2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Interior and Cargo

Black cloth with gray stitching is the only option on the base Club model. The Grand Touring spec comes standard with black leather, while the Terracotta Nappa leather option retails for $300. The leather trim is also used on the lower portion of the dashboard, while faux aluminum trim is used on the air vents and shifter surround. There are some cheap-feeling buttons, and the upper door trim is painted in the same color as the exterior. We would criticize Mazda for this, but we understand the motivation behind it. Saving weight on an already small car is no easy task, and the payoff is more than worth it.

Being small has its downsides. With the interior being cramped, there are no realistic storage spaces. The storage bin under the armrest isn't big enough to house a phone, and the removable cupholders only get in the way, regardless of whether they're placed in the passenger leg area or behind the center armrest - you can configure the flimsy clip-in options. There's a lockable storage bin behind the seats, but it's tricky to get to. Worse, still, in a soft-top, you can use the parcel shelf as storage when the roof is closed, but here, no such option exists, making the RF even less practical than the Roadster.

The trunk provides 4.5 cubic feet of space. Thankfully, the Miata is only a two-seater, as two soft bags is the most you can get in there. A weekend away is going to require some serious planning and packing know-how.

When a low curb weight is the ultimate goal, it's easy to sacrifice comfort and convenience features. Thankfully, Mazda was smart enough to realize that some might want to use the Miata daily. The RF Club gets manual air-conditioning, push-button start, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, and heated seats with three settings. The Grand Touring trim adds automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming driver's side mirror, automatic climate control, and an auto-dimming internal mirror. The MX-5 RF is still a sports car with an eye on safety, though, with standard driver assistance systems including blind-spot monitoring, automatic city braking, a rearview camera, lane departure warning, and, on the Grand Touring, traffic-sign recognition.

Android Auto and wireless Apple Carplay are included in the MX-5's standard features list. In the MX-5 RF's Club trim, they appear embedded in a seven-inch touchscreen display running Mazda's infotainment system and connected to a nine-speaker Bose audio system that includes a driver's side headrest speaker. Other features include Bluetooth streaming connectivity, HD Radio, Sirius XM capability, and two USB audio connections. Stepping into the Grand Touring trim adds Sirius Travel and Traffic Link, and navigation.