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:
Exterior
The outside of the Tribute didn't get as dramatic a face-lift as the Escape
did for 2008. The grille lost its crossbar and the Mazda logo was moved up. The
2009 Tribute gets a capless refueling sy ...
Performance
When the Mazda6 debuted last year, I drove a powerful V-6 version called the
''s.'' That car handled like a true sport sedan, with relatively heavy steering
and a pretty rough ride. It was fun, bu ...
Miata in the Market
The Miata's advantages in the market are that it has little competition — and
none with anywhere near its two decades of refinement and evolution. There's
almost a $10,000 span between the base-pr ...