10 Reasons the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Wins Autobytel Buyer's Choice Best Convertible Award

2016 Mazda MX 5 exterior profile ・ Photo by Mazda

The Autobytel Buyer's Choice Award in the Convertible category goes to the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. The 2016 Miata represents an all-new generation for the world’s best-selling open-top two-seat sports car, and its many improvements have made it especially popular with U.S buyers—who appreciate the Miata’s fresh design and fierce performance.

#10: Dynamic design

The 2016 Mazda Miata MX-5 relies on what the brand calls “KODO—Soul of Motion” design principles, but this is a case where a picture is worth much more than the usual amount of words. The new Miata is sleek and dramatic top up or down, with striking LED headlights, taillights and daytime running lights.

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#9: The Grand Touring model

On the more luxurious side of the ledger, the Grand Touring grade for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata serves up additional comfort cues, including leather-trimmed seats with three-stage heating and the customer’s choice of Black or Sport Tan color themes. Remember as well that Mazda’s i-ACTIVSENSE safety features also come standard on the Miata range-topper.

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#8: The Club model

If performance is your focus, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club edition is your model. With a standard six-speed manual transmission, the Club comes with athletically oriented upgrades such as a front air dam, rear spoiler, limited-slip differential, upsized 17-inch wheels, Bilstein shock absorbers and available Brembo brakes.

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#7: An easy-to-operate soft top

Specifically designed to maximize the excitement of open-air driving, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata has a standard soft top that can be manually opened and closed without having to leave the driver’s seat. Further, the top is insulated, for extra all-weather comfort, and features aluminum supports, for reduced weight.

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#6: A new retractable hardtop

The 2016 Mazda Miata MX-5 also carries on another tradition for the brand, with an available hardtop edition known as the RF. It showcases a Retractable Fastback design and leverages a small electric motor to lower the rear glass, lift that fastback and hide the car’s roof panel beneath it.

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#5: Improved fuel economy

All that focus on reducing the car’s curb weight did more than just boost on-the-road performance for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. It also helps enhance fuel economy, so that the Miata’s peppy engine pairs 155 horsepower and EPA ratings as high as 26 mpg city/36 mpg highway/30 mpg combined.

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#4: Driver assistance for driving enthusiasts

Many of the industry’s favorite driver-assistance technologies are available for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, bundled in the company’s i-ACTIVSENSE package. Among the highlights here: lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, a blind-spot monitor, automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers and adaptive front lighting. Moreover, all of that’s standard on the Grand Touring edition.

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#3: Innovative infotainment resources

Even the standard 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata comes with Bluetooth connectivity for both hands-free calling and audio streaming, and the Club and Grand Touring trims boast a Mazda Connect setup with a 7-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, and—as an ergonomic alternative to both—the automaker’s multi-function Commander Controller.

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#2: Nimble performance

Designers went back to the car’s roots for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, creating an agile, lightweight roadster that checks in at a bare 2,332 lbs. with a manual transmission. That’s about 150 lbs. less than the previous year’s models, while maintaining a 50:50 weight distribution.

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#1: Headrest audio speakers

Audio lovers who like to crank up the volume after dropping the top will be particularly interested in the options Bose audio system for the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. After all, that setup boasts nine speakers, including units that are mounted right into the seat headrests for optimum listening enjoyment. Read about the 17 Most Wanted Vehicles of 2016 for the full list of the 2017 Autobytel Car Buyer's Choice Award recipients.

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