Photo: Florin Profir
If you take a look through the U.S. configurator of the Mazda MX-5, the Miata soft-top convertible and RF retractable fastback are listed for both the 2018 and 2019 model year. That’s right; 2020 is knockin’ at the door and the world’s best-selling roadster still hasn’t been updated!
In any case, the most affordable MX-5 with a canvas roof comes in at $25,730 excluding destination charge or $32,345 for the electrically-operated hardtop. “An early draft of an order guide” has been seen by Cars Direct for the 2020 model year, and according to the information listed in it, the base trims will be $850 and $700 more expensive. The Grand Touring will increase by $890 and $1,090, which is a lot of dough when you think about it.
The reason for these pricing changes is, as you might’ve guessed by now, increased safety technology. Suspension upgrades for the manual-equipped Grand Touring are also in the pipeline, namely Bilstein shock absorbers and front tower braces along with a limited-slip diff.
In regard to the safety equipment, the MX-5 is offered with the i-Activsense package as an optional extra in Sport and Club grades. The 2020 model year will see i-Activsense become standard, featuring goodies such as low-speed emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Grand Touring levels up to automatic high beams and traffic-sign recognition, also coming as standard equipment.
Cars Direct further understands that the Club trims and above will be treated to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is good news given that the MX-5 can’t be had with smartphone mirroring for 2019. BMW had the audacity to charge money for using CarPlay, but the Germans dropped the practice after owners and the media dissed the automaker’s cash grab.
Under the hood of the U.S.-specification MX-5, there won’t be any changes. The SkyActiv-G with 2.0 liters of displacement will therefore soldier on, peaking at 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque with a redline of 7,500 revs. Mazda recommends 91-octane premium gasoline but 87-octane regular fuel is also possible as the minimum requirement. In ideal conditions, the MX-5 with the six-speed auto returns 35 miles per gallon out on the highway while the six-speed manual transmission can’t do better than 34 mpg.
The reason for these pricing changes is, as you might’ve guessed by now, increased safety technology. Suspension upgrades for the manual-equipped Grand Touring are also in the pipeline, namely Bilstein shock absorbers and front tower braces along with a limited-slip diff.
In regard to the safety equipment, the MX-5 is offered with the i-Activsense package as an optional extra in Sport and Club grades. The 2020 model year will see i-Activsense become standard, featuring goodies such as low-speed emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Grand Touring levels up to automatic high beams and traffic-sign recognition, also coming as standard equipment.
Cars Direct further understands that the Club trims and above will be treated to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is good news given that the MX-5 can’t be had with smartphone mirroring for 2019. BMW had the audacity to charge money for using CarPlay, but the Germans dropped the practice after owners and the media dissed the automaker’s cash grab.
Under the hood of the U.S.-specification MX-5, there won’t be any changes. The SkyActiv-G with 2.0 liters of displacement will therefore soldier on, peaking at 181 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque with a redline of 7,500 revs. Mazda recommends 91-octane premium gasoline but 87-octane regular fuel is also possible as the minimum requirement. In ideal conditions, the MX-5 with the six-speed auto returns 35 miles per gallon out on the highway while the six-speed manual transmission can’t do better than 34 mpg.
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