As someone for whom the 1990’s encompassed all of their teen years (and very early adulthood), it’s easy to recall a time when the Mazda Miata had been relegated to near-joke status. Somewhere between its brilliant 1990 introduction and its deserving resurgence in popularity (over two-decades later), the Miata seemed to exist within a rather precarious state. Mazda seemed unsure whether the Miata should be marketed exclusively to middle-aged men in the midst of an identity crisis, or for resale to first-time female car buyers in their late teens and early-20’s. Okay, maybe that was a little bit harsh, but there were definitely a handful of years when most people would scoff at the idea of purchasing a Miata.
This, of course, has changed in recent years with the MX-5 representing a marked shift in the Miata’s evolution. Sure, its lightweight, compact design has always been a distinctive attribute, but that design now rested at the core of Mazda’s entire KODO design philosophy. After all, which of their models best represents the ‘Soul of Motion’ better than the Miata? Now, whether you’re looking at the Mazda-3 or the CX-9 there is a commonality in the design language; a sportiness that feels most at home with the MX-5, and its fastback-inspired RF variant.
And regardless of which version of the Miata you prefer, there’s the appeal of pricing to get you to your Mazda dealership for a test drive. The base MX-5 is priced to start around $25,295 MSRP while the magnificent RF comes in slightly higher, starting at $31,910 MSRP. But such an accessible starting price point is merely incentive on top of a strong design that emphasizes the Miata’s output. Quick, fun, agile…this is what a roadster was meant to be, and the MX-5 achieves it in spades.
Back in the Saddle
That said, one of the lingering downfalls has been the Miata’s seats, and how they measure up in terms of comfort. This was especially evident to larger drivers (be it in terms of height, or overall size). Granted, one might argue that the Miata’s diminutive dimensions communicate its sporty intentions and that its design reflects some degree of exclusivity. That said, it’s hard for anyone to accept a lack of comfort just because they’re approaching six feet, or weigh in at over 200 LBS. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the Miata served up with thin and unsupportive seating, which did little justice to the rest of Mazda’s impressive overhaul.
For 2018, an alternative provided a perfect means by which to remedy this: with new seats from Recaro. Instantly, the Miata’s sporty image is dialed up within the Brembo/BBS package through which you can gain this upgrade. Leather-wrapped Recaro seats, bolstered for enhanced comfort go a long way to making the Miata even more drivable. And of course, it enhances its aesthetic as well as the black BBS wheels and distinctive Brembo front-brakes that come with the package.
Here, take a look at the MX-5 Miata, courtesy of Redline Reviews.
Props to Mazda
We mean this sincerely. Reimagining the Miata in such a successful manner speaks volumes as to Mazda’s pound-wise approach. While their line-up may be more modest in terms of selection, the selection offered up is well-realized, nicely-tiered and consistently on-brand. We just happen to think that the Recaro seats go a long way, to take the Miata up a notch, and validate it as a truly enticing roadster deserving of a drive.
