2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata Just Won the Perfect Award

Cars.com singles out the 2017 Mazda Miata as its favorite play car.

Cars.com has named the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata as its Play Car of the Year. We have to admit we love that title and it fits the Miata perfectly. The Miata edged out the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Range Rover to take the win. Those are also excellent cars, but drive them back to back on a sunny day and the Miata would be every sane person's choice to go have fun in.

Joe Wiesenfelder of Cars.com wrote in his summary of the Miata's win, "You'll see its mix of a front engine with rear-wheel drive and balanced weight distribution elsewhere, but few cars of that description manage to be as fun in everyday driving as the Miata is. Light weight and excellent feedback give it an involving character that heavier models don't match. Combine that with the inherent fun of a convertible and you have a singular entity — an affordable one — even in today's crowded market."

As a past owner of an NC Miata, I will add that Play Car is really what the Miata is about. Sure, we've driven it in snow, and on a few commutes, but that's not really what the Miata is about. Miatas are all about fun in the sun and drop-top adventures.

This is one of the first awards for the 2017 Miata. For a list of the Mazda Miata's accomplishments in 2016, please see our comprehensive list here.