Ride & Handling

The Miata's low weight delivers ride and handling benefits, however. With less mass to keep in check when cornering, the suspension doesn't have to be as firm to limit body roll. This helps with ride comfort on bumpy roads; for being a sporty car, the Miata doesn't punish its passengers with a jarring ride. Our car had the $500 Suspension Package, which includes a sport suspension and a limited-slip differential, and it soaked up bumps well.

The car's steering feel is another one of those rare-but-desirable qualities, kind of like the six-speed manual's movements. With a perfect amount of power assistance, the Miata exhibits sharp steering response and an overall connectedness to the road that perfectly complements the car's mission. This car wants to be flung around corners, and it rewards the driver with balanced performance. City drivers will especially appreciate the tight 30.8-foot turning circle.

    See also:

    Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Precautions
    The front and side supplemental restraint systems (SRS) include up to 4 air bags. Please verify the air bags equipped on your vehicle by locating the “SRS AIRBAG” location indicators. These indi ...

    Lighting Control
    Headlights Type A (Without AUTO position) Turn the headlight switch to turn the headlights, other exterior lights and dashboard illumination on or off. NOTE: - If the light switch is left on ...

    Windshield Wipers
    Turn the wipers on by pulling the lever down. INT ― Intermittent LO ― Low speed HI ― High speed For a single wiping cycle, push the lever up to MIST. MIST ― Mist Wind ...