Another year, another Mazda MX-5 review. Last year, I compared the MX-5 against the legendary S2000. The year before, it was up against the new GR86. But this year, I’m not comparing it against anything because it enters 2024 with a few new changes.
Performance
Engine – The 2.0L naturally aspirated engine does not change for 2024. It still produces 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque (135 kW & 205 Nm). That doesn’t sound like much power these days, but this is a light car at 1,077 kg (2,374 lbs). The engine is able to accelerate the car from a stop to 100 km/h in around 5.7 seconds. Peak power is in the top rpm range while peak torque is in the mid rpm range.
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 6.6 L/100km (35.6 mpg). If you’re light on the throttle and drive mostly on highways, it is possible to get better fuel economy than what it’s rated for. During my time with the car, I averaged 6.4 L/100km (36.8 mpg). The only caveat is that Mazda recommends Premium fuel.
Transmission – The MX-5 Miata can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. This demo vehicle had the former. Throws between shifts are short and it is a satisfying motion when swapping cogs manually. The shifter slides into position with ease and there’s no “notchy” feeling throughout any gear with this 6-speed. The clutch is light and the engine has no rev-hang so your right foot controls how much jerky motion there is when engaging the clutch.
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. For 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 2024 Mazda MX-5 GT is a playful little sports car but also a great daily commuter thanks to its small size and excellent fuel economy.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – The MX-5 GT is equipped with Bilstein dampers. They provide a slightly firmer ride than the base MX-5 without them. However, 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 – I am 6’4” tall. This car was not designed for people that are above 6’2”-ish in height. So I have difficulty being comfortable in the Mazda MX-5. With the top up, my hair is not brushing up against the roof but it is perilously close. If you go often to a race track, your helmet will touch the roof if you’re as tall as myself. But if it’s a sunny day, you can drop the top for a limitless amount of headroom. My knees are also not touching the dashboard but, again, perilously close to doing so. It is only when slowing down and braking that my right knee is braced against the dash. One more inch of seat travel would make all the difference in this car for someone as tall as myself.
The trunk has 130 L (4.59 cu-ft) of space which is actually enough to fit a small carry-on size luggage. There is a storage bin between the seats, as this car does not have a glove box, and there are two smaller bins behind each seat.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – This being a soft top, there is a lot of wind noise intruding into the cabin at almost all speeds with the top up. Thankfully there are no annoying noises being produced by the interior trim as it feels well put together. 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 – Unfortunately, the 2024 Mazda MX-5 has gone up in pricing. The base GS trim starts at $34,900 CAD ($28,985 USD, Sport). This GT trim starts at $42,000 CAD ($34,285 USD). Only the GS-P trim, which costs $38,900 CAD ($32,485 USD, Club), is available with any packages. The Sport package will cost you $4,400 CAD ($4,800 USD).
Though this MX-5 GT’s price is not too bad, once you factor in dealership fees & taxes, you are looking at almost a $50,000 CAD car.
Gadgets – Arguably the biggest change for the 2024 Mazda MX-5 is the infotainment system. The MX-5 now has the same infotainment as all other Mazda vehicles. It is displayed on an 8.8-inch touchscreen and while the system is not controlled through touch, the rotary dial on the center console is easy to use with this system. The screen becomes a touchscreen when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are activated. Best of all, the touch portion can be used while the car is in motion, unlike the previous model year. Sadly, CarPlay & Android Auto are wired in the GS and GS-P trims but in this GT, the apps are wireless.
Other gadgets in this GT trim include heated seats, leather upholstery, Bose premium audio system with 9 speakers including in the headrest, automatic climate control, built-in navigation system, LED headlights which turn with the steering wheel, a 4.6-inch digital display in the gauge cluster, and adaptive cruise control.
Interior Design – Apart from the new infotainment screen, the cabin of the MX-5 looks the same as the previous model years. It has the same simple to use climate controls, same analog tachometer and speedometer, same infotainment controls, and same air vent design with the center vent mimicking the rear taillight design.
Outward visibility is excellent when the top is down. With the top up, I’m basically looking through the back window to check my right blind zone. But the blind zone is larger on the left side. All in all, a simple and undistracting interior.
Exterior Design – There are a couple of tweaks to the exterior styling for the 2024 model year. 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.
Safety – The 2024 MX-5 GT 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 GT 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 – The updates for the 2024 Mazda MX-5 are welcomed but if you already own a 2018 to 2023 MX-5, then perhaps it may not be worth it just yet to upgrade to this 2024 model. If you own a pre-2018 model, now is the right time to upgrade. At the end of the day though, the Mazda MX-5 remains as a fun little sports car that can genuinely be used on a daily basis for work commutes or small errands. Perhaps even the odd road trip here and there.
Thank you to Mazda Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Mazda.ca
2024 Mazda MX-5 GT Gallery
