Gadgetory

the Mazda Miata needs no introduction but this 2016 does it's seriously updated which always makes Loyalists a little nervous let's see how Mazda did as we drive the 16 fourth-generation mx-5 miata in the club trim check the tech now be honest with you I don't care for the new looks on the face and rump of the new Miata I think they're trying too hard they're gonna look very dated in a few years but that's just my opinion the important thing on the outside of this car is now three inches shorter and 150 pounds lighter than the last car that was already short and light beyond that the overall volumes and the layout of a Miata is still a Miata now the Miata cabin remains this very clean simple place you really see it in the instrument panel that's like classic vintage gauge work and I like it because we have a mid trim car we've got this sort of stick up LCD infotainment system here that has a very I Drive light controller cluster and that's touch and you have voice big painted interior door tops you better love the color you buy the front console cup holder is tidy and basically solid the one in the back of the console is hateful begging to be bumped by your elbow as ours was during our shoot even though we expressly were avoiding that now Miatas and really any mods there are not known as cabin tech powerhouses this is no different what they have under the promising apps menu is basically a joke but the navigation systems most important thing it's clean and crisp as well as Bluetooth streaming and calling all the basics the big missing thing here is integration of apple carplay and android auto give me that and suddenly it's transformed technologically you do however have clean and snappy integration of a hostage your and Pandora under audio sources the top is completely manual that's a big part of the weight savings and it's amazing light and fast the way a power top can never be on the other hand putting it back up is guaranteed to earn you rotator cuff surgery lucky for your orthopedic surgeon the power retractable hardtop has been cancelled not a bunch of DriveMode buttons or anything like that you handle that through the clutch and the stick active high-tech driver assist is available at the Volvo dealer this is a Miata at the very most we have some available passive driver assists a new 2-liter for in the u.s. Miatas uses their sky active tech which centers on high compression to get the most power and efficiency out of each droplet of fuel horse power is actually down 7% but torque is up 5% and peak slower an mpg it's hard to believe it's a 25% also helped by the 148 pounds of weight loss is 0 to 60 time which is now down to 6 rear wheel drive only 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic you know what to do it took me about six blocks to know this car was a winner you feel the improved torque quantity and quality overlaid on the reduced weight all coming through the unguarded direct handling this is still an engine you'll use all of and occasionally wish you had Maura but that's actually an engagement that branagh your cars just can't deliver and that new engine is lower and farther back in the body making handling even better and someone at mazda may have heard my constant gripe about a pillars while they remain massive on the Miata to meet rollover standards they've been made more upright and pushed back for better corner visibility the army otta is a club trim it's right in the middle it's 29 4 delivered a club has infotainment head unit and some other niceties but doesn't have the driver assist tech it's a simple way to look at it we do have one option 3,400 bucks for the Brembo brakes and BBS wheels for a car of this power and this weight that seems like gilding the lily I'd skip that all day and keep it under 30 grand that way the Miata still remains what it is the very best value in the world for someone who just wants to get out and drive