2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

Style and the impression of a coupe come at a cost, with the MX-5 Miata RF carrying a circa $2,900 price premium over the rag-top version. The two standard trims and 2019-only limited edition are still affordable though, with the Club starting off at an MSRP of $32,345 before options, taxes, licensing, and a $920 destination fee. Stepping up to the Grand Touring pushes that price to $33,335 while swapping the six-speed manual out for the self-shifting auto adds $600 to the price of the Club and $1,075 to the price of the Grand Touring. Should you be one of the fortunate 643 to get your hands on a 30th Anniversary model, expect to pay $34,995.

Jinba Ittai - the spirit of horse and rider as one. It's the ethos at the heart of every MX-5 and the RF is no different. One of the reasons we urge buyers to get the manual, is that the manual-equipped versions gain access to the GT-S Package, equipping Bilstein dampers, a shock tower brace and a limited-slip rear differential. They have no negative effect on the MX-5 RF's exemplary ride quality, but the fitment of such items means there's less heaving around corners, more composure, and the ability to put those extra 26 ponies down a little smoother on corner exit. With that equipment applied, it makes the most of the MX-5's light but precise steering and balanced chassis, which have a way of combining with the driver to turn any drive into more than just a commute but a joyride every time, teaching you the art of balance on corner entry and exit and allowing for equal amounts of over- and understeer depending on inputs. It might be cheap, it might be underpowered, but the MX-5 remains one of the purest driving experiences around.

The fact remains that the MX-5 Miata is still the best small sports car you can buy, offering the thrills of exotic machinery and the driving dynamics to match, even if power outputs and speeds are only a fraction of those found in said exotics. The same attributes that make us love the ragtop Miata are inherent in the RF, only now, there's an extra dose of style and the impression of it being a coupe, thanks to the retractable fastback design. However, it's the stunning design that also makes recommending the RF difficult, as the style comes at the expense of internal headroom, increased noise levels with the roof open, and the impractical aspect of the mechanism being inoperable at certain speeds and taking forever to open or close. It's still utterly brilliant, but is it better than the O.G. MX-5 Miata ragtop? Simply, no.

We're still not convinced you should buy the MX-5 Miata RF, but if you have your heart set on the fastback coupe styling, then we'd say you're better off in the base Club model, and you better get it with a manual gearbox. The 30th Anniversary edition is already sold out, and the Grand Touring just makes the RF soft, despite adding extra niceties like automatic climate control and additional driver assists. But the Club is the sweet spot, not just because it's cheap, but because it comes standard with the contents of the GT-S Package - Bilstein dampers, a limited-slip differential, sport-tuned suspension, and a shock tower brace, making the RF the most sporting it can be. You can even add the Recaro seats from the 30th Anniversary, a set of BBS forged alloys, Brembo brakes, and the Smart City Brake and lane departure warning systems via the options list, meaning that for once in life, being cheap actually means getting more value for money.

Original prankster or the new kid on the block: that's the question one has to ask when buying an MX-5 Miata. Both benefit from the same updates for 2019, so both get more power, higher revs, and increased specification, as well as the option of the 30th Anniversary model. But the regular Miata Roadster has a trick up its sleeve. Not only is it nearly $3,000 cheaper than the RF on a like-for-like basis, but it has the option of a cheaper Sport trim, which cuts out the frivolities and gives you a back-to-basics toy to enjoy for the price of a Toyota Corolla. That aside, the ragtop Miata is lighter, carries its weight lower, and is marginally more spacious with the roof closed. It's got a marginally larger trunk, and when the roof is open, there's less wind noise in the cabin. But on a hot day, the soft-top doesn't insulate heat as well, and the RF has beautiful coupe curves the roadster doesn't have. A lot comes down to personal taste, here, but the rag-top is the smart choice.

For years, the MX-5 Miata stood unopposed in the small, rear-wheel-drive sports car segment, until Toyota and Subaru waded into the fray with the 86/BRZ twins. On paper, the 86 walks the comparison - 2+2 seating, a bigger trunk, a more spacious interior, and 24 hp more power from its own 2.0-liter Boxer engine. But the MX-5 RF is lighter, meaning it's just as quick, and you get the duality of having an open-top experience or closed roof coupe. You pay dearly for that, though, as a top-spec Miata is more than $2,000 dearer than the 86's top model. However, the MX-5 has a nicer interior, better infotainment, more safety features, and a more premium experience overall. It's also more fun to drive, and although the 86 feels like it's ready for more power, the MX-5 RF makes the most of the chassis it has. If you plan on keeping the car stock, buy the MX-5. But if the tuning bug's got you, buy the 86.