It’s top-down weather. Time to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face on the open road. Which is the best convertible for a road trip? According to KBB, that would be the 2012 Mazda Miata MX-5, which also has the distinction of being voted the best sportscar for total cost of ownership, including a starting price under $25,000 and its fuel-sipping MPG. The Miata is also rated as best convertible for the money by US News & World Report.
It’s a great little two-seater. Fun to drive, and good-looking, too.
Available in four trims, the MX-5 is a lightweight, low-slung, rear-wheel-drive sports car with happiness-inducing handling, features and pricing. All 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miatas are equipped with a 2.0-liter gas engine that produces 167 horsepower with the manualtransmission and 158 horsepower for automatic.
The roadster starts at $23,470 MSRP with a soft top and at $27,540 for the Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT), which turns the little roadster into a little sports coupe. Fuel economy is rated at 22 MPG city and 28 MPG highway.
Upgrade to the Touring model to get keyless entry, a trip computer, and cruise control. The next model up, Grand Touring, offers heated leather seats, automatic climate control, a better grade soft top, and other things I call “creature features”. Traction control is available on most models, but not electronic stability control.
Here are some longer reviews of the 2012 Mazda Miata MX-5 from other auto writers I trust —
Click here to read other ecoXplorer reviews of best buy cars under $25,000.
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