Vehicle Overview

Ever since Mazda introduced the Miata as an early 1990 model, it's officially been known as the MX-5 Miata. Anyone who has known the model, however, has known it as the Miata. Mazda discarded the Miata designation upon the model's 2006 redesign. Officially, the two-seater is dubbed MX-5, but if you refer to it that way, expect a blank stare.

Changes for 2008 include the car's first-ever driver's seat height adjustment, a standard tire pressure monitoring system and, in the Touring and Grand Touring trim levels, a six-CD changer.

Now in its second year, the optional power-retractable hardtop gives the car greater four-season appeal, though it wouldn't be our first choice for winter driving (or even our 100th). A manual vinyl top is standard, and a cloth soft-top comes in the higher trim levels. The retractable hardtop takes up no trunk space.

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    Child Restraint Precautions
    Mazda strongly urges the use of child-restraint systems for children small enough to use them. You are required by law to use a child-restraint system for children in the U.S. and Canada. Check ...

    Zoom-Zoom Handling
    The Mazda CX9 body shell has a highly rigid structure in the lower body with multiple cross members under the floor, a reinforced upper body area at the C-pillar, a high-tensile steel B-pillar and ...

    Audio Control Switch Operation (Steering Wheel)
    When the audio unit is turned on, operation of the audio unit from the steering wheel is possible. NOTE: Because the audio unit will be turned off under the following conditions, the switches wil ...