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ACCELERATION
Acceleration is brisk at pretty much any speed. The manual transmission has short throws, but needs a firm hand. The fun-to-rev engine sometimes requires drivers to shift quickly between 1st and 2nd gear. That's not a bad thing. The responsive automatic boasts user-friendly paddle shifters and blunts power only slightly.

FUEL ECONOMY
In Consumer Guide testing, 6-speed manual-transmission equipped MX-5s averaged 21.3-23.8 mpg in mostly city driving, and 26.5-29.4 mpg with more highway use. An automatic-transmission version averaged 23.4. Mazda recommends premium-grade gas.

RIDE QUALITY
The base suspension is appropriately firm, but is not uncomfortable. The ride is firmer and sometimes choppy with the less-compliant combination of the Suspension Package and 17-inch tires.

STEERING/HANDLING/BRAKING
MX-5's steering is quick and precise, though some testers find it unduly heavy at low-to-moderate speeds. With 17-inch tires, the steering is deflected by sharp bumps, detracting from control and stability. MX-5 easily conquers corners and exhibits little lean, though some testers say the tail tends to swing wide too early in fast turns. The brakes provide fine stopping control. The added weight of the retractable hard top is not noticeable.

QUIETNESS
Tire thrum is marked with the soft top raised. The hard top version has less wind and traffic noise. With the top down, normal conversation is easy at 60 mph. The engine's sound and exhaust note befit a sports car.oo loud.

CONTROLS
The controls are well-placed. The gauges are clearly marked and easy to read.

DETAILS
Hard plastic surfaces dominate the cockpit, but don't look cheap. Grand Tourings include dressy leather trim.

ROOM/COMFORT/DRIVER SEATING (FRONT)
Those over 6-feet tall may want more legroom and top-up head clearance. The seats support well in turns. Raising the soft top creates blind spots that hinder lane changes. The soft top lowers easily, but can be awkward to raise while seated. The hard top lowers at the touch of a single button; with it raised, visibility is among the best of any convertible.

CARGO ROOM
MX-5's small trunk requires careful packing. Compared with the soft top, the retractable hard top consumes no additional trunk space when stowed. There is little in-cabin storage space, and using the secondary cupholders in the center console interferes with the manual transmission's shifter.

VALUE WITHIN CLASS
This Best Buy Mazda delivers as much driving enjoyment--if not outright power--as 2-seat sports cars costing thousands more. The MX-5 Miata combines open-air driving fun with surprising practicality, including a remarkably well-engineered retractable hard top. Grand Touring models can get rather pricey, but most of their outstanding driving characteristics can be had on less-expensive versions.