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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  Fun drive-add inches - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By gary moon - October 15 - 12:53 am

  Love the exterior style, price was a major factor in purchase. Turns out the machine is a hoot to drive, I fell in love during the test drive with the zippy feel and handling. My salesman just about had a coranary while I was puttng this car through its paces. Shifting the Miata is great fun, I love torturing the transmission from red light to red light.

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  The biggest go-kart in the world - 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By DDR2 - October 6 - 3:10 pm

  The title sums it up. Extremely agile car and light on its feet, like a go- cart. Its about as roomy as one too. But those who appreciate this car for what it can do wont be concerned about that. Acceleration isnt very strong either but again, if you want straightline acceleration, go buy a musclecar. This car belongs on roads with tight curves. Its easy to drive and own so far. The only improvements would be bigger trunk and more grunt. Otherwise, this is a fine piece of machinery.

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  Can fun cost this little? - 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Miata Driver - September 16 - 10:16 pm

  This car is as fun as driving gets for those who want handling over power. The top is incredibly easy to opperate, steering is great, shifting is beautiful, and handling is superb. The car has bulletproof reliability and drives as solid as you can get. Its lower performance limits make this an incomparibly fun city vehicle, and it loves to be driven like its hated!

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  Great Toy - 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By KDSPUCK - July 24 - 10:00 am

  Great little car. Dont forget its intended purpose and youll love it! More trunk room than before - a real plus. A little more power would be nice, but, this issue can easily addressed aftermarket. LS trim and suspension (drive both before you buy) upgrades are worth the money if you want to save yourself some aftermarket work.

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  Great little GoKart - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By mike - July 24 - 2:40 am

  I bought this car as a summer toy and alternative commuter vehicle instead of my gas guzzling SUV. I had also considered the Pontiac Solstice, but found the level of fit, finish and refinement greater in the MX-5. Its obvious that improvements in the 19 years of production put the MX-5 as the front runner of affordable roadsters. It doesnt have the performance of a Porsche Boxster, or the panache of a BMW Z4, but at less than half the price, who cares! Popping the top down in 3 seconds for the drive home on a sunny day is priceless.

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  Disappointment - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Donna Miller - June 16 - 9:40 pm

  Very questionable plastics in interior. Have experienced annoying rattling clicking noise on console. Absolutely no help from Mazda with problem. While very fun to drive, the annoying rattle takes enjoyment out.

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  A joy to drive, but hurts my back - 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By SRS - April 8 - 3:46 pm

  Gets appreciative looks. More elegant and cheerful than recent redesign. Never enjoyed driving more, but chronic back injury (herniated disc) with tiny interior: makes me wonder if I will have to sell. Im 62". Seats are like 90 degrees; no lumbar support. Road can be harsh - avoid potholes, speed bumps. Pebbles make lots of noise. Sound system with road noise -- tinnitus. Right elbow opens cup holder, right knee cant straighten. Fixed wheel position. Visibility only fair with top. Automatic shifter very stiff after starting. Heater, AC, wipers good. Cornering easy, fun. Accelerates well. Top easy to operate. Sound system is good; allows adjustment of midrange. Top latch replaced.

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  Attention Enthusiastic Drivers! - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By conzoomer - March 20 - 5:31 pm

  If you are a person whose passion is improving his driving skill set, this is a perfect tool. The MX5 will reward you with increasing satisfaction and fun as you learn to master driving skills. Routinely switch off traction control after engine start-up to obtain linear throttle response and to learn the cars traction characteristics. This car is quite capable even in stock form; resist the urge to modify its performance until you have fully utilized all it has to offer. When you are not in the mood for spirited driving, you can chill and enjoy the scenery and the MX5 will not annoy you with a bad temper. Some 2008s had a defect in the manual trans. Mazda fixed mine under warrantee. THX!

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  Fun to Drive, But More to Consider in Buying - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Dr. James Poyak - March 12 - 6:01 pm

  Its a fun car to drive. Im 5 10" and if you are taller than me, this probably isnt the car for you. Its definitely tight quarters, which is OK when the top is down, but feels a little claustrophobic with the top up. Im still trying to learn how to manage the command control selections. It isnt logical compared to our Honda or Hyundai. The technology is pretty basic when compared with other cars we have owned in recent years. But if you are looking purely for a sports car that is fun to drive when the top is down, this is probably it. Just be aware of the limitations in the above mentioned areas and be sure to take one out for a test drive and only after you have finished driving, try to negotiate the instrument cluster and command control.

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  Seriously good car - 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By MrCowGod - February 23 - 10:00 am

  Awesome. Thats all I can say. Lots-o-low end torque to make a performance car drivable in the city. Loads of fun, to say the least, in quick turning mountain roads and the short shift is a beautiful thing.