NC Miata
The NC Miata is a beloved sports car known for its nimble handling, lightweight design, and pure driving experience. However, like many compact sports cars, the interior often prioritizes function over comfort and style. Thankfully, the aftermarket scene offers a wide variety of upgrades that can help you transform your Miata’s cabin into a more comfortable, stylish, and personalized space. Whether you’re looking to enhance your driving experience, add some visual flair, or simply increase everyday comfort, this guide will cover the top interior upgrades to take your NC Miata to the next level.
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One of the most impactful interior upgrades you can make is to replace or enhance the factory seats. While the stock seats in the NC Miata are functional, they can lack the comfort and support needed for longer drives or more spirited sessions on winding roads. For those who prioritize performance, aftermarket bucket seats are a popular choice. Recaro Sportster CS, for example, is a top-tier seat offering excellent lateral support during aggressive cornering, while still being comfortable enough for daily driving. Its sporty look and premium materials make it a favorite among Miata enthusiasts.
If you’re on a tighter budget but still want a performance-oriented seat, the Sparco R100 offers a great balance between support and comfort. For drivers who use their Miata as a daily driver, comfort is often more important than sporty design. Seats like the Sparco Chrono Road provide thicker cushioning and a more ergonomic shape for long-distance comfort without sacrificing style. Alternatively, the Corbeau A4 is another excellent choice, offering a blend of comfort and a street-legal sporty design.
If you prefer to keep your stock seats but want a fresh look, custom upholstery is a fantastic option. Katzkin Leather Seat Covers allow you to upgrade the look and feel of your seats with premium leather in various colors and patterns, adding both comfort and style to your interior.
The steering wheel is the main point of contact between you and your car, making it one of the most critical parts of your interior. Upgrading your steering wheel can drastically change both the driving experience and the look of your Miata’s cabin. A popular choice among Miata enthusiasts is the Nardi Deep Corn Steering Wheel, a classic leather-wrapped wheel that offers a luxurious feel with improved grip and steering precision. Its deep-dish design gives it a retro flair while enhancing driving engagement.
For those who prefer a more modern aesthetic, the Personal Neo Grinta is an excellent option. Available in both perforated leather and suede, this wheel features an ergonomic design perfect for spirited driving. Additionally, if you want to add a race-inspired touch to your interior, a quick-release steering wheel kit like the NRG Quick Release Kit can be a fun and functional upgrade. Not only does it provide added security, allowing you to remove the wheel when parked, but it also makes getting in and out of the car easier in tight spaces.
Sometimes, the smallest upgrades can make a huge difference in how a car feels. Upgrading your shift knob and pedals can enhance the tactile feedback you get during driving, while also adding a touch of personal style. A weighted shift knob is a simple yet effective upgrade. The extra weight helps smooth out gear changes, making shifting feel more precise. The Raceseng Ashiko Weighted Shift Knob, for instance, is designed for performance enthusiasts who want a mechanical, precise feel to their shifts. Alternatively, the Cobalt Weighted Shift Knob offers a more budget-friendly option, without sacrificing the benefits of a weighted design.
For the pedals, consider swapping your factory set with an aftermarket pedal set. Pedals made from aluminum or stainless steel, such as the Sparco Reflex Pedal Set or the MOMO Pedal Set, not only look sportier but also provide better grip for performance driving. If you really want to enhance your shifting experience, installing a short shifter like the MiataRoadster Short Shifter Kit can make gear changes faster and more engaging by reducing the throw distance between gears.
Your Miata’s door panels and armrests are some of the most frequently used parts of the interior, yet they are often overlooked when it comes to upgrades. Adding leather or Alcantara to your door panels can significantly improve the look and feel of your cabin. Redline Goods Custom Door Panel Covers offer high-quality leather and Alcantara options that allow you to match your door panels to your seats and other interior accents.
Long drives can become uncomfortable if your armrests aren’t properly padded. Upgrading with a product like Jass Performance Armrest Pads provides extra cushioning and can be easily installed for immediate comfort improvements. For those looking for a minimalist, race-inspired interior, swapping the factory door handles for RS-Style Door Pull Straps is a great option. These durable nylon straps replace traditional handles, giving your Miata a sleek, motorsport aesthetic.
Interior lighting can play a big role in setting the mood for your drives, especially at night. Upgrading to LED lights is one of the easiest ways to modernize your Miata’s interior. The OPT7 Aura LED Interior Lighting Kit allows you to customize the color of your lighting with RGB options, so you can set the perfect ambiance for any drive. Whether you want a subtle glow or something more eye-catching, this kit provides a fun and versatile lighting upgrade.
For a simpler, more classic upgrade, the Diode Dynamics LED Conversion Kit replaces your stock bulbs with bright, energy-efficient LEDs, instantly giving your interior a more modern look. If you want to go a step further, ambient lighting kits like the Lumen RGB Interior Ambient Lighting Kit offer customizable, soft lighting under the dash or door sills, creating a more upscale feel.
Refreshing your dash and console trims can give your Miata’s interior a stylish, modern look. One of the most popular upgrades is adding carbon fiber accents. The Rvinyl Carbon Fiber Trim Kit is a pre-cut solution designed specifically for the NC Miata, offering a sleek, high-tech finish to your dash, center console, and door panels. If you’re not a fan of carbon fiber, you might prefer aluminum or piano black inserts, which offer a more refined, minimalist aesthetic. MossMiata Aluminum Trim Set provides clean, modern finishes that enhance your interior without going overboard.
For a truly personalized touch, consider upgrading your instrument cluster with custom gauge faces. RevLimiter Custom Gauge Faces offer a wide variety of designs, allowing you to match your gauges with the overall theme of your interior, whether you’re going for a vintage, sporty, or modern look.
The stock sound system in the NC Miata may not do justice to your favorite tunes, but upgrading it can turn your car into a concert on wheels. Start by replacing the stock head unit with a more modern option. The Pioneer AVH-W4500NEX offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, improving both the audio quality and functionality of your system. If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, the Sony XAV-AX1000 still provides essential features like Bluetooth and USB inputs, making it a solid choice for a head unit upgrade.
To complement the new head unit, upgrading your speakers is a must. The Focal Integration Series speakers are known for delivering clear, balanced sound, while the Alpine Type-R Series offers powerful bass and crisp highs. To fully enjoy your upgraded sound system, consider adding soundproofing materials like the Dynamat Xtreme Sound Deadening Kit, which reduces road noise and improves the clarity of your music.
Floor mats might seem like a minor upgrade, but they play an important role in protecting your interior and adding a bit of style. Custom floor mats like Lloyd Mats Ultimat Custom Floor Mats can be personalized with embroidered logos or initials, giving your Miata a more refined look. If you live in an area with harsh weather, all-weather mats such as WeatherTech All-Weather Mats are a practical choice, offering excellent protection from dirt and spills while being easy to clean.
For extra protection in the trunk, consider adding a custom trunk liner. The MossMiata Trunk Liner fits perfectly in the NC Miata’s cargo area and helps protect against moisture, dirt, and other debris.
If you want to go beyond the basics, there are a few additional interior enhancements that can further improve your NC Miata’s comfort and functionality. Adding a Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner like the BlueDriver OBD2 Bluetooth Scanner allows you to monitor your car’s performance and diagnose potential issues directly from your smartphone. This can help you catch problems early and avoid costly repairs down the line.
Another small but effective upgrade is seatbelt pads. Products like Sparco Seatbelt Pads provide extra cushioning for your shoulders, making long drives more comfortable. If you want to protect your steering wheel while adding some flair, a custom leather steering wheel cover such as the Wheelskins Leather Steering Wheel Cover can give you extra grip and comfort without the need to replace the entire wheel.
Upgrading the interior of your NC Miata can make a huge difference in both driving comfort and style. Whether you’re looking for better ergonomics, more luxurious materials, or improved sound and lighting, there are plenty of ways to customize your Miata’s interior to suit your personal preferences. Investing in quality products and planning your modifications carefully will help you create a cabin that’s not only more enjoyable to be in but also a reflection of your own style. Happy customizing, and enjoy the ride!
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