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The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a lightweight two-seater sports car that rewrote the affordable sports car handbook way back in 1989. Small sporty roadsters back then were seen as relics from the past.
Mazda has a habit of doing things that other manufacturers steer clear of. Mazda designers drew inspiration from small British sports cars such as the Lotus Elan, which saw the small two-seater Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster go on to become the world's best-selling sports car ever.
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a fourth-generation model that has thankfully stuck to its original reason for existence: to be a driver's machine. The MX-5 continues to feature the same two-seater, front-midship engine, and rear-wheel drive layout that was first introduced in the original NA-generation models.
Thankfully for lovers of the simplicity of the MX-5 Miata, Mazda has stuck to its guns and resisted the urge to cram more and more features into this model that would distract from the purity of the driving experience that the MX-5 is renowned for.
Want to learn more about this iconic little roadster? Read on as we take a detailed look at what's on offer for buyers of the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
What's New for 2023?
The Mazda MX-5 is a carry over from the 2022 model year and a single change is seen which is the addition of the Zircon Sand exterior paint finish as a new color option along.
Three trim levels are on offer, available with either a soft top or the RF-named retractable hardtop.
Sporty Exterior
The latest 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata features a sleek exterior design that embodies Mazda's KODO design philosophy. The use of lightweight materials, including a lightweight monocoque unibody construction with a backbone frame, gives this sports car exceptional handling. These engineering choices perfectly complement its sporty appearance.
The 2023 MX-5 is loaded with modern features such as slim horizontal leaflike LED headlights, daytime running lights, and LED tail lights flanking the gaping front grille.
Standout key exterior trim appointments include:
- Black power side mirrors
- Body-colored front bumper and rear bumper
- Body color door handles
- Solar-controlled/tinted windshield.
The 2023 MX-5 Miata lineup features a standard lightweight aluminum hood and aluminum trunk lid to keep weight down and also aiding in keeping the Mazda's center of gravity low with lighter materials sitting on the higher areas of the vehicle.
Customers purchasing a convertible trim will have their cars fitted out with a black cloth soft top.
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Dimensions
The compact roaster measures 154.1 inches long and 68.3 inches wide without the exterior mirrors folded out. The low-slung MX-5 is 48.6 inches high and hugs the road with a ground clearance of just 4.9 inches.
The MX-5 has a wheelbase of 90.9 inches and a curb weight of only 2,745 pounds.
MX-5 lineup makes use of a single engine fitment, the Mazda SKYACTIV-G 2.0 DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder VVT engine that produces 181 horsepower @ 7000 rpm and torque of 151 pound-feet @ 4,000 rpm.
The MX-5 uses a front midship engine layout powering the rear wheels through a SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual transmission that is operated with a short-throw shifter.
Fuel Economy and MPG
The MX-5's 2.0-liter engine offers EPA fuel-economy ratings of 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway when fitted with a manual transmission and 26 mpg city and 35 mpg highway when fitted with the automatic transmission.
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata 0-60 Time
No official Mazda 0-60 mph acceleration figures are available; however, numerous test figures from reputable publications such as Car and Driver give the Mazda MX-5 fitted with a soft top a 0 to 60 mph time of just 5.7 seconds, with the RF trims fitted with the slightly heavier retractable hardtop, getting to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
Technology Features
The 2023 Miata is standard with cruise control, push-button start, a tilt and telescoping steering column plus Mazda's advanced keyless entry. Driver instrumentation consists of classic-looking black gauges with white lettering that includes a tachometer, a coolant temperature gauge, and a fuel gauge.
Infotainment comprises a seven-inch full-color touchscreen with an AM/FM audio system and six speakers. Hands free phone and audio streaming capability is on offer with Bluetooth.
Steering-wheel-mounted audio, phone, and cruise controls plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with the automatic speed-sensing volume control, twin USB audio inputs, and an auxiliary audio input jack.
Safety Features in the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata lineup is equipped with an impressive array of safety features. These include a braking system with four-wheel, four-channel ABS, along with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist. The system also features 11-inch vented front brake discs with single-piston calipers and 11-inch solid discs with single-piston calipers at the rear.
Standard driver assistance technologies abound in the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata with modern features including:
- Rear cross-traffic and blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keeping system
- Mazda's Smart City Brake Support, a low-speed automatic emergency braking system
The Top MX-5 trims also feature adaptive high beams with curve-adapting headlights, rain-sensing wipers, plus traffic sign recognition.
Further standout key safety appointments include:
- Dual front airbags
- Side impact airbags
- 3-point seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters
- Side impact door beams
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System Fuel Economy and MPG
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Trim Levels and Pricing
Three trim levels make up the 2023 range, all kitted out with the soft top as standard or the RF retractable hard top roof, an extra cost item on the top Grand Touring trim.
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport
Entry Sport trims, starting at $28,050 MSRP, offer all of the aforementioned standard interior and exterior equipment.
Standout features on the Sport trim include:
- AM/FM audio system with six speakers, including driver's side headrest speaker
- 16 x 6-inch aluminum alloy wheels finished in Metallic Black with P195/50 R16 high-performance tires.
- Rear-mounted mast antenna
The Sport trim is available in two exterior colors, Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Jet Black Mica.
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club
The "build to order" only exclusive Club trim starts at $31,550 MSRP and adds further desirable features to the well-specced Sport trim.
These additional features include:
- Sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein dampers
- Front shock tower brace, aiding chassis stiffness
- Torque-sensing limited-slip rear differential
- Black front air dam
- Black rear lip spoiler
- 17 x 7 aluminum alloy wheels finished in metallic black wrapped in P205/45 R17 high-performance tires
- Trunk-mounted "shark fin" antenna
The Club's cabin adds the following upgrades:
- Black cloth-trimmed seats with light gray stitching
- Piano black finished seat back bar trim
- Body color upper door trims
- Heated seats with three heat settings
A high-end Bose 9-speaker audio system with AudioPilot playing through the driver's and passenger's headrest speakers up the audio experience. Apple CarPlay is wirelessly accessible, and SiriusXM Satellite radio with a 3-month subscription is available.
The Club trim can be ordered in a choice of seven exterior colors.
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring
The range-topping Grand Touring trim starts at $33,050 MSRP and adds a bit more luxury to the Mazda Miata.
A $300 extra-cost 6-speed automatic transmission option is available but forgoes the limited-slip differential.
Further exterior features include:
- Auto on/off headlights
- Adaptive front-lighting
- High beam control
- Rain-sensing variable-intermittent windshield wipers
- Body-colored heated power side mirrors
- 17 x 7 aluminum alloy wheels are finished in dark silver.
The cabin of the Grand Touring trim sees upgrades inclusive of:
- Black leather-trimmed seats with an extra-cost terracotta Nappa leather option
- Black/stainless steel insert doorsill trim plates
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Paddle shifters
- Mazda Navigation
- Subwoofer
A rigid power-folding hardtop (RF) is available on the Grand Touring, along with six exterior color options.
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Get Your Mazda MX-5 Miata at Central Mazda
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is available to view and test drive at the Central Mazda dealership in Plainfield, CT.
Learn more about this iconic sports car from our exceptional sales team and experience ultimate customer service. With a wide selection of new and pre-owned Mazda vehicles to consider, Central Mazda is your go-to Mazda dealership.
