I Drove the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF in L.A., Here’s My Honest Review

The Mazda MX-5 Miata continues to impress

There’s something special about driving one of the best-selling sports cars of all time. Over the past 25 years, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has outsold every other sports car—and for good reason. It’s a sublime vehicle to drive, especially if you value passion over raw horsepower. No, it won’t beat a Corvette in a drag race, but that’s not the point. The Miata is about joy, connection, and pure driving fun.

I’ve driven every generation of Miata, and despite my large frame, it’s always worth squeezing inside for the drive. Of course, the Miata has its limitations – it’s tiny, with minimal utility, but if you want a car that connects you to the road like no other, the MX-5 stands alone.

What makes the MX-5 Miata RF unique?

Mazda’s recipe for success has stayed consistent: keep it light, make it quick, and pair it with outstanding suspension and one of the best manual gearboxes in the business. All MX-5 Miatas come with a lively 181-horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 151 lb-ft of torque, paired with a slick 6-speed manual transmission. For those who prefer it, a 6-speed automatic transmission is available on top trims, complete with paddle shifters and a sport mode. The manual nets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, while the automatic delivers 26/35 mpg.

Then Mazda upped the ante with the RF (Retractable Fastback). Unlike the soft-top, the RF features a power-folding hardtop that tucks away with origami-like precision. It’s not a full convertible; the rear buttresses remain fixed, but that design helps reduce wind buffeting while still letting the sky in. Of course, the RF comes at a premium. While the base soft-top Miata starts under $30,000, the RF begins over $37,000, with loaded models pushing past $43,000.

Driving the Miata RF in SoCal

Let’s start with the drawbacks: this is a small car. At 6’1” and 260 pounds, I fit, but comfort was a squeeze. With the roof down, it felt much better, but climbing in and out was still an athletic feat (and probably entertaining for onlookers at the valet stands). Cargo space is equally tight. The trunk offers just 4.5 cubic feet, and the folding hardtop eats into that. Storage inside is limited to small cubbies, a locking compartment behind the seats, and removable cupholders that intrude into the already snug cabin.

But once underway, all is…