the GT86 and the 2022 MX5. Although it’s probably the best (reasonable) 2nd car. It just can’t be one’s only car, unlike the GT86.

Is this fabulous car still suitable if you"re 6 ' 3 and 210 lbs?

is this the base model or the gs-p trim

The touch screen isn’t available once you get going. Unfortunately

I assume this is the 2.0 engine?

Unfortunately the MX5 is outdated and overpriced. It needed an upgrade a long time ago, yes I had one NC and it was fun for the most time. The new one is small for someone who is 181 tall and 100 kg the GR86 is better in all areas. Perhaps the Mazda will improve change it and build something a bit bigger and still keep their design targets. Good review 🇦🇺

6:30 that looks so uncomfortable. Your head is going to hit the windshield. Your knees are hitting the dash. The strange hump in the floor makes it worse for your passenger. The ergonomics are awful. The Mini Cooper is shorter than the Miata and doesn't have any of those problems and it drives better too.

Why would anybody consider buying a sports car painted dark grey?

Perhaps you should focus more about the driving experience when you're driving it... you seem bored to tears regurgitating some pre=rehearsed script.

It's a nice car and all but the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car.