By Miatas are fun. They look non-threatening, they handle around corners, have a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, and the roof (either hard-top or soft-top) comes off without compromising trunk space. It’s one of the best sports cars out there. Three decades of the same basic platform have let Mazda build an amazing roadster for 2016 with the fourth generation Miata: the ND1/ND2. However, if there’s one thing that nearly everyone agrees the Miata lacks, it’s power. Stock, the model year 2019+ ND2 is the most powerful roadgoing Miata ever at an incredible 181 horsepower. What, are you not impressed?
The wheezy sound of the stock exhaust on the 2.0L four-cylinder engine doesn’t do it for everyone. One of the easiest ways to make an improvement in the feel and sound of your Miata is an aftermarket exhaust. Some offer better flow and a different sound while a few can actually increase horsepower and torque. Exhaust upgrades include axle-back upgrades that replace you stock muffler, cat-back setups that replace (yup, you guessed it) everything from the catalytic converter back to the exhaust tip, and full headers-and-back systems that replace your entire exhaust system. We’ve got mild and wild recommendations for each!
Axle Back
To start, we recommend the Borla Type S axle-back system. This simple upgrade replaces the stock muffler, giving you a much deeper tone at idle and more fun brap-brap-brap noises under hard throttle. For a different sound, try the Corksport’s more direct approach to an axle back exhaust. Not only is it basically a straight pipe, but it’s also a quarter inch wider than the stock piping, so it can get LOUD!
Cat Back
For a wilder solution, cat backs are where things start to get gnarly. Remark makes a cat back that embodies the major tenet of the Miata: it’s simple and light. Remark’s cat back has fewer bends and a larger diameter than the standard midpipe and muffler, meaning you get better flow and a raspy sound at the redline. Another option for the Miata, the Agency Power cat back has a resonator and a simple muffler and gorgeous stainless steel twin pipes out the back bumper. Agency Power’s exhaust is deep at low speed and smooth through the rev range, giving that classic 4-banger tuner sound.
Headers Back
The most noticeable changes to exhaust sound and performance on a Miata come from new headers. If you are upgrading from stock, almost anything will provide better sound and flow, as many aftermarket headers don’t have built in catalytic converters. Keep in mind, header-back systems are the most complicated exhaust upgrade for your Miata short of a turbocharger manifold, and may not be legal if you’re in a place like California that doesn’t allow fun.
Speaking of fun, OpenFlash makes headers for the 2.0-liter ND Miata. The OpenFlash Header isn’t brash and loud, but is designed with flexibility in mind, as it can be used with many tunes from OpenFlash themselves. The header pairs well with their bespoke center-exit exhaust, making the car look and sound like a real boutique sports car.
Meanwhile, at the extreme end of the spectrum, the GoodWin’s RoadsterSport MAX TORQUE Header is a great way to get some serious power out of your 2.0L Miata. The long runners combined with a good cat-back system can make your car sound like a racecar, and claim a gain of nearly 40 horsepower on early models with a good tune.
There are so many modification options available for your Miata. Think of the possibilities– an all-out track car, an ear-piercingly loud canyon carver, or a stanced out influencer whip are all within easy reach with a little bit of planning and research. For a new exhaust as well as tons of other parts for your ND-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata, check out the Motoroso Marketplace!
