2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

Episode 3703
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

There’s a new Mazda Miata in town, and it’s more than just a hardtop, it’s something entirely different. It’s the MX-5 RF, for retractable fastback. Now is it just a Miata that’s better in bad weather, or is it a better Miata period? Well, we feel it’s our duty to get to the top of it!  

Sports cars have been in a bit of a slump lately, though the Mazda MX-5 Miata has mostly been immune. But just to ensure the excitement meter stays pegged; for 2017, Mazda has something special for all of us, this Miata RF.  

Much different than the previous gen’s Power Retractable Hard Top, this Retractable Fastback features a somewhat complicated design that somehow works very smoothly, and stores the center section of the roof only, in the same amount of space as the soft top, leaving trunk capacity exactly the same. You could call it a Targa, but Mazda chose not to. 

It’s much better in every way than the previous hard top. And as sharp as it looks with it up, we can see a lot of style-conscious fans buying it for that reason alone.

The RF also includes some additional sound-deadening material, so engine and tire noise are more tempered, a plus if you’re planning longer trips.

The RF looks much different in profile of course, unique enough that it wasn’t instantly recognizable as a Miata to many we encountered. 

The RF weighs about 110-lbs more than the roadster, but you won’t notice it in around town driving. 

And we love that everything remains super simple inside. All is right where you expect it to be, including the shifter for the standard 6-speed manual. 

But that also means frustrating cup holders and minimal small item storage space.

No other changes inside, save for the button to set the top in motion and a new TFT screen in the gauges that will make its way into other Miatas soon. 

Plenty of headroom remains, but if our RF had any downside, it was wind noise. Too much of it made it inside, seemingly right by our ears.

Nothing deviates from the norm in the powertrain department. Under-hood lies a SKACTIV-G 2.0-liter I4 with 155-horsepower and 148 lb-ft. of torque. 

Maybe it was the top’s added weight, or test day’s hot temps, but our RF manual was a few tenths slower to 60 than the last cloth top we tested, at 6.3-seconds. 

Only moderate throttle modulation is necessary at launch, as there’s not enough torque to really cause problems. Both clutch and shifter work as precisely as always, allowing you to move quickly through the gears. We finished the ¼-mile in 15.0-seconds flat at 92 miles-per-hour. 

And without a doubt, no matter what is or isn’t over your head, the MX-5 remains a great place to take in the blurry sights surrounding your favorite back road. Or our choice, the curves of Northern Virginia’s Dominion Raceway.

We know that a hardtop can add some rigidity to a car’s chassis, but to be honest we didn’t sense that either, as the basic car is now so solid. 

Both the suspension and electric power steering have been recalibrated, and if anything, we noticed a little less feel through the wheel than before, though reaction is still very quick. Throttle response also felt a little deadened. 

The RF is only available in Club and Grand Touring trim, with base pricing that works out to be around 3-grand extra. So, its $32,430 for the Club RF, and $33,495 for the Grand Touring.

So, you have to really love the new look. Now, we view the MX-5 as the best bargain among sports cars, so we’d probably stick with the original and spend the money we saved on performance upgrades. 

Still, one thing is clear. Mazda took great strides to give buyers not just a hard top version of our beloved Miata, but something that is truly different. The 2017 MX-5 Miata RF is a uniquely charming take on the minimalist roadster theme; and a beauty not just for our eyes, but for all of our senses.  

Specifications

  • Engine: 2.0 liter
  • Horsepower: 155
  • Torque: 148 lb-ft.
  • 0-60 mph: 6.3 seconds
  • 1/4 mile: 15.0 seconds @ 92 mph
2025 Honda Civic Si & Hybrid 20

2025 Honda Civic Si & Hybrid

More Fun, More Refinement, More Civic

Episode 4436
Auto Value and Bumper to BumperTire Rack "The Way Tire Buying Should Be"

If you’re looking at buying a Honda Civic Si instead of a standard Civic, chances are, you’re the kind of driver that actually enjoys being behind the wheel and wants a fun-to-drive car that injects some pure enjoyment into your daily grind. Well, good news! There’s an updated Civic Si that promises to deliver more fun and refinement than ever!

The 2025 Honda Civic Si spearheads a revised Civic lineup that also sees the return of a Hybrid to the roster, something that’s been missing since 2015. This 11th-gen Civic first arrived for 2021, and gets a slightly more aggressive look for ‘25 with an updated front fascia and grille.

And while it remains available as either a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, the Si comes only as a sedan with a hex pattern grille, gloss black trim and aero enhancements, both up front and in the back, with a decklid spoiler. Other Si upgrades include larger brakes and 18-inch V-spoke wheels for the optional summer performance tires.

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Honda claims the chassis has been stiffened and the suspension retuned for 2025; and it certainly makes for a fun driving little car, though it’s hard to call this current Civic little anymore, as dimensions and interior space are more midsize these days. Under the Si’s hood is Honda’s tiny but mighty 1.5-liter turbo-four engine, furiously spinning up its 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. The Si comes exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission with a miniature shift knob and very light clutch enhancing its definitely playful vibe.

At our test track, once we got some heat in the front tires and figured out the best traction control settings, we were able to rip off consistent 6.9-second runs to 60. Not crazy quick, but the free-revving engine and manual trans made for a totally engaging experience. Our best quarter-mile, 15.1 seconds at 94 mph. But it was in our handling course where the fun really jumped up, slicing through the cones like we were in a video game. Yet it also felt well planted the entire time, grip was plentiful, and body roll minimal. Consistency, too, in braking runs, repeatedly stopping in a mere 92 feet from 60 mph.

Our handling course [is] where the fun really jumped up, slicing through the cones like we were in a video game.

No matter which Civic you choose, you’ll get plenty of standard content, including auto climate controls and illuminated steering wheel controls, plus more color choices for ’25. The funky lattice-style dash trim carries over, the Si getting racy red accents and manually-adjusted cloth seats that definitely are sporty. While over in the Hybrid, things take a classier turn with Sport Touring getting leather-trimmed seats, the 9-inch version of their touchscreen infotainment setup with Google built in, a 10.2 digital instrument cluster, 12-speaker Bose audio, and wireless phone charging.

Following Honda’s current marketing strategy, the returning Hybrid will be available in upper trims only, specifically Sport and Sport Touring. It uses a combination of naturally aspirated 2.0-liter I4 engine and Honda’s Two Motor Hybrid system for a 200-horsepower total. Yes, that’s exactly the same as the Si, and the Hybrid setup out-torques bigtime with 232 lb-ft, 40 more than the Si.

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The hatchback’s Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 50 city, 45 highway, and 48 combined. We only managed to wrangle 43.5 mpg of regular in our wintertime driving loop.

The Sedan’s numbers are a little better than the hatchback’s; and while that additional fuel economy is great, with all of that torque, the new Civic throws it back to the original Accord Hybrid, having a bit of a performance bent to it, including a Sport Drive mode that heightens throttle response and tightens up steering. It also gets a unique gauge display and active sound inside the cabin. There are also four levels of regen braking with shifter-style adjustment paddles on the back of the steering wheel. And unlike the Si, you can get the Hybrid as a five-door hatchback, which most of our staff really enjoy looking at and everyone can appreciate its 24.5 cu.-ft. of cargo space and folding seatback flexibility.

Civic pricing starts at $25,400 for a base LX sedan. Hybrids start with Sport Hybrid at $30,100. The hatchback is a bit more at $31,300. Si comes in at $31,400, just below the range-topping Sport Touring Hybrid at $33,100.

While at times the Civic has been more of a blank canvas that buyers could customize to make it their own, this 11th-gen already offers something for just about everyone, whether you’re a high-revving gear shifting driving enthusiast, a luxury-minded fuel sipper or something in between. The 2025 Honda Civic is the total package. One high quality, not-so-small car that delivers more fun and more refinement than ever.

Specifications

Civic Si

  • Engine: 1.5-liter turbo-four
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic
  • Horsepower: 200
  • Torque: 192 lb-ft
  • 0-60 mph: 6.9 second
  • 1/4 Mile: 15.1 seconds at 94 mph
  • Braking, 60-0 (avg): 92 feet

Civic Hatchback Hybrid

  • Engine: NA 2.0-liter I4
  • Transmission: eCVT
  • EPA: 50 City | 45 Highway | 48 Combined
  • Horsepower: 200
  • Torque: 232 lb-ft
  • MW Fuel Economy: 43.5 mpg