The 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a lightweight two-passenger roadster sports car manufactured and marketed by Mazda with a front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The convertible is marketed as the Mazda Roadster or Eunos Roadster in Japan, and as the Mazda MX-5 Miata in North America, where it is widely known as the Miata. The Lotus Elan was used as a design benchmark. Manufactured at Mazda’s Hiroshima plant, the MX-5 debuted in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show and was conceived and executed under a tightly focused design credo, Jinba ittai (meaning “oneness of horse and rider”). Widely noted for its small, light, technologically modern, dynamically balanced and minimally complex design, the MX-5 has frequently been called a spiritual successor to 1950s and ’60s Italian and British roadster sports cars.
Although Mazda’s concept was for the MX-5 to be an inexpensive sports car, at introduction the design met strong demand, with many dealers placing customers on pre-order lists and several dealers across North America increasing the vehicle markup. In 2000, the Guinness Book of World Records declared the MX-5 the best-selling two-seat sports car in history, with a total production of 531,890 units. The 250,000th MX-5 rolled out of the factory on November 9, 1992; the 500,000th, on February 8, 1999; the 750,000th, in March 2004; the 800,000th in January 2007, and the 900,000th in February 2011. On April 22, 2016, Mazda broke its Guinness World Record by producing its one millionth MX-5. The one millionth car rolled off the production line and was shown in select cities, where the first 240 fans of the vehicle present could physically sign it before it went to the next destination. The Mazda MX-5 (ND) is the fourth and current generation of the Mazda MX-5.
In North America, the 2021 MX-5 has three variants: Sport, Club, and Grand Touring (GS, GS-P, GT in Canada, respectively) and all come standard with a 1,998 cc (2.0 L; 121.9 cu in) engine rated at 135 kW (181 hp; 184 PS) at 7000 rpm and 205 N⋅m (151 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm of torque. The fourth generation MX-5 is 105 mm (4 inches) shorter and 100 kg (220 lb) lighter than its predecessor, putting the vehicle’s curb weight near 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Incorporating Mazda’s Skyactiv technology, the Miata is offered with a choice of two direct injection, naturally aspirated petrol engines. The base model has a 1.5 L 96 kW (129 hp; 131 PS) engine, while the 1,998 cc (2.0 L; 121.9 cu in) North American (United States and Canada) ND1 (pre-2019) cars are rated at 116 kW (155 hp; 157 PS) at 6000 rpm and 201 N⋅m (148 lb⋅ft) at 4600 rpm of torque. Mazda also replaced the hydraulic power steering system that the previous Miatas had with their new Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system.
When it comes to a transcendent driving experience, confidence is everything. With i-Activsense® safety technology,14 sophisticated safety features alert you to hazards to help you avoid collisions—or lessen their impact. Four airbags are fitted as standard, including torso airbags, pelvis airbags and head airbags for driver and passenger. Headrests provide protection from whiplash. A Vehicle Stability Control+ (VSC+), an ‘active’ hood for pedestrian protection and a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) are available. Since the MX-5 is a two-seater, the front passenger airbag can be disabled for safe transportation of children and the installation of a suitable rear-facing child seat restraint to be used in that position. In the Euro NCAP safety test, the MX suffered from a malfunctioning driver’s airbag, which was unable to prevent the dummy from hitting the steering wheel. Its rating was 4 out of 5 stars.
