2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Sport buyer's guide, and specs

Nestled at the bottom of the Mazda Miata MX-5 trim tree, the Sport fits better between the track-oriented Club and the more comfortable Grand Touring.

Stripped down yet refined, the MX-5 Sport provides an ideal balance for enthusiasts who want to feel every twist and turn and proves that sometimes less really is more when it comes to capturing the essence of driving.

The MX-5 Miata’s 181 hp 4-cylinder engine returns

Much like its brethren, the Sport trim comes with the 181 hp SKYACTIV-G33 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder engine. No automatic transmission to be seen here, only the 6-speed manual with a short-throw shifter.

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The Sport is equipped with regular Dynamic Stability Control rather than its Track-oriented counterpart.

The interior is basic but gets the job done

Despite the interior and seats being regular cloth with no heating features like the top-level Grand Touring, the steering wheel, shift knob, and parking brake handle remain leather-wrapped, bringing some luxury to the surface you touch the most while driving.

The sound system features six speakers, including one embedded only in the driver's side headrest, reminiscent of the NA Miata. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa, and steering wheel controls are still standard features.

A couple of subtle design changes worth mentioning include the black upper door trim, replacing the body-colored trim on the other models, and the black seat back bar trim instead of the piano black finish. That latter one may actually be preferable considering how many fingerprints piano black finishes attract.

Mazda's standard safety features return to the Sport trim

The MX-5 Miata Sport forgoes more techy safety features like the traffic sign recognition system but keeps the basics in play including rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. Automatic emergency braking, dubbed Smart Brake Support by Mazda, also makes a welcome return.

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The same customization packages make an appearance

Even though it's the base trim, the Sport can still be customized to suit your preferences, with options split among an Interior Package, an Appearance Package, and a Weather Package, just like the Club and Grand Touring.

The most expensive $1,560 Appearance Package offers more practical benefits like the Club trim’s front air dam, side sill extensions, rear bumper skirt, and a black rear lip spoiler.

The $500 Interior Package includes a red engine oil cap with the MX-5 logo, stainless steel door sill trim plates, and alloy pedals/footrest. These are purely aesthetic upgrades but add a touch of sportiness to match the Sport name of the trim.

The $225 Weather Package provides all-weather floor mats to protect the standard ones from spills and debris.

In addition to the pre-set packages, owners can choose to add front and rear Splash Guards for $184 per set or the $380 Interior Lighting Kit, which enhances nighttime visibility with white accent lighting in the footwells.

The Sport trim is an affordable way to get into a Miata

While being far from the most luxurious or track-focused Miata of the bunch, the Sport provides an easy entry into Mazda's famed roadster.

Those looking for a relatively cheap Miata without the frills of the Grand Touring or the aerodynamic bits of the Club will find the Sport the perfect middle ground. It's a back-to-the-basics way to have fun on curvy roads and in a time when monstrous trucks and SUVs nearly dominate the auto industry, cars like the MX-5 Miata Sport are a welcome blast from the past.

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