Mazda’s chassis and suspension tuning ranks among the best. It crafts an exceptional ride and handling balance without resorting to adaptive dampers and adjustable suspensions. The 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF exemplifies this. Considering just how well-mannered this little roadster is, we figured we’d answer one question potential buyers might have. Will it work as a daily driver? Yes, but we have a few caveats.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF: Chassis Perfection
The Miata’s chassis balance sets the standard for everyone else to follow. It’s responsive and lively, yet comfortable. Yes, it’s stiff, especially on models with the sport suspension and Bilstein shocks, but it’s far from harsh. Mazda made it soft enough to filter out the harsh impacts without ruining its incredible handling. However, keep in mind that although the Club and Grand Touring models with the manual have them, the former is stiffer, giving it a more surefooted feel. The steering, while quick and communicative, is free of any twitchiness, making it easy to maneuver through traffic. Additionally, the nicely weighted clutch makes it easy to modulate and find the engagement point.
Quite possibly the biggest boon in daily driving the Miata is the shifter. Short throws, a direct and mechanical feel, and perfect weighting make it so satisfying to use. You’ll shift up and down just to experience its bolt-action rifle-like sensation of going into every gate. On the other hand, the short gearing means you can stay at a higher gear as you crawl through congested areas. Nicely spaced pedals heighten the driver’s connection with the vehicle.
So yes, the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF happily does the daily grind. It checks the box for compliance thanks to its superbly tuned suspension, transmission, and steering. Plus, its rev-happy 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine happily helps you get around slower traffic with ease. Thanks to its broad power band, high red line, and great mid-range torque, this 2,466-pound roadster is an enthusiastic sidekick.
About the Interior…
Mechanical components that work together harmoniously make for an incredible daily driver. However, it’s time to address those caveats about daily driving a Miata. Let’s start with small item storage. It’s non-existent. That area ahead of the shifter barely fits a modern smartphone. On the other hand, the cupholders barely fit small beverages.
Looking for a glove box on the passenger’s side? The Miata doesn’t have one. All you get is the cubby between the seats, and it’s shallow in the RF. Additionally, a small cubby under the armrest can hold most sunglasses, but that’s it. You also have two cubbies behind each seat…on the soft top. Meanwhile, the RF only has one, and it’s smaller than the soft top’s. What about the trunk? It’s usable for groceries because of its depth. However, it’s still small, and the tire repair kit eats into the space.
Now for the other elephant in the room: the overall cabin space itself. To no one’s surprise, it’s tight in there even for average adults. Meanwhile, the standard sport seats offer little support for your lower back. The optional Recaro seats on the Club address this and bring slightly more headroom since they’re mounted lower. Moreover, it provides more thigh and side support without sacrificing comfort. However, cars like the Subaru BRZ and Volkswagen Golf GTI still offer better everyday comfort thanks to their extra space and wider seats.
Viable for the Right Person
To sum it up, the Miata works perfectly fine as a daily driver. The only catch is that you sacrifice space and small-item storage, compromising its usability. As long as you keep that in mind, daily driving this iconic sports car totally works. And if you have the privilege to do so, enjoy every moment of it. Put the roof down as much as possible and enjoy the thrill of open-air motoring with one of the best driver’s cars available.
