For decades, we’ve always been told that if you were going to get a Mazda MX-5, get it with the manual transmission and the soft-top. It’s the classic roadster formula. But what if you want a bit more comfort and a bit more isolation from the rest of the world? There’s the MX-5 RF. And what if you commute for hours every day and your left leg is not as strong as it once was? Well, there’s the MX-5 with an automatic.
So, does checking the wrong box on the options sheet ruin the finest lightweight chassis on the market? Or, does it still provide an exciting driving experience but with a bit of added comfort?
Performance
Engine – Let’s start off with the baseline. All versions of the Mazda MX–5 have a 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder. It produces 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque (135 kW & 205 Nm). That doesn’t sound like much, but all of them are around 1.1 tonnes. So, in a world of 2.5 tonne electric SUVs, these cars are featherweights.
Unlike modern turbocharged engines that give you a sudden surge of low-end torque and then fall flat, the Skyactiv-G engine builds power linearly. The harder you push it, the better it feels. It demands that you work for the speed, rewarding precise gear changes with immediate, throttle-adjusting precision. It’s an engine that values how it makes you feel at 60 km/h over how fast it gets you to 100 km/h.
Transmission – As for the manual transmission that is paired with this engine? The connection is instant. The clutch is light and the shifts are mechanical. But where the higher trims with the manual really elevate the drive is with the addition of a limited slip differential. That’s an upgrade that is missing on the base GS and the automatic versions.
Speaking of which, what about the automatic? Purists will say that it ruins the car. That it loses some of its sports-car magic. I can understand that. With the auto, the car doesn’t feel as engaging to drive as the manual. But that doesn’t mean that you still can’t have fun with it. When you flip it into Sport mode and use the paddle shifters, the gear changes are surprisingly crisp. It’s by no means as responsive as a Porsche PDK, so you’ll have to have a bit of patience with it and anticipate the shifts. But the automatic doesn’t turn the MX-5 from a sports car to a fancy golf cart. But the biggest benefit to choosing the automatic over the manual is its daily drivability. It’s so convenient in rush hour traffic and it just makes you feel more relaxed.
Fuel Economy – With the manual transmission, the 2024 Mazda MX-5 GT is rated for 9.0 L/100km (26.1 mpg) in a city and 7.0 L/100km (33.6 mpg) on a highway. With the automatic, the city fuel economy remains the same but highway drops down to 6.7 L/100km (35.1 mpg). During my time with the cars, I averaged 6.8 L/100km with the manual RF and 7.7 L/100km with the soft top automatic. Why the discrepancy? Well, I found myself driving the automatic version through city traffic more often because it’s just more relaxing. While the manual RF was mostly driven to fun, mountain roads that had far fewer stop lights and city traffic.
Braking – In Canada, the MX-5 GS and GT are only available with the standard single floating piston front caliper brakes. These provide enough braking force in a city environment and on twisting back country roads. But if you frequently find yourself at a race track, you may want to opt for the GS-P trim with the optional Sport package which adds Brembo 4-piston fixed front calipers. With the Brembo brakes, it doesn’t take much pedal motion to bring the body to a stop.
Handling – The Mazda MX-5’s light weight is the secret to providing a fun driving experience. The MX-5 is not about straight line speed or lap times. It’s about putting a smile on your face. The steering response is quick and direct. Back in 2024, Mazda’s engineers gave it a new steering rack with reduced friction for better on-center and corner feel. It also has a new limited slip differential which has been tuned to better control rear wheel locking under acceleration and particularly during deceleration. There’s also a new dynamic stability control program. The car now has two buttons by the driver’s left knee. One is for the standard stability control & traction control which turns them both completely off. The other has a little flag next to it. The latter reduces stability control but it does intervene if the computer thinks that the car will spin out. Will you actually notice these changes on public roads? Probably not. You’ll need a race track and perhaps a 2024 MX-5 to compare back-to-back in order to feel the differences. At the end of the day, the 2026 Mazda MX-5 is a playful little sports car but also a great daily commuter thanks to its small size and excellent fuel economy.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – As for the ride quality, most versions of the MX-5 come with the Bilstein dampers which are slightly firmer than the standard dampers. The base GS doesn’t get them so it rolls a bit more through corners, which sounds bad, but it means that it’s a bit more compliant over bumps. With the sportier dampers, yes the ride is firm but not completely unbearable on city streets. Though you’ll definitely want to swerve around some of the bigger potholes and uneven manhole covers.
Interior Space – Let’s just get this out of the way… the MX-5 was not made for someone as tall as me at 6’4”. But if you’re up to 6’, maybe 6’1”, you’ll fit. For me, my knees hit the dashboard every time I brake but at least headroom is good even with the top up. The seats in the GT are ok. They have enough padding and a decent amount of side support but it just doesn’t feel as comfortable as the optional Recaro seats that you get with the Sport package. This seat not only provides better support through corners but it’s actually quite comfortable on a daily basis.
As for the trunk, well, it’s more so a shoebox at just 130 L (4.59 cu-ft) of space. But at least, the RF’s retractable top doesn’t eat into that space when it goes down. There are also a number of small storage bins in the cabin. There’s a lockable cubby in between the seats and two smaller cubbies behind each seat.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – As for noises, you’d think that the hard top RF would be quieter on the move, and that’s partially right. On highways, wind noise is far less with the hard top than with the soft top. But road noise from the tires is identical in both. With the tops dropped, the RF’s structure catches more wind and creates a buffeting effect when the windows are rolled down. IN the Soft top, this is not an issue as it’s a traditional convertible. But if you roll up the windows in the RF, it’s not so bad.
The engine makes just enough noise to let you know when to change gears without having to look down at the tachometer. Unfortunately it doesn’t have the same “meaty” and “powerful” sound of the 2.5L engine that is found in other Mazda vehicles.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – Sadly, the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata has steadily gone up in pricing over the last few years. The soft top base GS trim starts at $35,700 CAD ($30.430 USD). Opt for the hard top RF and that starting price jumps to $42,700 CAD ($41,900 USD). A fully loaded soft top GT with the automatic transmission will cost you $43,300 CAD ($38,560 USD) while the RF version will be $46,300 CAD ($41,330 USD). Of course, these prices are without fees & taxes.
Gadgets – As for convenience features, if you go for a fully loaded GT, it comes with an 8.8-inch touchscreen (when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto), heated seats, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, push button start, a Bose audio system, LED headlights that turn with the steering wheel, and adaptive cruise control.
Interior Design – Using all of these functions is super straightforward. All of the controls are well labeled and are either buttons or rotary knobs. There are no finicky touch controls. It’s an interior that is not meant to distract the driver from the job of driving.
Exterior Design – In 2024, the Mazda MX-5 received a few exterior tweaks. It has new LED daytime running lights and fake air vents just underneath them. There’s a new wheel design for this GT trim and the taillights have been tweaked a bit as well. They look like the back of a jet engine. Another new item for 2024 is the Aero Gray paint colour, or rather, shade because it’s not really a colour.
The soft-top is manually operated. It has one latch which anyone can use to open or close the soft top. The top itself is light and doesn’t take much muscle to get it raised or lowered.
The RF hard top is electronically operated. It takes about 13 seconds to raise or lower the hard top. It can also be moved while the car is on the move. But it has to be under 10 km/h or 6 mph. And in case you’re wondering, that is very, very slow.
Safety – The 2026 MX-5 has standard Smart City Brake Support, Advanced blind spot sensors, lane departure warning, and rear cross traffic alert. The only available “safety” option is traffic sign recognition that is only available on the GT trim.
Warranty – Mazda offers a very unique industry warranty for all of their vehicles but it’s only for Canadian customers. The Mazda MX-5 is covered by a 3 year / unlimited km basic warranty and a 5 year / unlimited powertrain warranty. Unfortunately this unlimited km warranty is not available in the United States. In the U.S.A, the warranty is more “normal” at 3 year / 36,000 mile basic & 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranties. For more info on Canadian warranty, click here. For more info on U.S.A. warranty, click here.
Conclusion – So, is choosing the automatic going to ruin your driving experience with the Mazda MX-5? The short answer is, No. Of course it won’t have the same sharp driving dynamics of the manual but it’ll still let you enjoy the chassis, the engine, and the sunshine without giving your left leg a cramp.
But what about the age old question, hard-top or soft-top? Well, if you’re using this as a weekend toy, get the soft top. Specifically the GS-P with the Sport package. I know it’s a lot at over $44,000 CAD but it’s lighter and truer to the original two-seat roadster blueprint. But if you want to use this car year-round, then this RF with the automatic. With the roof up, it’s a weather-proof, quiet winter cruiser.
Thank you to Mazda Canada for providing the MX-5 GT and RF. www.Mazda.ca
2026 Mazda MX-5 GT Soft Top Gallery
2026 Mazda MX-5 RF Gallery
