10 Things You Need To Know About The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Redesigning an icon - even one whose sales have been ailing - is never an easy task. The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata sees the world's most popular roadster head back to the basics, dropping weight and horsepower in a quest to purify its driving experience and engage enthusiasts seeking something different. As a conscious choice to step back from the world of bigger/stronger/number sports cars, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is without peer, and it illustrates just how willing the Japanese automaker is to hold fast to its design principles and build an uncompromising paean to the open road.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata.

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata has been completely redesigned, which means fresh sheet metal all around. It's immediately apparent that the new Mazda MX-5 Miata has taken a more aggressive path towards mass appeal, with a scowling front end and angular creases on the hood, the tops of the fenders, and at the rear that simply weren't there in the previous model. LED headlights are standard with the car and help to modernize its first impression, and the use of the brand's new Kodo design language also works to bring the Miata further into the family fold.

It's rare for a modern car to get lighter as time moves on, but somehow, the engineering team behind the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata found a way to chop roughly 200 lbs from the car's curb weight as compared to last year's edition. In fact, the car rolls out very nearly the same mass as the original, and smaller, 1990 MX-5 Miata that kicked off Mazda's roadster party in the United States. Almost every area where weight could be saved was considered, including such details as the size of the gearing in the rear differential, and the car also offers a lower ride height and a shorter wheelbase than the previous generation Miata that it replaces.

Smaller and lower doesn't necessarily sound like a good combination for passengers of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, especially considering that compact roadsters are rarely lauded for their cabin space. Somehow, Mazda has flipped the script with the all-new MX-5 Miata, giving both occupants more headroom than before, along with the ability to recline its seats just that much farther. The secret lies in making the best use of what room is actually available inside the car; raising the door sills and lowering the seat also helps to create an impression of spaciousness to go with the vehicle's improved interior layout.

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata comes with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, just like it did for 2015. The new unit, however, sees the Mazda MX-5 Miata drop from 167 horsepower to 155 horsepower, as its based on the same entry-level mill found in the Mazda3 compact hatchback and sedan. Although it's always disappointing to see a sports car lose a bit of its swagger in the engine bay, there's still a bright spot to be found with this new mill: total torque is up by eight lb-ft, for a total of 148 lb-ft.

The older version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata started off with a five-speed manual gearbox, forcing buyers to opt for higher trim levels if they wanted to sample its available six-speed unit. The 2016 edition of the MX-5 Miata does away with the five-speed transmission altogether, making the six-speed standard across the board. The tranny features the same delightfully crisp and short throws that are a Mazda trademark, and Mazda has moved the car's center console cupholders out of the way of the shifter, making it easier to run the convertible's engine all the way up to its 7,000 rpm redline in every gear.

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is able to turn in a 0-60-mph run of about six seconds, which when compared against the previous generation car represents a full second improvement. How is it possible that a less powerful MX-5 Miata is also somehow quicker off the line? The answer is two-fold: the six-speed manual transmission offered by the car has seen its ratios configured to offer better torque multiplication in the first few gears, and the lighter curb weight lessens the four-cylinder engine's burden. All of this is accomplished without the need for a launch control system, which means you've got to work the clutch and the gas yourself for optimal results.

A further side effect of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata's lightweight design and reconfigured six-speed manual transmission is improved fuel mileage. The broader spread of the unit's gear ratios, combined with an engine that uses Skyactiv technology to reduce its overall fuel consumption, means that the Mazda MX-5 Miata delivers 27-mpg in stop and go driving and 34-mpg on the highway in base form. If you opt for the available six-speed automatic gearbox that can be paired with the car, then your highway efficiency bumps up to 36-mpg. This represents a 25 percent improvement compared to the 2015 model.

Another major weight savings for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is related to the decision to stick with a manual cloth top. Although power tops are common amongst even entry-level convertibles, the Mazda MX-5's do-it-yourself design means you can get the roof open or closed in as little as five seconds. It also means that there are currently no plans to offer a power retractable hardtop edition of the roadster similar to the one that was available with the older generation of the car, which might be a bit of a turn-off for anyone interested in driving the Miata through all four seasons.

Despite the fact that even a base version of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a blast to drive, the automaker recognizes that there will always be enthusiasts looking for something more. Enter the Mazda MX-5 Miata Club, a model which introduces Brembo front brakes, a limited-slip differential at the rear, larger 17-inch wheels (from aftermarket mavens BBS) all around. The Club model also offers revised suspension tuning that is stiffer and more communicative, giving drivers a better connection with the road underneath the car's rubber contact patches and tightening up what was already a very focused chassis.

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata checks in with a very affordable starting price of below $25,000. At $24,915, the new MX-5 Miata is almost $1,000 more expensive than the model it replaces, but it fills that gap with host of extra standard equipment, including a cloth top in place of a vinyl one, the six-speed transmission, and Bluetooth connectivity. Moving up to the Club model will see you forking over $28,600, a sizable jump to get into the sportiest edition of the car, while the feature-laden MX-5 Miata Grand Touring sets you back $30,065.