Interior Layout
Inside the Miata, the design philosophy continues with an emphasis on simplicity and driver focus. The cockpit is designed to feel snug and intimate, with every control intuitively placed within easy reach. The low, unobtrusive dashboard ensures excellent visibility and enhances the driver’s connection to the road.
Transitioning to the interior, high-quality materials are used throughout, giving the cabin a premium feel despite its minimalist approach. The seats are supportive and crafted to keep the driver comfortable and secure, particularly during spirited driving. Although the cabin is compact, it is thoughtfully designed to maximize space, ensuring both driver and passenger feel engaged and comfortable.
In both the soft-top and RF models, the interior maintains the same principles, offering a balance of functionality and style that complements the Miata’s overall design. The RF model, with its more enclosed cabin when the top is up, provides a slightly different ambiance, emphasizing a quieter and more insulated driving environment, while the soft-top embraces the open-air experience with a more traditional roadster feel.
In summary, the Mazda Miata’s design, both inside and out, is a masterclass in combining modern vibe with timeless sports car principles. The exterior is sleek and purposeful, while the interior focuses on simplicity and driver engagement, creating a cohesive design that perfectly captures the essence of what a sports car should be.
Technology and Safety
We drove the Miata RF, focusing on the technology and safety features specific to this model. The hardtop version is priced $8,000 higher than the soft-top and comes with additional equipment. It includes a Bose 9-speaker audio system with speakers integrated into the driver’s and passenger’s headrests and a subwoofer. The car also features an 8.8-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay, plug-in Android compatibility, and two USB ports.
In terms of safety, the Miata RF is equipped with forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning, providing essential safety features for the driver.
Parting Thoughts: Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Miata in any form is a vehicle to experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the short throws served up by the manual gearbox. If you’re not especially experienced in all things three-pedal driving, the Miata makes it easy for you.
We laud Mazda for staying with this fun-to-drive model. In recent years, we’ve seen a handful of Mazda cars go away, including the diminutive Mazda2 and the midsize Mazda6 sedan. Both were standouts in their respective classes. Fortunately, the Mazda3 remains, giving this automaker a noteworthy 1-2 punch in the car segment.
See Also — Compact Driving Fun: 2024 Mazda CX-50
