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ND3 Miata (2024+): What Changed and What Didn't

The ND3 is the 2024+ MX-5, a mid-cycle refresh of the 2019–2023 ND2. It adds an 8.8-inch screen, wireless CarPlay, an asymmetric LSD, and retuned steering and DSC; the 181 hp 2.0L and six-speed carry over. ND3 means model year 2024 and newer; the 2016–2023 cars are ND1 and ND2. For how the three generations and their year ranges compare, see ND1 vs ND2 vs ND3.

Mazda did not call the 2024 MX-5 a new generation. The chassis, the 2.0L Skyactiv-G, and the six-speed are the ND2 carryover. What people mean by “ND3” is a mid-cycle refresh: a new center screen, a reworked differential, retuned steering and stability control, and a few trim and lighting changes. Here’s what’s actually different, and what isn’t.

The big one: the new infotainment system

Section titled “The big one: the new infotainment system”

The headline change is the center screen. The 2016–2023 ND ran the Gen 6 Mazda Connect CMU: a 7-inch, 800×480 touchscreen on Linux 3.0.35 with an Opera Presto browser layer. The 2024+ refresh drops that for an 8.8-inch widescreen running Mazda’s newer Connect platform.

2016–2023 ND (Gen 6 CMU)2024+ ND (“ND3”)
Screen7-inch, 800×480, touch8.8-inch widescreen, touch in CarPlay/AA
CarPlayWired retrofit onlyWireless, built in
Android AutoWired retrofit onlyWired, built in
PlatformLinux 3.0.35 / Opera PrestoNewer Mazda Connect generation
Firmware.up ZIP packages, v74.xx.xxxDifferent package format and version scheme
Commander knobYesYes

Two practical notes for buyers. First, wireless CarPlay is now standard; on the older car you had to add a wired retrofit and a wireless adapter to get there. Second, the newer system’s touchscreen works while parked in CarPlay/Android Auto; the Commander knob remains the primary input on the move, same as before.

If you’re cross-shopping a 2024+ against an earlier ND specifically over the screen, the older Gen 6 unit is the more modifiable one; there’s an established community ecosystem for it, and none yet for the 2024+ platform. For most everything else, the cars are close. See ND CarPlay for how CarPlay differs across model years, and best years if you’re weighing years against each other.

The mechanical change that matters: the asymmetric LSD

Section titled “The mechanical change that matters: the asymmetric LSD”

The refresh’s most meaningful drivetrain change is a revised asymmetric limited-slip differential on manual cars. It uses different lockup ramp angles on power and overrun, so it bites harder under acceleration than on a trailing throttle. The goal is cleaner corner exit without the diff snatching mid-corner on lift. Owners coming from an ND1/ND2 manual notice it as slightly more progressive rotation rather than a dramatic change; it’s a refinement of an already-good chassis, not a new character.

Mazda also retuned the electric power steering and added DSC-Track mode on the Club, raising the intervention threshold so the stability system lets the rear move further before stepping in. If you autocross or do HPDE, that higher threshold is genuinely useful. The regular DSC OFF button still turns TCS and DSC fully off with a single press; holding the button does not defeat more (past 10 seconds the car re-enables DSC). The switch behavior, including DSC-TRACK’s hold-to-activate quirks, is covered under the DSC OFF button, and what the modes change at track pace under driving with DSC off.

Lighting, trim, and the small stuff

Section titled “Lighting, trim, and the small stuff”
  • Headlights: revised LED signature; the daytime running light and turn-signal pattern changed.
  • Wheels: new design options on some trims; the underlying fitment is unchanged (see wheel and tire fitment).
  • Cluster: updated graphics and menus.
  • Steering wheel and switchgear: minor revisions to match the new screen.

What did NOT change

Section titled “What did NOT change”

This is the part that surprises people: under the skin, a 2024+ is mechanically very close to a 2019–2023 ND2.

  • Engine: the 2.0L Skyactiv-G (PE-VPS family), same ~181 hp / 151 lb-ft and 7,500 rpm redline as the post-2019 cars.
  • Transmission: the same six-speed manual and six-speed automatic.
  • Suspension geometry: double wishbone front, multilink rear, same basic pickup points.
  • Chassis dimensions: wheelbase, track, and curb weight are within the ND2 range.
  • Brakes: same caliper and rotor sizing on equivalent trims.

For maintenance, mods, and track prep, this means the existing ND2 knowledge largely carries straight over. Oil specs (engine oil), the service intervals (ND maintenance), tire fitment, alignment (alignment), and track-day prep (track day prep) all apply, with the usual advice to verify torque specs and any 2024-specific part numbers against your own car.

FORScan on the 2024+

Section titled “FORScan on the 2024+”

FORScan talks to the body control modules over the OBD-II port: RBCM, FBCM, SSU, instrument cluster. Those are vehicle-platform modules, independent of the center screen, so the SkyActiv-era as-built tweaks (i-Stop default off, auto door lock, Find My Car flash) often still work on the 2024+. Two cautions: module byte layouts can shift with a refresh, and community verification for 2024+ is thin. Always back up your as-built data before changing anything, and verify against your own backup, not older ND notes. See ND FORScan.

The Gen 6 CMU-specific tweaks (disclaimer removal, touch-while-driving, boot-time changes) do not apply to the 2024+ screen, and the firmware-side software we sell for Gen 6 cars is not compatible with it.

How to tell which system you have

Section titled “How to tell which system you have”
  • 8.8-inch widescreen display (the older car’s 7-inch screen is visibly narrower).
  • Wireless CarPlay with no adapter (Android Auto is wired on both new and retrofit setups).
  • Settings → About shows a version that is not in the v74.xx.xxx format.
  • The car is titled as a 2024 or later model year.

Further reading

Section titled “Further reading”