Overview & Reviews

When the Mazda MX-5 Miata debuted for 1990, this snazzy little convertible was an instant hit. Marking a revival of the affordable sports car in a stripped-down roadster format popularized by British automakers in the 1950s and '60s, the MX-5 Miata brought reliability and modern engineering to the concept. Buyers lined up outside Mazda dealerships and gladly paid well over sticker price for the fetching new Miata.

Though the initial mania has long since faded, the Mazda MX-5 Miata continues to be a very popular convertible. Today's third-generation car continues the trend. It still changes direction like a go-kart, communicates the character of the road clearly to the driver and accelerates with an inspiring growl from its inline-4 engine. If you're in the market for an affordable sports car that provides plenty of top-down, open-road thrills, we highly recommend putting a new or used Mazda Miata on your list.

Current Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a two-seat convertible powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine good for 167 horsepower. Depending on trim level, you'll find this power routed to the rear wheels through a five- or six-speed manual transmission or an available six-speed automatic. With the automatic, engine output drops to 158 hp.

The Miata is available in three trims: Sport, Club and Grand Touring. The lightly equipped Sport is aimed at enthusiasts on a budget, while the Club trim's added performance upgrades (strut tower brace, high-performance tires) and styling tweaks kick the Miata character up another notch. The Grand Touring is downright luxurious with its automatic climate control, leather upholstery and heated seats.

Customers who like the idea of combining open-air exhilaration with fixed-roof refinement can order a Miata with a power-operated retractable hardtop. The "PRHT" might seem to run counter to the Miata's less-is-more philosophy, but its simple design adds just 70 pounds to the car's curb weight and transforms top-up motoring into a much quieter, more weatherproof experience.

For more than two decades, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has been one of the purest forms of automotive fun, and the latest edition is no different. While we'd probably stick with a lightly equipped version for duty as a weekend toy, the many luxury features and roomier cabin of the latest generation make the Miata a more plausible choice for daily driving duties.

Used Mazda MX-5 Miata Models
The current third-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata dates back to 2006 when it was completely redesigned. A stiffer, more sophisticated chassis, a more powerful engine, a roomier interior and greater interior refinement were key improvements. A change in SAE testing methodology the following year reduced the horsepower rating to 166 from the initial rating of 170, but there is no functional difference. Initially, the lineup consisted of six trim levels: Club Spec, Base, Touring, Sport, Grand Touring and Third-Generation Limited Edition. For 2007, equipment was reshuffled into four trims -- SV, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring -- and the power-retractable hardtop (PRHT) also arrived that year.

A Special Edition model in Icy Blue paint was offered for 2008. That year also saw a 5-hp drop for cars with the automatic transmission. The following year the Miata received a mild refresh with tweaked exterior styling, engine revisions for a bit more power and fuel economy, a more aggressive suspension and some new convenience features. For '10, the PRHT was discontinued in Sport trim, and the value-oriented SV trim (available from 2007-'09) was dropped. Special editions continued to be offered and were essentially loaded Grand Touring PRHT models sporting unique colors and trim.

Right up through 2011, stability control was only available on the Grand Touring and then only as an option. For 2012 that safety technology became standard equipment across the board.

The second-generation MX-5 Miata was in production from 1999-2005. This Miata was the same size as the original MX-5, so while the cockpit was more cramped, the car felt much livelier and more responsive to drive, though its cornering limits were much lower and its ride was much worse. The addition of a glass rear window to the cloth convertible top made visibility better (the old plastic window would become cloudy from sunlight, requiring replacement).

This second-generation Mazda Miata was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 140 hp and 119 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard and a four-speed automatic was optional. As before, base models were sparsely equipped, but items like leather upholstery and Bose audio were available on upper trims. In its second year, a streamlined model lineup including the Miata and Miata LS with three simplified option packages was introduced, while a Miata Special Edition with a six-speed manual debuted. For 2001, the adoption of variable valve timing bumped output to 142 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque, while the Special Edition's six-speed manual became optional on the Miata LS. For '04 a turbocharged Mazdaspeed model arrived featuring a 178-hp turbocharged engine, high-performance suspension and unique exterior styling enhancements.

The original, first-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata of 1990 offered a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that delivered 116 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque matched with a five-speed manual transmission. Just three colors were initially available: red, white and blue. Detail improvements saw the Miata through its first several years, with revised option packages, more power from a 128-hp 1.8-liter engine introduced for '94, and ultimately even luxuriously appointed M-editions (special paint colors, a tan convertible top, tan leather interior and 15-inch BBS wheels). Competition-minded individuals might want to focus on the Miata R-Package introduced for 1994, which turned the Miata into a race-ready street machine with drivetrain and suspension modifications. The final year for this first-generation model was 1997 (there was no 1998 MX-5 Miata).

User Reviews:

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  Excellent Auto - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Bud-man - September 23 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. Have had it for one year and with no problems of any kind. More fun to drive than you could imagine. Cant drive it with the top down without getting comments from other drivers on how great it looks. But the performance is amazing - it handles curves like a dream - at 120 mph. it feels the same as 60 mph. - the milage is pretty good at around 35 highway and 30 city. If you are considering buying a Miata, by all means dont overlook the Boss stereo system, best system I have ever heard (and I am 60 yrs. old by the way and have heard my share of systems). I give it a big thumbs up.

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  All this car needs is a blond with sunglasses - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Maureen Horansky - September 13 - 3:51 pm

  The Mazda Miata X5 Convertible is garage kept and outstanding condition. I am 76 years old and when convertibles such as Mercedes or BMW drive up beside me they want to know what brand my convertible is. They say "It is very sharp looking" I have had this happen more times than you can imagine. The car has heated seats, an amazing radio, can get-up fast and what I love about it is the fact that the convertible top DOES NOT GO IN THE TRUNK and it can be put up and down quite easily. I am very attached to my convertible but due to health issues I must say goodbye.

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  Way too much fun. - 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By John Treubig - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Bought this for my son with his hard earned savings. What a shame he cant drive a stick and Dad gets to use it for a while. Puts the fun back in driving. I probably look ridiculous in it, so my wife says, but who cares!! You only live once, lets have some fun!

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  Love this car! - 1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Miata Lover - September 7 - 7:23 pm

  This was my first Miata. It was a mid-life crisis car and it proved all I wanted it to be! Excellent performance and a fun car to drive. Mine with the auto only gets about 21/26 mpg. It isnt as frugal as I thought. The top is the original factory top and is still in good condition. I am impressed with the reliability. It is a solid car in every respect.

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  the convertible to drive - 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By ticofl - September 4 - 10:00 am

  i had my miata for 2 years and i love it even more each time i drive it it does not have alot of power but with a couple of upgrades u can have a fun fast car i recomen this car to anyone that likes convertibles enjoy ZOOM ZOOM

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  Wow! Love this car! - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By W Prouty - August 31 - 11:53 pm

  I purchased number 269/3500 a few days ago and am loving this car. The first day I drove up the seacoast and put 200 miles on the car. I really like the "get up and go" when you need it (or when you just want to have a little fun!). The sport suspension is an awesome ride and the handling is amazing. Ill be driving my MX5 regularly for my 1 hour commute. Forget the highway, give me a winding, two-lane road and Im in heaven. Im 61" and I feel great driving this car.

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  Never loved a car till this one ;) - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By LoveMeeata - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely love to drive my Miata! It is so quick on the highway and just flat-out a BLAST! The convertible top is easy to manage from INSIDE the car...love that! My family whines that its too small and "get a real car" but ya know...they are just jea-LOUS! My 63" 250 lb boyfriend complains that he doesnt fit in it, but hes always grabbing the keys to get a chance to drive it. lol

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  WOW! This is fun to drive! - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Jackson - August 24 - 11:19 am

  This is fun to drive. Im not sure I would be comfortable driving on a long road trip but the vehicle is fun driving around town. I find myself accelerating into turns and braking hard. The performance is unbelievable. This is a homerun and the price is reasonable.

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  Believe what you hear...its fun - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By bh76 - August 23 - 2:10 pm

  One word: FUN. Everyone says it but its true. Bought used with 29K miles and after 10K more miles I can say that Ive had zero problems. I drove it from VA to Maine with a passenger & luggage and loved every mile. Using the top takes mere seconds. Fun & practical daily driver too w/ excellent turning radius & good ride quality. Lots of little cubbies for smaller things. Maintenance: cheap so far. Of course with most any small roadster youll run into storage issues. For example, I cant fit my golf bag in the trunk without removing the longer clubs. Performance: Nothing earth-shattering - just FUN. Its relatively diminuitive size and mass make it very maneuverable and acceleration is brisk.

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  My 50th Birthday Gift - 1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Shaboom1965 - August 3 - 2:00 am

  Gave myself a new 95 M-Edition for 50th birthday. Best decision I ever made. Garage it in the winter. Love it each spring and summer. Totally trouble free,low maintainence expense----the joy of my life. Glad I chose it over the BMW Z3 that had just come out.