6.11.2018

Track Star: The 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club


Rear 3/4 view of 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club
The 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club.
We'll start with how we ended our last review of a Miata...the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring:  There is no bad MX-5 Miata.  There are different models for different purposes...all with the 155-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 26 city/33 highway. 

The Grand Touring is for a dash of comfort with your sport.   The Club is all about winning (in the appropriate category) at track day. We've reviewed the Club before...two and a half years ago.  The biggest change is the availability this year, at no additional cost, of the dark cherry soft top, which we think looks great.



Interior view of the 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club
2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club interior.
$29,155 is the base price for the 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club, and that buys a ton of standard equipment:


  • Sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shock absorbers.
  • Front and rear stabilizer bars.
  • Double-pinion electronic power assist steering.
  • Front double-wishbone suspension.
  • Limited-slip differential.
  • Front shock tower brace.
  • 17-inch alloy wheels.
  • High-performance tires.
  • LED headlights.
  • LED daytime running lights.
  • Power side mirrors.
  • Variable intermittent wipers.
  • Glass rear window with defogger.
  • Dual exhaust with bright outlets.
  • Aluminum hood and trunk lid.
  • LED combination taillights.
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio/cruise and Bluetooth controls.
  • Leather shift knob and hand brake.
  • Power automatic door locks.
  • Power windows with one-touch down.
  • Mesh aero board.
  • Piano black seat back bar trim.
  • Remote keyless entry.
  • Pushbutton ignition.
  • Heated seats.
  • Bose AM/FM/CD/HD Radio/Sirius XM nine-speaker audio system with two USB outlets.
  • Seven-inch color touchscreen display.
  • Cruise control and trip computer.
  • Air conditioning.
  • Cloth-trimmed sport seats.
  • Dual vanity mirrors.
  • Carpeted floor mats.
  • Anti-lock braking with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.
  • Tire pressure monitoring.
  • Blind spot monitoring.
  • Dynamic stability control.
  • Traction control.
  • Anti-theft engine immobilizer.
  • Rear cross-traffic alert.
That is a lot of equipment---so much that the extra-cost options on our tester were few:  $300 for the Machine Gray paint, $4,470 for the Brembo BBS Recaro package, with Brembo Brakes, BBS wheels and Recaro seats, and $425 for the interior package (alloy pedals, door sill trim plates and a custom red oil cap).

With $890 delivery, processing and handling fee, the bottom line came to $35,240.  Not cheap, but a ball to drive and a precision instrument on a track or winding road.  We'd opt for the Grand Touring if we had to make the MX-5 Miata a daily driver, but if you've got room in the budget and the garage for a weekend toy...or need a little less cush in your daily life, the 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club is one heckuva car.