2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring buyer's guide, and specs

Spirited driving is a pastime many car enthusiasts can admit to enjoying. Some of us prefer the lightweight, barebones agility of a club sport, while others want their canyon carving to be complemented by a cushier, more luxurious ride. Both are fair options, and thankfully, Mazda recognized both needs with the trim levels offered for the current-generation MX-5 Miata.

Perched atop the trim tree sits the Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring, offering the most creature comforts compared to the Club and Sport trims below it.

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The MX-5 Miata’s 181 hp 4-cylinder engine can be paired with an optional automatic transmission

While the same 181 hp SKYACTIV-G33 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder engine powers all current-generation Miatas, the Grand Touring trim offers an optional 6-speed sport automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Opting for this over the 6-speed manual transmission gains you one more highway MPG but eliminates the asymmetric, torque-sensing limited-slip differential.

The Grand Touring’s tech-enhanced exterior adds extra convenience

The exterior boasts several tech features like adaptive LED headlights, auto-dimming and power-folding side mirrors, high beam control, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. If it starts pouring on the touge, you no longer need to take your hand off the wheel to turn on the wipers.

A cushy cabin adds leather, an upgraded sound system, and more safety features

The cabin is where the Grand Touring shines. The standard cloth seats are upgraded with supple leather and equipped with heating elements to keep things cozy when the temperature drops. The black leather interior can also be optioned with Tan Nappa Leather for an extra touch of class. Automatic climate control eliminates the hassle of adjusting the perfect A/C settings, while the auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink blocks out distracting headlights from behind. The infotainment system also comes with Mazda’s navigation system pre-installed.

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If you’re the type who likes to blast tunes down Mulholland Drive, the Grand Touring’s Bose 9-speaker audio system should be more than enough for your Eurobeat driving playlist.

To ensure your thrilling drives remain safe, Traffic Sign Recognition and Secondary Collision Reduction join Mazda’s standard suite of safety features.

Mazda provides ample options for additional customization

Customization options are alive and well in the Grand Touring trim, split between an Interior Package, an Appearance Package, and a Weather Package. Each feature from these packages can also be added individually, allowing for further customization of your Miata.

The $500 Interior Package adds a red engine oil cap with the MX-5 logo, stainless steel door sill trim plates, and alloy pedals/footrest. These are strictly aesthetic additions, but they help spruce up the sportiness of your MX-5 Miata.

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The more useful $1,560 Appearance Package adds the Club trim’s front air dam, side sill extensions, rear bumper skirt, and a black rear lip spoiler. We’d argue the package name is a bit of a misnomer since these additional aerodynamic accessories could enhance the Grand Touring’s handling capabilities.

The $225 Weather Package includes all-weather floor mats to protect the standard mats from spills and debris.

Additionally, the $380 Interior Lighting Kit, separate from these packages, enhances nighttime visibility with white accent lighting in the footwells.

The Grand Touring trim provides the perfect blend of comfort, luxury, and driving fun

Mazda

Overall, the Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring captures the best of all worlds. It’s the comfiest of the Miata triplets with the right touch of luxury and optional equipment customization.

The Grand Touring trim elevates the roadster experience without losing the essence of what makes the Miata special: its connection to the driver and the road. Sure, it doesn’t include the special Brembo package from the Club trim, but that’s not its core focus. For those seeking both refinement and an exhilarating drive, the Miata Grand Touring is a well-rounded option, proving that a true sports car can be affordable, comfortable, and endlessly fun all at the same time.

*Pricing listed above is from the 2024 model year and we expect the 2025 model to have very similar pricing and start from around $34,900 for the 2025 model. 

About the author

Gabriel Ionica

Senior Editor, Autoblog

Gabriel Ionica is an automotive writer whose passion for cars began in Romania with the Dacias of the Eastern Bloc. A professional writer for eight years, he transitioned to the auto industry with DRIVETRIBE and has since contributed to specialized publications including Petrolicious, Hyman Ltd., and Cavallino Classic. His work is informed by a global perspective on car culture and grounded in the hands-on experience of owning and restoring classic vehicles. He now resides in Northern California.