Moose are very dangerous for drivers because they can weigh well over 2,000 kilograms, and their long legs mean hitting one can cause all this mass to collapse down on a vehicle's passenger compartment. This potential hazard is why the famous moose test for automobiles is so important, and now it's time for the hardtop Mazda MX-5 Miata RF with the available Bilstein shocks to take a turn at the evaluation.

Gallery: 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF: Review

The Miata is famous for its sharp handling, and the roadster shows off those abilities here. The evaluator is supposed to take the moose test at 47.85 miles per hour, but the driver here does the first run at 46.6 mph. The car has absolutely no problem with getting through the cones at this speed. The video's voiceover says: "Even though body roll was considerable, it did not affect handling, which is excellent."

A second run at 49.71 mph is also successful. However, the Miata gets so close to one of the cones to blow it out of the way.

The tester then increases the speed even more for runs at 50.95 mph and 51.57 mph. The Miata runs over one of the inside cones in both of these higher-velocity evaluations, though.

The Miata in this clip is a 2018 example, so it doesn't have the upgrades for the 2019 model. The refreshed roadster has a more powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder that now makes 181 bhp and 151 lb-ft of torque – a 26-bhp and 3 lb-ft increase. There's also a new GT-S package that adds a front shock tower brace, limited-slip rear differential, and the Bilstein dampers.

These results are impressive, especially in light of the same organization's test of a Miata soft top with the available Bilstein dampers in 2016 (video below). Even at 46.6 mph, the roadster narrowly clipped one of the cones but not enough to knock it over. At 47.22 mph, the car completely runs over the same cone.

 

Source:  km77.com via YouTube