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Interior / Exterior »
8
STYLING | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Some things never go out of style, such as chocolate, an unexpected financial windfall, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars... Add to that list the Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Consumer Reports
retractable hard top...gives the Miata a decidedly racecar-like roofline
CNET
Its low-slung, athletic shape is appealing, and its proportions are just right.
Cars.com
from most angles the hardtop helps reinforce the added musculature that designers have worked hard to incorporate into the Miata’s bulging fenders, which are far more evocative of a sports coupe than a prissy beach cruiser
Road & Track
One complaint some might have with the 2012 MX-5's look is the rather smiley grille opening, but if you don't dwell on it in a vacuum, it actually fits the MX-5's look. Gently flared fenders, smooth surfaces, and a lightly contoured hood are the primary cues.
The Power Retractable Hard Top model adds a different take to the MX-5's look, essentially turning it into a coupe with the top up, but retaining the classic roadster look with it down. A separate detachable hard top is available for the soft-top models.
Inside, the MX-5 Miata continues to be somewhat spartan in base trim, with cloth seats and simple black plastic surfaces. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped in all but the entry-level model.
Climbing the trim range, however, can add heated leather seats, more chrome trim, and other aesthetic nods to greater prosperity--though some may view these changes as moving away from the minimalist sports car spirit of the MX-5.
Conclusion
Neither cartoonish nor excessively bloated, the 2012 Mazda MX-5 holds true to its roots despite two generations and 22 years since its introduction.
