2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

　　

2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　Mazda MX-5 Miatas are all about pure driving enjoyment, usually with the standard convertible top down. But convertible tops can age and fray, they make it easy for thieves to gain entry to a vehicle, and they do a poor job of isolating you from cold and inclement weather. So, what can you do if you want all of the pleasure of driving a Miata but without the exposure to searing sunlight, drumming rain, cold mornings and potential theft? Get the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, or retractable fastback.

　　This version of Mazda's legendary sports car has a coupe-style roof to provide protection from the weather and criminals, but on sunny days and balmy nights, the panel over the front seats and the rear window glass retract to open the car's cabin to the elements. The MX-5 Miata RF offers the best of both worlds: a buttoned-up cabin when the weather is uncooperative and an open-air driving experience when desirable.

　　There are a couple of downsides to this model. First, the RF is substantially more expensive than the standard MX-5 Miata. Second, with the roof panel stowed and the windows down, the interior suffers more wind buffeting than the fabric-topped convertible. But otherwise, the Miata RF is every bit as fun to drive as its fully open sibling.

　　For 2022, Mazda introduces Kinematic Posture Control (KPC) to the MX-5 Miata RF. According to the automaker, this standard technology aims to improve high-speed cornering stability and control. In high g-force cornering situations, KPC will apply light braking to the Miata's inside rear wheel to reduce body roll, improve steering linearity, and create a limited-slip differential effect. As if we needed yet another reason to drive this terrific sports car.

　　

What's it like to live with?

The last time Mazda upped the MX-5's fun quotient in 2019, by adding more power and making a few other mechanical tweaks, we added one to our long-term test fleet for a year of unadulterated driving pleasure. Even the staff member who didn't really fit into it loved driving the Miata. Read our long-term Miata test results to see if we think a Miata is always the answer to the question of what to drive.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.0/10

　　How does the MX-5 Miata RF drive? The Miata's featherweight construction and rear-wheel-drive platform mean that you can have a ton of fun without a supremely powerful engine. There's just 181 horsepower on tap, yet our manual transmission-equipped Miata RF test car sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in a respectably quick 6.6 seconds. You'll get the most driver engagement by picking the manual transmission.

　　The Miata's brakes are another strong point — they are both easy to control and post short stopping distances. Though steering is a little light in effort, the steering wheel is just the right size and offers immediate response. The Miata responds best to smooth and deliberate inputs. It's precise and predictable, and it's easy to catch the rear end if it starts to slide out if you get a bit overzealous. There's noticeable body roll (even with the Club suspension), but the only time that becomes an issue is during fast, aggressive driving.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the MX-5 Miata RF? Small two-seat roadsters aren't known for comfort, but the Miata is surprisingly livable in the day-to-day grind. The Club has a firmer ride than other Miata trims because of its Bilstein dampers, but it still has pretty good compliance over rough roads. Only larger potholes will send a shiver through the chassis. The optional Recaro sport seats offer an enviable combination of support, breathability and comfort. But they sit higher than the standard seats, making them a no-go for passengers over 6 feet tall.

　　The Miata's only significant drawback comfort-wise is the abundant cabin noise, even with the additional sound insulation the RF provides compared to the soft top. Road and wind noise increases significantly with speed. On the highway, you'll have to raise your voice to talk to your passenger.

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