With upgraded engine and more standard features
How do you make the world’s best-selling, two-seat roadster even better?
Mazda’s designers and engineers have found the answer with the 2019 MX-5 and MX-5 RF, which goes on sale later this summer from a starting MSRP of $32,900.
- Steering wheel adds telescoping feature for the first time in MX-5 history with 30 mm of telescoping range, to accommodate a wider range of seating positions;
- An aluminum steering column to save weight versus the previous steel unit;
- A new, standard rearview camera;
- Standard Smart City Brake Support low-speed automatic emergency braking;
- Available Traffic Sign Recognition;
- An available brown soft top for MX-5 GT models.
With a lengthy list of new standard equipment for the 2019 MX-5, the MX-5 GX model has been supplanted by the GS as the starting point in the lineup.
In addition to the new 2.0-litre engine, the 2019 MX-5 GS also receives upgrades in the safety department with standard Smart City Brake Support (SCBS), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), High Beam Control System (HBC), and a wide-angle rearview camera.
Other new standard features include telescoping steering wheel, seven-inch touchscreen display with Mazda Connect infotainment system and HMI Commander, HD radio, and navigation-ready functionality (requires SD card accessory).
Standard equipment carried over from the 2018 MX-5 GX includes push-button start, air conditioning, advanced keyless entry system, LED headlights and rear combination lights, automatic on/off headlights, auto leveling headlights, Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring (ABSM), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
The new mid-range MX-5 carries the GS-P moniker and will appeal to the enthusiast buyer, with standard sport suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers, limited slip differential, strut tower bar, and 17-inch black metallic alloy wheels.
The MX-5 GT continues to be the top of the range and adds to the GS-P equipment with automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, HomeLink wireless control system, 4.6-inch multi-information colour display in gauge cluster, SiriusXM satellite radio, black leather seating with KODO stitching, convertible top cloth liner, Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) and Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS).
Options for the MX-5 GT include a Dark Cherry cloth soft-folding convertible top, a new brown soft-top option, and Chroma Brown Nappa leather seats with KODO stitching.
The two-trim strategy for the 2019 MX-5 RF carries over from 2018 and starts with the newly named GS-P model.
Standard features and options mimic the 2019 MX-5 soft-top model, with the exception of the 4.6-inch colour MID which is standard on the MX-5 RF. The 2019 MX-5 RF GS-P also includes the availability of the Sport Package.
All 2019 MX-5s come standard in Canada with a Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre engine, now producing 181 hp at 7,000 rpm and 151 lb/ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.
That represents an increase of 26 horsepower and three lb/ft of torque over the previous model. The new engine comes paired to either a standard Skyactiv-MT six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode and Drive selection switch, available at no additional cost.
Keyword: Mazda MX-5 starts at $32,900 for 2019