Track Star: The 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club

The 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club.

We'll start with how we ended our last review of a Miata...the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring:  There is no bad MX-5 Miata.  There are different models for different purposes...all with the 155-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 26 city/33 highway. 

The Grand Touring is for a dash of comfort with your sport.   The Club is all about winning (in the appropriate category) at track day. We've reviewed the Club before...two and a half years ago.  The biggest change is the availability this year, at no additional cost, of the dark cherry soft top, which we think looks great.

2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club interior.

$29,155 is the base price for the 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club, and that buys a ton of standard equipment:

• Sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers.
• Front and rear stabilizer bars.
• Double-pinion electronic power assist steering.
• Front double-wishbone suspension.
• Limited-slip differential.
• Front shock tower brace.
• 17-inch alloy wheels.
• High-performance tires.
• LED headlights.
• LED daytime running lights.
• Power side mirrors.
• Variable intermittent wipers.
• Glass rear window with defogger.
• Dual exhaust with bright outlets.
• Aluminum hood and trunk lid.
• LED combination taillights.
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio/cruise and Bluetooth controls.
• Leather shift knob and hand brake.
• Power automatic door locks.
• Power windows with one-touch down.
• Mesh aero board.
• Piano black seat back bar trim.
• Remote keyless entry.
• Pushbutton ignition.
• Heated seats.
• Bose AM/FM/CD/HD Radio/Sirius XM nine-speaker audio system with two USB outlets.
• Seven-inch color touchscreen display.
• Cruise control and trip computer.
• Air conditioning.
• Cloth-trimmed sport seats.
• Dual vanity mirrors.
• Carpeted floor mats.
• Anti-lock braking with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.
• Tire pressure monitoring.
• Blind spot monitoring.
• Dynamic stability control.
• Traction control.
• Anti-theft engine immobilizer.
• Rear cross-traffic alert.

That is a lot of equipment---so much that the extra-cost options on our tester were few:  $300 for the Machine Gray paint, $4,470 for the Brembo BBS Recaro package, with Brembo Brakes, BBS wheels and Recaro seats, and $425 for the interior package (alloy pedals, door sill trim plates and a custom red oil cap).

With $890 delivery, processing and handling fee, the bottom line came to $35,240.  Not cheap, but a ball to drive and a precision instrument on a track or winding road.  We'd opt for the Grand Touring if we had to make the MX-5 Miata a daily driver, but if you've got room in the budget and the garage for a weekend toy...or need a little less cush in your daily life, the 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club is one heckuva car.