2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata (ND3) RF Club // Full Review + Thoughts vs ND2

2024 brings big changes to the Mazda MX-5 Miata, with a new limited-slip-differential, updated steering, new lights, new seats, and new wheels. The ND3 MX-5 still follows the same great formula as it always has--lightweight, low power, short gears, and all fun. We're looking at the same 2.0L naturally-aspirated four-cylinder that makes 181-hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, paired with a standard 6-speed manual transmission. In fact, the only way to get an automatic is in the Grand Touring trim. But the manual is definitely the way to go. When you choose the stick, you get Bilstein shocks, the new limited-slip differential, a light but communicative clutch, and one of the best gearboxes in modern cars. How do the updates compare to the ND2 generation? And is it worth the upgrade? Let's go ahead and take a look.
2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Club Review
Merch:
gearbox-car-reviews.creator-s...
Big thanks to Dowling Ford for the ND2:
www.dowlingford.com
My setup:
Sony A6300: www.amazon.com/Sony-Alpha-a63...
GoPro 9 camera: www.amazon.com/GoPro-HERO9-Bl...
Rode Wireless II mic: www.amazon.com/dp/B09PXCZ24?t...
Tripod: www.amazon.com/dp/B083J6D5ZK?...
External Camera Mount: www.amazon.com/dp/B00F19Q7YI?...
Tether: www.amazon.com/dp/B073PV51NW?...
Internal Camera Mount: www.amazon.com/Suction-Gorill...
0:00 Intro
0:37 Overview
1:30 Powertrain
2:08 Exterior
6:07 Interior
11:06 Driving Impressions / Spirited and Daily / vs ND2
23:00 Conclusion
#mx5 #nd3 #lowkeycarreviews #miata #mazda #manualtransmission #sportscar #carreviews #gearboxcarreviews

[@dannyphamous]

Great comprehensive review! There is a trunk release near the rear license plate area

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Thanks! Ah, I swear I checked and couldn't find it ha. I appreciate, glad to know there's a button

[@stephenisaaks1]

“The interior is not super high end…” The interior is perfection. Chefs kiss all day every day 👌🏻 BMW could take their styling ques from Mazda, this car is impeccable. Great review!

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Thanks! I stand by it, ha, but it's near perfect for what this car is and what it does. It's nicer than a GR86 by a mile, it's comfortable (as long as you're not huge), and it's driver-focused. I'll take it any day of the week.

[@jasmiinee.vro1444]

this is the best knowledgeable mazda mx5 rf video thank you!! helped me a lot and i’ve watched almost every video of it

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Wow, that's awesome! Really appreciate the comment and really glad I could help!

[@markg1531]

The best new Miata review I’ve ever seen. Thank you. I’m picking up a new red RF Touring with beige leather in three weeks. Can’t wait!

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Wow, thank you! Congrats on the new car! Enjoy!

[@markg1531]

@@GearboxCarReviews Thank you, I will. As you said in your video, it’s pretty much impossible not to : )

[@erscolo3684]

I am quite happy with my 2023 GT RF. Running through the mountains of Colorado yesterday, I averaged 38 mpg, better than ever. I am one of those people with the AT, my choice and with the manual mode I get everything I would want out of a sports car. This is my first one, I am in my sixties and six feet tall, yet the ride inside is quite comfortable, just need to bend my head a bit getting in or get the aftermarket adapter to allow the top to go down from outside. Thank you for the balanced review even if it was in the Club version, which itself looks to be a beautiful automobile.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Thanks for the comment! Glad to hear you're loving yours! I'm a bit envious of those mountain roads in Colorado. You're in a great spot to enjoy stretching the Miata out. Enjoy!

[@burnthecandleatbothendz]

I just got mine today in the sport soft top .I freaking love it! It's definitely a head turner .either people give me a snotty look or they smile 😃

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Congrats! Yeah, it's funny how some people look down on them (or any sports car). They'd understand if they drove one ha. Enjoy!

[@ColtonBlumhagen]

The benefit to the rf that most reviewers don’t seem to realize is you can get the gt with grand sport package which gets you the brembos and bbs wheels still. You don’t get recaros but I went with the tan leathers which I proffered anyways. Can’t do this with the soft top.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

We don't have that option in the US, unfortunately.

[@ramivuorinen]

There is a button in the rear for the trunk. It's above the license plate on the right.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Yeah, I totally missed that somehow. I pinned another comment that mentions it. Appreciate it!

[@carlosbrigett2574]

Foreign sportscars were always loud, but the only reason there was less wind buffeting was due to the "Vent Window" on each door.

[@BD-dr1hw]

Great no-nonsense review! I took delivery of my RF Club a couple weeks ago. It's my first Miata; the only car I've owned that was comparable was a Lotus Elise 15 years ago. The Aero Gray is growing on me. I think the gearing is a little too short. I especially wish 6th gear was taller for highway cruising. Every other car I've owned has been similar for what gear you want to be in for cruising at a particular speed, but with the Miata, it's usually one gear higher, and that's hard to get used to. I also wish the exhaust were a little louder - when I blip the throttle downshifting I can hardly hear it. BTW I'm 6' and have no problem fitting inside.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Thank you! Congrats on the car! I think the lower gears are perfect for a twisty road, but agree the upper gears could be a little longer for highway cruising. Man, I'm dying to drive an Elise. Definitely the same sort of lightweight, handly ethos. Though this must feel like a luxury car in comparison ha. You should have plenty of options out there for an aftermarket exhaust. Surprised you fit so well, but glad to hear it! I guess it depends a bit on if your height is more in your torso or your legs ha. Enjoy!

[@PaulG106]

Congrats!!! I'm waiting for my Aero Gray RF Club as well - any day now :) Great point on the gearing but to me personally - I would have either a loud exhaust _or_ tall gearing. When you cruse at 3500 rpm but don't hear it that much - that's no problem. But if it's short geared _and_ loud - then it gets super annoying - I had that on my M2 Comp - gets on your nerves very quickly. Also, I noticed that most of the enthusiast cars with 6-spd manuals have about the same rpm rate around 75 mph - somewhere around 3000-3200 - no-one makes the tall 6th gear (I may be wrong here but that's what I noticed so far). The only way to get a tall highway gear is to get a 7 speed like in 911. BTW have you tried the GR86 before getting the Miata? Any thoughts on that?

[@BD-dr1hw]

@@PaulG106 No I didn't try the GR86. I did briefly consider a Suburu Imprezza variant, but I wasn't concerned in the least about practicality. I wanted the smallest, lightest weight car, with 3 pedals, and I love the looks of the RF. Yes, there will be times when we have to take a different car or truck with more cargo space, but for all of the times that I don't need to transport much stuff, I'd rather not be driving a lot of empty capacity around.

[@PaulG106]

Makes sense! Do you have enough storage to place your phone and sunglasses? Looks like there is no glovebox or door pockets. Do you have any issues with that ?

[@BD-dr1hw]

@@PaulG106 My phone fits sideways ahead of the gearshift. I use clip-on sunglasses so they're not an issue, but I think you could fit sunglasses in a case in the compartment between the seats. I always keep a cap in the car. There's not really a good spot for it if I have a passenger - just on top of the dash when the top isn't down.

[@marcenalamb7294]

Looks like you have space behind your seat. Can you recline the seat for more room?

[@GearboxCarReviews]

There's a little bit more room, yeah. You're still going to run out of headroom pretty fast if you're tall, but there's a bit of space.

[@Accost2u]

The thing with ND Miatas is that they have a pretty wide range of alignment adjustment. They also don’t really come aligned from the factory, so getting a shop to set it up for how you like to drive will drastically change how it feels and acts.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

100%. I'm only speaking stock for stock here, but there's huge aftermarket support.

[@Accost2u]

@@GearboxCarReviews no doubt. Keep up the good work on your videos 👍

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Thank you! 🙌

[@tommiller3455]

You can pop the trunk using a little button just above the licence plate. Owned an ND1 for 2.5 years and only just learned it

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Yeah, I totally missed that somehow. Glad I'm not the only one 😅 Appreciate the comment! Enjoy the ND!

[@marcenalamb7294]

Same in the Fiat 124

[@techne9992]

You can pop the trunk. There’s a button by the license plate

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Yep, a couple people have mentioned. I totally missed it somehow. Appreciate it!

[@BlackNAVYAmericanVET]

I miss the Snake LED Fang Daytime running lights , they should have put white reflectors in front, instead of black panel plugs 😊

[@erscolo3684]

Glad I got the 2023 last fall, I have those, good use of the space and looks good too.

[@GreggsonWong]

Finally, a review of a 2024 Mazda MX-5 (Miata) Club RF, not the soft top. Thank you!!

[@GearboxCarReviews]

No problem! I was super excited this one was available. RF Club is how I'd spec mine!

[@GreggsonWong]

@@GearboxCarReviews Ditto💯 IMO soft/rag top screams chick car. It’s already a unisex mobile because it’s small & cute. Wouldn’t mind seeing a subtle widebody kit on it. Just to make it more of a man’s car.

[@bigbunnyboi]

Would it be better if these ride on 15s instead of 17s?

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Better in terms of what? Ride quality? It might ride a little better on 15s, but I think you'll have a tough time finding 15s that fit, if there are any.

[@bigbunnyboi]

@@GearboxCarReviews Fitment Industries recommended 15x7 +35 on these cars. It seems most go for a larger wheel setup.

[@bigbunnyboi]

@@GearboxCarReviews Fitment Industries recommended 15x7 +35 on these cars. It seems most go for a larger wheel setup.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Do those fit over the brembos or is that for the standard brakes?

[@antikytheramechanism7909]

You shouldn't run your audio through a guitar overdrive pedal.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Run audio through a different type of overdrive pedal. Noted. I swapped cameras for the exterior shots and for some reason that kind of jacked the audio a bit. Working out the kinks on the audio.

[@renloris460]

@@GearboxCarReviews Still a great review! Some peaks in the audio don't detract from just how comprehensive of a review this is. Thanks for your work!

[@GearboxCarReviews]

@@renloris460 thank you! I really appreciate it!

[@markg1531]

I can’t believe how inexpensive this car is in the US. I paid about $53000 for my red 2024 RF Touring here in Poland and I still think it’s a great deal for a terrific sports car.

[@ColtonBlumhagen]

It’s about that in Canada too.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Oh wow, that's quite a big difference! I wonder why it's such a big difference there, but I'm not particularly familiar with the economy in Poland. Is that typically true of Japanese cars, or just some of them?

[@markg1531]

@@GearboxCarReviews I’m not sure why but the prices quoted in Poland always include the sales tax. The tax is pretty high so perhaps that’s the reason.

[@marcenalamb7294]

Probably shipping cost.

[@mrporsche4236]

Probably the best sports car on sale today. I want one. But 0-60 in 5.7 is a lie

[@GearboxCarReviews]

A little sus coming from someone with Porsche in their name 😆 I love these things though. 5.7 seems about right. That's not exactly quick for a sports car.

[@karllelliott681]

@@GearboxCarReviews It's 6.3 seconds for the 2.0 engine. I know you guys like rolling starts on your 0-60 times which may account for the 'faster' time stated? Discuss ......

[@GearboxCarReviews]

@karllelliott681 Car & Driver, MotorTrend, and most other sites I can find on it report 5.7 and 5.8 from a dig, so that's what I went with.

[@karllelliott681]

@@GearboxCarReviews Understood. Could your source material be wrong? My 30th Anniversary ND2 feels more like 6.5 to me (very similar to my MK7.5 & MK8 FiSTs). My first search came up with 6.3 to 8.0 seconds (2.0 to 1.5 engines)

[@karllelliott681]

Oh and am I the only one who actually likes that colour on the ND3? Subjective I know but it is surprising how few people (who comment) say they like it.

[@BlackNAVYAmericanVET]

lol, my cheap make NISSIAN Juke has 50% more road noise , than the MX5 , 😂

[@overbuiltautomotive1299]

Cars are just to high 40k lol not happening we need a real currency that ant junk a sovereign one

[@timsgta]

Translate pls somebody what he said

[@erscolo3684]

The most idiotic comment on you tube, or anywhere. Not worth translating, you will never get those hours back.

[@dystopia-usa]

Great car, hideous color.

[@GearboxCarReviews]

100% agree

[@joewildwest2241]

all these mx5 reviews keep saying the same thing over and over . it’s been said ! snore me !

[@GearboxCarReviews]

Sorry man, I don't really watch other reviews, so I don't know what they're saying.

[@PumpUptheJam81]

Because they are reviewing the same thing. Should they start making things up?

[@erscolo3684]

Simple solution, stop watching them!