Stick With It: Mazda MX-5 Drops Automatic in Most Trims

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

Yes, you read that headline correctly. For the upcoming 2022 model year, Mazda has binned the automatic transmission in all trims of the sporty MX-5 roadster save for its most spendy spec, the Grand Touring. Don’t say Hiroshima isn’t doing its part to

And we know – not every automatic is objectively worse than its manual counterpart. In fact, there are plenty of high-performance examples in which the auto is quicker in the run to 60 mph than when equipped with a row-yer-own gearbox. Nevertheless, it remains our opinion that stickshifts offer a far more engaging drive experience, even if it can add a couple of tenths to your time slip in some vehicles.

As for the MX-5, that’s one rig in which a manual transmission should be the default choice. And for the coming year, it very nearly is. Both the Sport and Club trims will only offer the sweet-shifting six-speed manual, meaning most of its lineup will not be available with an automatic gearbox. This will make good use of the little scamp’s excellent power-to-weight ratio, to say nothing of playing well with its nimble handling.

Reasons for the change are not immediately clear, though it’s not unreasonable to speculate it is related to the ongoing worldwide chip shortage. If so, it’s probably the only welcome consequence of this whole supply chain debacle. There are no changes to the engine output, a 2.0L mill continues to deliver 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Keeping this powerplant on the boil is easy with the six-speed stick, as customers of the ’22 Sport and Club are sure to discover next year.

Mazda has fettled with the onboard driving nannies, creating what they’re calling a Kinematic Posture Control which has nothing to do with the car’s seats and posture of the driver. Rather, the new system takes advantage of good rear suspension geometry and applies very slight braking to the inner rear wheel during high-g cornering. This pulls down on that part of the car, allegedly suppressing body roll and making steering response feel more linear through tight corners. Mazda says the system doles out slightly stronger braking forces when accelerating through a corner, apparently enhancing the limited-slip effect.

Americans can still strap into an MX-5 ragtop for well under 30 grand, with the 2022 MX-5 Sport checking in at $27,300. The next-rung Club starts at $30,800 but adds $4,500 if you wish to spec the optional Brembo/BBS/Recaro package. An automatic-equipped GT will run you $32,300 in 2022, with the manual transmission variant adding $500 to that sum.

[Image: Mazda]

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • Mikey My late wife loved Mustangs ..We alway rented one while travelling . GM blood vetoed me purchasing one . 3 years after retirement bought an 08 rag top, followed by a 15 EB Hard top, In 18 i bought a low low mileage 05 GT rag with a stick.. The car had not been properly stored. That led to rodent issues !! Electrical nightmare. Lots of bucks !! The stick wasn't kind to my aging knees.. The 05 went to a long term dedicated Mustang guy. He loves it .. Today my garage tenant is a sweet 19 Camaro RS rag 6yl Auto. I just might take it out of hibernation this weekend. The Mustang will always hold a place in my heart.. Kudos to Ford for keeping it alive . I refuse to refer to the fake one by that storied name .
  • Ajla On the Mach-E, I still don't like it but my understanding is that it helps allow Ford to continue offering a V8 in the Mustang and F-150. Considering Dodge and Ram jumped off a cliff into 6-cylinder land there's probably some credibility to that story.
  • Ajla If I was Ford I would just troll Stellantis at all times.
  • Ronin It's one thing to stay tried and true to loyal past customers; you'll ensure a stream of revenue from your installed base- maybe every several years or so.It's another to attract net-new customers, who are dazzled by so many other attractive offerings that have more cargo capacity than that high-floored 4-Runner bed, and are not so scrunched in scrunchy front seats.Like with the FJ Cruiser: don't bother to update it, thereby saving money while explaining customers like it that way, all the way into oblivion. Not recognizing some customers like to actually have right rear visibility in their SUVs.
  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
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