The Mazda MX-5 Miata enters the 2024 model year with some minor updates that help further refine the already well-appointed sports car.
However, the updates come at a price. The base Sport grade 2024 MX-5 Miata costs $30,150, including $1,165 destination charge. This is the first time that the base price of the Mazda sports car has exceeded the $30,000 mark.
The 2024 model can be recognized by revised headlights with new LED daytime running lights. New LED taillights have also been added, along with new wheel patterns. The exterior changes are completed by the availability of the new Aero Gray color.
Inside, designers added extra padding around the center console to improve comfort. The instrument cluster has also been revised, with graphics that are easier to read at a glance, while the infotainment system gets a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen, complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant can also be seen for the first time.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mechanical changes consist of a new steering rack that Mazda claims reduces friction. This combines with recalibrated software for the electronic power steering to result in what Mazda claims is smoother steering action in corners and improved stability while cruising on the highway.
Buyers of the track-friendly Club version get a Track mode for the electric stability control that offers more leeway over the system when driving on the track. The Club level starts at $33,650, including destination.
An asymmetrical limited-slip differential is also available for 2024. According to Mazda, this improves handling by reducing oversteer on take-off and ensuring more predictable turn-in.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata
All MX-5 Miatas are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower, with drive sent to the rear wheels. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, but on the Grand Touring version, which starts at $35,450, a six-speed automatic can be swapped in for an additional $920.
Sales of the 2024 MX-5 Miata will begin later this winter.
Mazda has not indicated how long the current fourth-generation MX-5 Miata will last. However, the automaker has hinted that future generations will see some form of electrification. The iconic SP concept launched at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Show highlighted a possible direction in which Mazda uses an electric powertrain with a rotary engine that serves purely as a range extender, a setup known as a series plug-in hybrid. However, Mazda may reserve such a setup for a larger sports car, similar to an RX-8 successor.