Model Breakdown: 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF

See the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF at Purdy Mazda of Bryan College Station

The 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports car for drivers who put responsive handling and an engaging connection to the road high on their shopping list. A 181-horsepower SKYACTIV®-G 2.0-liter engine, standard six-speed manual transmission, available six-speed automatic, and power retractable fastback give you sports-car character without requiring you to save the car strictly for weekends. The lineup consists of Club and Grand Touring trims, each taking a different approach to Mazda’s lightweight roadster formula.

If you’re comparing Mazda cars in Bryan, visit our showroom or browse online for a detailed look at the RF’s passenger and cargo measurements, comfort equipment, exterior dimensions and colors, engine specifications, transmissions, suspension hardware, technology, and driver-assistance systems. Its compact footprint, front-midship engine layout, rear-wheel drive, and retractable roof make the 2026 MX-5 Miata RF in Bryan an especially distinctive choice.

Interior: A Cockpit Built Around Two

Inside the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, everything is centered on the driver and one passenger. Its bucket seats feature reclining and forward/back slide adjustment, integrated head restraints, and driver-side seat tilt adjustment.

Passenger space measures 36.9 inches of headroom, 43.1 inches of legroom, 52.2 inches of shoulder room, and 52 inches of hip room. The trunk provides 4.48 cubic feet of cargo capacity, enough for smaller bags and daily essentials.

Interior highlights include:

• Heated front seats with three settings
• Remote trunk release
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering column
• Two removable cup holders and a locking center console
• Black RECARO®, leather-trimmed or tan Nappa leather-trimmed seating

Club models bring a more performance-focused atmosphere with heated Black RECARO® sport seats and black interior accents. Other cabin appointments include a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob, leather-wrapped parking brake handle, padded armrests, carpet floor mats, and a driver’s footrest.

Additional interior equipment includes:

• Air conditioning or automatic climate control
• Frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink®
• Power windows with one-touch-down functionality
• Glass rear window with a defogger
• Side-window demisters
• Speed-sensing power door locks
• Vanity mirrors
• Dimming overhead courtesy light
• Transparent wind blocker
• Driver- and passenger-side back-panel covered storage
• Black doorsill trim plates with stainless steel inserts

Exterior: Compact Proportions With a Retractable Roof

The defining exterior feature of the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is right in its name: the power retractable fastback. The Club pairs the roof with a black finish, while the Grand Touring uses a body-colored roof. Both versions have an aluminum hood and aluminum trunk lid to support the MX-5 Miata RF’s lightweight construction. Body-colored bumpers and door handles, a solar-control/tinted windshield, trunk light, rear-mounted mast antenna, and trunk-mounted shark-fin antenna are also included. Club models add a black rear lip spoiler and black front air dam.

Exterior measurements:

• 154.1 inches long
• 68.3 inches wide
• 49 inches tall
• 90.9-inch wheelbase
• 5.87-inch laden ground clearance
• 58.9-inch and 59.2-inch front and rear tracks

Club models include 17-by-7-inch BBS® aluminum-alloy wheels with a Dark Gunmetal finish, and Grand Touring models come with 17-by-7-inch Metallic Black machine-cut aluminum-alloy wheels. Both models run on P205/45 R17 high-performance tires. Club equipment includes LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, variable-intermittent windshield wipers, and black power mirrors. Grand Touring adds auto on/off headlights, High Beam Control, an Adaptive Front-lighting System, rain-sensing variable-intermittent wipers, body-colored heated power mirrors, and an auto-dimming driver’s-side mirror.

Available exterior colors include:

• Deep Crystal Blue Mica
• Soul Red Crystal Metallic
• Jet Black Mica
• Aero Gray Metallic
• Snowflake White Pearl Mica

Machine Gray Metallic is another available finish and is listed for Grand Touring. Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, Aero Gray Metallic, and Machine Gray Metallic are extra-cost paint choices.

Performance: Rear-Wheel-Drive Fun

Every 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is powered by a SKYACTIV®-G 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with VVT, producing 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine has a 7,500-rpm redline, 1,998-cc displacement, 83.5-by-91.2-mm bore and stroke, and a 13:1 compression ratio. Its construction includes an aluminum-alloy block and aluminum-alloy cylinder head, along with chain-driven dual overhead camshafts, electronically controlled fuel injection, and variable intake valve timing. Mazda recommends premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or higher, although 87 octane is the minimum requirement.

Performance specs:

• EPA-estimated 26 mpg city/34 mpg highway (manual)
• EPA-estimated 26 mpg city/35 mpg highway (automatic)
• 11.9-gallon fuel capacity
• 11-inch vented front discs
• 11-inch solid rear discs
• Electric rack-and-pinion steering with 14.5:1 overall steering ratio
• 2.7 turns lock-to-lock
• 32.9-foot wall-to-wall turning circle
• 2,467-pound curb weight (manual Club)
• 2,469-pound curb weight (manual Grand Touring)
• 2,513-pound curb weight (automatic Grand Touring)
• 51/49 front-to-rear weight distribution

A SKYACTIV®-MT six-speed manual with a short-throw shifter is offered on both Club and Grand Touring. Grand Touring can instead be equipped with a six-speed Sport automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Braking hardware consists of four-channel ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

Additional features:

• Asymmetric torque-sensing limited-slip differential
• Monocoque unibody construction
• Backbone frame and front and rear suspension subframes
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Double-wishbone front suspension and multilink rear suspension
• Bilstein® dampers
• Front shock-tower brace

The MX-5 Miata RF comes with Brembo®/BBS® RECARO® Package front brakes with red calipers, Mazda rear brakes with red calipers, Dark Gunmetal BBS forged 17-inch alloy wheels, Brilliant Black side-sill extensions, a Brilliant Black rear bumper skirt, heated Black RECARO sport seats, Alcantara trim, and black interior accents.

Technology: Connected Without Crowding the Cockpit

Technology in the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF is designed to give you useful information and entertainment while keeping the cabin focused on driving. Both Club and Grand Touring use the 7G Mazda Connect™ infotainment system with an 8.8-inch full-color center display. The system can be managed through the Multifunction Commander control or infotainment voice commands, giving drivers multiple ways to access key functions.

Top technology features include:

• Bose® nine-speaker audio system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay® integration
• Alexa Built-in
• Wireless Android Auto™ integration
• Dual USB-C audio inputs

The Bose® audio system includes AudioPilot®, a subwoofer, and speakers integrated into the driver and passenger head restraints. SiriusXM® Satellite Radio is offered with a trial subscription.

Connectivity and entertainment equipment:

• HD Radio™
• Radio Broadcast Data System program information
• SMS text-message audio delivery and reply
• Bluetooth® hands-free calling and audio streaming
• Speed-sensing automatic volume control
• Mobile 911 automatic emergency notification
• One-year trial of Mazda Connected Services
• Steering-wheel-mounted audio, phone, and cruise controls
• Mazda Navigation System (Grand Touring)

Safety: Driver Assistance for Everyday Roads

The 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF may be designed around driving enjoyment, but its safety equipment covers both occupant protection and active driver assistance. Both trims include dual front airbags, side-impact airbags, side-impact door beams, three-point seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters, an engine immobilizer, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

Key safety and driver-assistance features include:

• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Vehicle Exit Warning
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Driver Attention Alert
• Lane Departure Warning System

A Rear View Monitor is also standard. Both Club and Grand Touring include Smart Brake Support – Forward and Secondary Collision Reduction, adding automated assistance for certain potential collision situations.

Additional safety systems:

• Traffic Sign Recognition
• High Beam Control
• Adaptive Front-lighting System
• Mazda Radar Cruise Control
• Distance and Speed Alert

Together, these technologies make the RF easier to live with during routine traffic while preserving the responsive, driver-centered personality buyers expect from Mazda roadsters.

Test Drive the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF in Bryan, TX

For shoppers who want a sports car that keeps size and weight down while putting steering, shifting, and open-air driving front and center, the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF makes a convincing case. Visit Purdy Mazda of Bryan College Station in Bryan, TX, to compare Club and Grand Touring models, see the power retractable fastback operate in person, explore other Mazda cars like the Mazda3 sedan, and get behind the wheel. Schedule a test drive and see which 2026 MX-5 Miata RF fits your driving style.

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Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.All fuel economy mpg listings in the content above are EPA estimates. Actual mileage will vary.