Storage and Cargo

Pop the new 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata’s trunk lid, and you’ll see a slightly larger space accessed through a smaller opening. One reason the trunk is larger is that Mazda has ditched the spare tire. You get a standard inflator kit, or you can buy the optional run-flat tires. Though the trunk is larger in volume, its usefulness is diminished by the smaller opening. No longer can you just plop a garment bag flat onto the trunk’s floor and be on your way. Now you’ve got to drop it in end first, and then squish it down at an angle to get the lid closed.

Inside, storage is improved through a larger center console tray that doubles as a cupholder and a new bin located between the seats on the rear bulkhead. The glovebox is a bit larger, and there’s a deep slot located on the lower driver’s side of the dashboard. The hard plastic sunvisors have integrated card clips, and just forward of the shifter is a small tray. The most impressive addition to the new MX-5 Miata, however, are the large covered bins located behind the seats on upper trim levels. For a 2,500-pound car with just two seats, the MX-5 Miata isn’t short of storage space.