Can you believe that the fourth-generation ND Miata went into production in March 2015? I went to a launch event in October of that year and was pretty impressed, but in North America, we didn’t actually get it until the 2016 model year. That still means that the ND is nearly nine years old, so let’s check in on the diminutive roadster and see how it’s getting on for 2024.

2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Overview

Miata engine and trim options are about as straightforward as they get for the 2024 model year. All trim levels get the same 181 horsepower 2.0L engine; trim levels remain Sport, Club, and Grand Touring.

Changes for 2024 are relatively minimal, you get a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen (yay, no mandatory dial use!), new LED headlights and taillights, and the Club and Grand Touring get a revised limited slip-diff. Pricing is still a reasonable $29,000’ish for the Sport up to just over $34,000 for the Grand Touring like our tester.

Optional extras are pretty minimal on the Grand Touring. You can tack on $920 for an automatic transmission (but don’t). Exterior upgrades include $450-$595 for some optional paint colors and $1,560 for the appearance package (Revised front air dam, side sill extensions, rear bumper skirt, and rear lip spoiler). On the inside, Napa Leather added a reasonable $300 to our tester, but that makes sense since there’s not much of it. And that’s it; one like our week-long loaner is out the door a little over $36,000.

Let’s get into some impressions of how the Miata was to live with for a week.

2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring Inside & Out

The ND is still a very good-looking little roadster. It looks strong without looking too macho, and the design has aged well over its nearly nine years of existence. The Grand Touring focuses on style over sport, with tasteful split-spoke wheels and a lack of spoilers, winglets, and aggressive aero. However, you can add those bits if you like.

What impressed me most was the interior. My last Hooniverse MX-5 review was in 2021, and while I thought that Grand Touring was reasonably comfortable, the latest version felt better. Maybe it was the upgraded leather, but something felt different this time. I still noted that integrating the exterior color into the cabin is spectacular. It somehow makes you feel like you are part of the car, particularly how the interior panels line up perfectly with the bulges in the hood.

The Grand Touring comes with all the features.

• Automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• Navigation system
• 17-inch metallic black alloy wheels
• Automatic (and Adaptive) headlights with automatic high-beam assist
• Automatic wipers
• Heated side mirrors with auto-dimming driver’s side glass
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Road sign (not “side”) assistance
• Adaptive cruise control

I didn’t run into any issues from a technology perspective, and my phone attached to Apple CarPlay reasonably easily. The only problem I encountered was that the spot they gave you to stow it just ahead of the shifter could have been better during enthusiastic driving. At one point, my phone ended up on the passenger seat floor, but you could put it in either of the center cubbies.

Cargo space with all seats in place is 4.6 cubic feet. Enough for…some stuff. I picked up a new suitcase and it fit. Just.

Out on the road, the Miata remains in a class by itself. It’s insanely fun to drive in most conditions. I found an abandoned Sears store and had a little fun around back. Press the traction control button until the little checkered flag lights up, and it’ll easily slide around. The ND still has a touch of understeer here and there, but you can plan for it. Those hood bulges over each tire mean you can easily see the corners of the car. I would have loved to get the ND out on an autocross course, but that wasn’t in the cards.

The diminutive size remains a factor in daily driver duties. It feels small compared to, well, everything. I took the above-right photo to show how it feels to be next to a Toyota RAV-4. I’m not saying it’s unsafe, even the base Miata gets standard forward collision mitigation, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning, and lane departure warning. It’s just…small.

Summary

I’ve always liked the Miata, but as I grew older, it became harder and harder to imagine living with one. The Grand Touring is for prospective roadster owners who want more comfort to go along with their fun. The MX-5 Miata is a great second or third car; it has a relatively low entry price, considering how much fun you can have out on your favorite road.