2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byJason KavanaghSenior Vehicle Test Engineer

　　Jason joined zzdcar' testing team in 2006 as a vehicle testing engineer. Jason believes true appreciation of modern cars stems from owning really, really bad old ones.

　　

What’s new

　　The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is the new power-retractable hardtop version of this beloved sports car. While the regular Miata has a manually foldable soft top, the Miata RF ("Retractable Fastback") has an electrically operated, stowable hard roof section. It occupies a similar place next to the base Miata that was previously taken by the last generation's MX-5 PRHT (power-retractable hardtop) model.

　　

Vehicle overview

　　The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF ("Retractable Fastback") is the second member of the current generation of Miata roadster, which was redesigned just last year. Instead of the Miata RF's entire roof disappearing into the bodywork as you might expect, only its overhead roof panel and rear window retract. That is, the Miata RF's bodywork buttresses and horizontal bar behind the passengers remain in place at all times. Though this fixed bodywork means that the Miata RF doesn't deliver quite the same open-air experience as the regular Miata, in return you get a distinct new style for this diminutive two-seat sports car.

　　The Miata RF's roof stows at the touch of a button in about 14 seconds and can be operated at speeds up to 6 mph. It takes up no more room when stowed than the base Miata's soft top does, so trunk space is not affected. With its electric motors, linkages and panels, however, the Miata RF weighs about 150 pounds more than the base Miata.

　　

What's it like to live with?

Interested in learning about what it's like to live with this little roadster? Check out our long-term reviews for the fourth-generation 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF and the updated 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. We spent a year and more than 20,000 miles with each of these charming convertibles. In our long-term coverage, you can read in-depth reporting from our editors on everything from the way the Miata drives to its reliability.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF has a motorized roof panel that can stow behind the passengers. This retractable hardtop section adds some weight and complexity to Mazda's elemental sports car but enhances security and reduces noise. Even better, it gives the Miata a sharp new look.

　　

Scorecard

Overall
Comfort	4.0
Interior	3.5
Utility	2.5

　　

Driving

　　On the road, the Miata RF's expected increase in civility will make long drives more palatable. Its additional weight might be noticeable in extreme driving.

　　

Acceleration

　　With the same 2.0-liter engine and more weight, the RF will be slightly less punchy than the base Miata.

　　

Braking

　　Sharing its brake hardware with the base Miata, we expect the RF will perform and feel similar. In our last Miata test, we observed short stopping distances and consistent pedal firmness.

　　

Steering

　　The Miata's pin-sharp steering hardware carries over but is uniquely tuned for the Miata RF.

　　

Handling

　　Largely similar to the standout Miata, we expect little degradation in this car's ability to carve corners. We hope the increase in weight doesn't spoil the chassis the way the power-retractable hardtop did in the previous generation.

　　

Drivability

　　With more comprehensive noise insulation, the Miata RF is said to cut down on road noise, making it a better long-distance driver than the base Miata. Its small size makes it great for tight city parking.

　　

Comfort

4.0

　　Thanks to suspension tuning that can deal with real-world bumpy roads, the Miata impresses. The Miata RF will likely take an edge off the base Miata's road and wind noise, too.

　　

Seat comfort

4.0

　　There's a good balance between support and comfort. The seat bolsters do not intrude, yet they hold you in place reasonably well.

　　

Ride comfort

　　Though Mazda says it has retuned the suspension for the RF, we expect the RF will still be relatively softly sprung. The base Miata swallows bumps surprisingly well, given its sports-car cred and short wheelbase.

　　

Noise & vibration

　　We expect that there will be less road and wind noise in the RF than in the base Miata. On long-distance drives, this will be a significant advantage.

　　

Climate control

4.5

　　The Miata's simple climate control interface, with its three large and knurled knobs, is easy to use. The system does a fine job of maintaining the proper temperature.

　　

Interior

3.5

　　No doubt, this is a small cabin, but Mazda's attention to detail inside has made the most of it. A lot of clever touches make it surprisingly livable. The sills are relatively unobtrusive, though we wish there was a telescoping steering wheel.

　　

Utility

2.5

　　A tiny trunk, no backseat and limited cabin space mean that this isn't the best if you need to haul larger items. Small items are more easily accommodated, however.

　　

Small-item storage

3.0

　　The tidy bin between the seats serves as a less convenient glovebox (because there isn't one). It's your primary place to store your items, and it holds an average amount of stuff. That's helpful because the removable cupholders are good for holding cups only.

　　

Cargo space

2.0

　　A 4.6-cubic-foot trunk? That's tiny, though longtime Miata owners should hardly be surprised. The trunklid lifts easily, and liftover height is OK. There's enough space for a couple of soft duffels and little else.

　　

Which MX-5 Miata RF does zzdcar recommend?

　　Mazda's terrific manual gearbox is the easy choice over the optional automatic transmission. It's among the slickest-shifting manuals out there, and besides, this is a sports car. As a bonus, pairing a manual to the Club version — and only the Club version — bestows the car with a sport-oriented suspension, Bilstein dampers and a limited-slip differential, underscoring the car's sporting nature. The Miata RF comes pretty well equipped as standard, and options are few. Skip the pricey Brembo brakes, but spring for keyless entry as a very inexpensive way to gain convenience.

　　

2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF models

　　The 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is available in two trim levels: Club and Grand Touring. We prefer the Club for its available sport-oriented hardware, although buyers seeking more comfort and amenities will gravitate toward the Grand Touring's longer list of convenience features. Both trim levels are equipped with the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (155 horsepower, 148 pound-feet of torque) and are available with a manual or automatic transmission.

　　Manual-equipped Club models are the sportiest, gaining a retuned suspension, Bilstein dampers, limited-slip differential and shock tower brace, making it our version of choice. Brembo front brakes and BBS wheels are optional on Club models only, though the bang-for-the-buck quotient on these bits is questionable.

　　Grand Touring models — equipped with heated leather seats, navigation, a cloth-lined top, automatic climate control, adaptive headlights and lane departure warning — skew toward the luxury end. These features are nice to have but strike us as being at odds with the Miata's elemental nature. Then again, a power-folding top isn't exactly simple either. Still, at least there's a choice between sport-oriented and comfort-tuned versions, rather than some middling compromise between the two.

　　

2017 MX-5 Miata RF Highlights

Trim: ClubGrand TouringLaunch EditionClub

　　

Base MSRP	$31,555
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$162/month
Seating	2 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	4.48 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles