In Defense of the New Engine - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible Long-Term Road Test


In Defense of the New Engine - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible Long-Term Road Test
While some drivers of our 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata are disappointed by the 2.0-liter engine's personality, there are benefits to usability and fuel economy that shouldn't be ignored.
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Mazda didn't "engineer-in" any substantial improvements in adapting this engine to the Miata - even though they made some modifications that would in most engines result in some power increases, and specified premium fuel, which all by itself would seem to make some power increase, the SkyActiv 2.0 is such a pedestrian lump that that didn't happen. The vast majority of the powertrain money Mazda spent here was in adapting a FWD transverse engine to a north/south RWD layout. That's it. It makes a normal amount of torque for its size, at pretty low rpm, because it's an undersquare design with very mild cam timing with Atkinson-cycle capability for good mpg, designed to push a 2900-pound hatchback around acceptably well while never exceeding 4000 rpm in normal use.
Does it make pretty good midrange torque in a Miata? Yeah...I mean, the car this engine was actually designed for is 600 lbs heavier than a Miata, Take a look around for some perspective...most of the world's 2300-pound cars are using 1.5 liter engines, not 2.0 liter engines.
As for the S2000 specialness, not everybody wants to be buzzing off 6000 rpm upshifts while leisurely tootling to the grocery store. That kind of specialness may be acceptable to some people, and cars exist for that reason, see Nissan 370Z.