2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review

Overview

The 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a two-seat roadster that is available with either a soft top or power-retractable hardtop (PRHT). It is mainly a carryover from 2011. It is available in three well equipped trims - the base Sport, the Touring and the top of the line Grand Touring.

Power and performance

A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 167 hp (158 with the automatic transmission) and 140 pound-feet of torque powers the 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Sport models have a standard five-speed manual transmission and the Touring and Grand Touring models come with a sixth gear. A six-speed automatic with paddle shifters is optional on all models. The fuel economy is impressive at an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 24 mpg in combined driving for the five-speed manual. The six-speed manual and automatic sacrifice only a single mpg in city mileage.

Body and styling

The Sport rides on 16-inch alloy wheels with a black vinyl convertible top and sports a glass rear window. The interior includes cloth seats, air-conditioning, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD/MP3 player and an auxiliary input jack. A height-adjustable driver seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and power windows and mirrors are among the key feature. The Touring gets a few additional features like 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, cruise control, keyless entry, power door locks, a 6-CD changer; steering wheel mounted audio controls and a smooth leather-wrapped shift knob. The top of the line Grand Touring offers automatic climate control, leather upholstery, choice of a cloth black or beige top, heated seats, a seven-speaker Bose audio system and silver interior accents. The PRHT models, only offered in Touring and Grand Touring trims, are equipped similarly.

Safety Features

Dual front air bags with passenger-side deactivation switch, side-impact air bags, 3-point seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist and Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) are standard.