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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  Just plain fun - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By elden stielstra - December 10 - 10:00 am

  This is one fun car. It is what a convertable is supposted to be. Be careful, however, mixing it up with a SUV or a semi-truck is not going to help your health or the appearance of your Miata. It has an excellent power to weight ratio and handles like you think it should. Just plain fun!!

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  Everyone Must Drive One - 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Ron Johnson - December 9 - 8:40 pm

  My daily drive is a 2009 Pontiac G8 GT. With 366HP is moves and handles well. When deciding on a weekend fun car my criteria was a hardtop convertible, under 30K and reliable. I always read how great the Miata was to drive and how it was tough to compete against. After the test drive, I was totally convinced. The car is a machine rapped around the drivers body. My wife had reservations about the size of the car, but now asks when we are taking it on a drive.If anyone has hesitations about this car, try to buy one 1 year old- there arent any and I live in New York.

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  2001 LS.... - 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By reubenmc - December 8 - 2:00 am

  Overall this car has been what I expected. Lots of fun to drive. Not alot of money. Not too hard on the gas. A few problems: My clutch has deteriorated immensly. Shudders and stutters on Moderate effort starts in first few miles. Worse on wet or humid days, going to persue warranty. Some of door trim has come loose. Safety catch on roof latch stopped catching after 6 months(roof still stays closed but could accidently release). Factory tires lasted 25,000 miles (Bridgstone Turanzas). Seats are too soft in the lumbar area. Emergency Brake handle is a serious knee space intruder.

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  Hot Ride - 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By nyrogrl - December 6 - 8:43 pm

  Great car, my second one. Best to drive when weather is dry. Great handling, great sportscar in its price class, and just a hoot to drive. It is a looker. I have a Black on Black and it is elegant.

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  Its a convertible!!! - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Jonathan - December 3 - 8:51 pm

  Fun little car....

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  Not an S2000 - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Car connoisseur - December 3 - 1:20 pm

  Last NC before the goofy grin. Very noisy, if next to a Jersey barrier, forget conversation. Worse with the top up. All the noise comes from the tires. First gear on 6-speed way too low, as is 6th. The 5 speed with an overdrive would have been better. Shifting very notchy even after 26000 miles. Engine very good, very flexible. Does not like low octane fuel, clatters like a can of bolts. Steering, handling, braking are excellent. Wheel arches are too big - see BMW for how this should be done. Mine had 2 replacement fuel caps in warranty - poor sealing causes CEL to come on. It still comes on, so I ignore it, and turn it off by disconnecting the battery for a few minutes when I have time. Mazda and their service sucks. I put 100,000 miles on a 1980 626 and had only a dome light bulb fail, yet now they cant even make an adequate gas cap. The clutch needs a bigger master cylinder, the pedal has to be pushed all the way to the floor for a decent shift - on most vehicles a little dip is enough. Overall, the car handles and performs much better than the Formula Ford I used to race. Pity theyve gone ninja with their latest models, which like most of their competitors offerings are ugly enough to gag a maggot.

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  Super cool - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Nancy McKay - November 14 - 6:48 pm

  This car lives up to all its performance reviews. Its sleek sporty and overall hot

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  Buy 2, theyre small - 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By nigel - November 12 - 2:00 am

  If you are now looking at these reviews, chances are you are considering buying a used miata. Here is my advice. Buy it! Fantastic reliability, exceptional handling, beautiful to behold. Average mpg 30. Whats not to like?

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  Short Block Replacement@4800 miles - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Jack - November 5 - 7:50 pm

  Noticed high (2.5 quarts in 3500 mi.). Spent 1000 more miles convincing the dealer that there REALLY was a problem. Dealer finally tested cylinders for leakdown and then changed the short block due to a scored cylinder wall due to an improperoy installed ring. During the repair, the front of the car was damaged and the transmission linkage was improperly reassembled. After the transmission linkage repair, the transmission still doesnt shift as well as it did when delivered.

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  Fun car to drive - 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Ceasar - November 1 - 10:00 am

  When I first walked up to the car I said, "Its so small, no way I could like this". When I got into the test drive I was sold ! The power is a bit lacking but I can not get over the handling. It is such an nice car to drive. I am planning to turbo it but stock it is GREAT.