| Mazda has done it again. First, they | | | | are well spaced for easy heel-and-toe |
| reinvigorated the sports car market a decade | | | | downshifts. |
| and a half ago with the introduction of the | | | | |
| Miata for 1990. Then the company followed | | | | Once acclimated to the new Miata's basic |
| that up with a redesigned version that was | | | | control personality, it's time to tackle some |
| good enough to make Miata the biggest-selling | | | | twisty roads. And you'll quickly find that |
| sports car in history. | | | | this aspect of the new car is where the new |
| | | | Miata differs the most from its predecessors. |
| Now, for 2006, they've topped that with a | | | | |
| third-generation Miata that's as | | | | While the generation-one and -two Miatas were |
| sophisticated as far more expensive sports | | | | well known for having low handling limits and |
| cars, despite keeping its reasonable | | | | almost toylike tossability, the new Miata |
| low-20-thousand-dollar price tag. | | | | feels heftier, more serious, and obviously |
| | | | more capable. In earlier Miatas the idea of |
| Compared to the two previous versions, the | | | | slipping and sliding the rear end was as |
| 2006 MX-5 Miata is a little larger in most | | | | obvious and basic as putting the top down on |
| dimensions, and gains about 50 pounds. It | | | | a sunny day -- Miata practically begged for |
| continues with its four-cylinder engine but | | | | such exuberance behind the wheel. |
| now it's a 170-hp 2.0-liter instead of a | | | | |
| 142-hp 1.8. | | | | The new Miata responds to such tail-happy |
| | | | shenanigans with all the control and |
| Slipping into the interior, it's obvious that | | | | communication of Mazda's earlier little |
| Mazda's junior sports car has grown a bit. | | | | sprites. But now the car just doesn't seem to |
| Instead of the window sills having a sort of | | | | ask for it with such a strong voice. This |
| elbow-height feeling, you now feel as though | | | | version's vastly higher grip and more potent |
| you're sitting low in the car, instead of | | | | engine instead make it happier with high |
| sitting on it. Along with the cabin's extra | | | | corner-entry speeds and smooth, even |
| room comes a more upscale look to the | | | | steering-wheel inputs. |
| interior. Although still not exactly plush | | | | |
| feeling, the new Miata replaces its | | | | Those things said, this Miata is really happy |
| predecessors' retro spartan style with a | | | | in that environment. Whereas previous Miatas |
| somewhat more opulent look. The leather seats | | | | tended to have a wild, freewheeling |
| are both easy on the eyes and posterior. The | | | | personality on winding roads, the new version |
| convertible top has a cloth surface and a | | | | hauls through turns as if locked onto rails, |
| glass rear window, and it folds neatly into a | | | | with minimal body lean and very high limits |
| smooth bunch that latches down to form a | | | | that aren't as easy to upset. |
| smooth profile without a separate cover. | | | | |
| | | | It's still terrific fun. It's just a little |
| Overall, the cabin pleases in both design and | | | | different kind of fun. |
| execution. There's a subtle, high-quality | | | | |
| feel to it that speaks of cars costing far | | | | It's clear that Mazda has once again crafted |
| more than our tester's $25,000 sticker price. | | | | a true little gem of a sports car. There's |
| | | | not a squeak or rattle to be heard, the |
| Firing the engine up brings forth a sporty | | | | engine has a smooth, almost exotic |
| purr that's maybe a tad more subdued than | | | | personality, and the driving controls are |
| Miatas past, but nonetheless satisfying. Once | | | | precise and solid. You find yourself double |
| rolling, planting your foot into the gas | | | | checking the sticker to see if this is really |
| yields one of the bigger delights of the new | | | | a $25,000 sports car -- plenty of rivals |
| Miata. The engine feels somewhat stronger | | | | costing $15k more than Miata don't get these |
| than its power rating might imply, providing | | | | things much (if any) better. |
| gutsy acceleration at low speeds and very | | | | |
| nice passing power without downshifting. It | | | | As for how this new Miata design overall |
| never feels high-strung or fussy. | | | | compares to its predecessors, picture a guy |
| | | | that was loveable but slightly over-eager in |
| Complementing that pleasure is the shifter. | | | | college. Now he's been out in the real world |
| Traditionally a strong suit of Miatas past, | | | | for few years and maybe gotten a graduate |
| the new version continues to be noteworthy. | | | | degree. |
| Although not quite as pleasingly mechanical | | | | |
| feeling as before, the shifter is precise, | | | | He's not really the same guy anymore, but he |
| with appropriate springing and well-defined | | | | commands more respect. And he's still a whole |
| gates. Tying it all together are pedals that | | | | lot of fun to be around. |