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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  Holy Cow! - 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By japman - September 14 - 2:00 am

  This car aint a car - its a way of life. How many cars have owners clubs, millions of accessories, newsgroups, shows, hats & T-shirts? There is a reason. Most other Miata owners on a sunny day will pop their lights to say hi on a crowded freeway. No problems, zippy engine, european pizazz with Japanese reliability & performance. Cheap to buy, operate & maintain. Not much pretention, but you can certainly feel the jealous eyes coming from SUVs on a warm Spring day.

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  Pure Driving Fun! - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By tomakat - September 14 - 2:00 am

  I was looking for a vehicle that I could have fun with, but keep me out of trouble with the speeding tickets (grin). I also wanted it to reasonably priced and reliable. Thats when I decided to test drive a Miata. I didnt need or want a convertible, but I heard how well it handled. Well, I purchased a 1999 LS and absolutely loved it. I then fell in love with the 2003 Miata (Shinsen Edition), so I traded my 1999 LS. I never had any mechanical problems with either of them and I just love sunny days so I can zoom zoom zoom down to the beach and cruise the coast or head to a twisty road!

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  Fun to drive - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By fred frieze jr - September 12 - 9:46 am

  Great car. Love the copper/tan combination real sharp. First time convertible for us and we are very pleased.

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  What A Car - 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By AFMIII - September 11 - 4:26 pm

  I love this car!!! It has more power then i expected. I am averaging 21.5 mpg. It is real stylish and very zippy. Bought it in the Competition Yellow. Sure do turn some heads when i go speeding by. I recommend this car highly.

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  My Shinsen - 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Denise - September 2 - 8:46 pm

  The acceleration of this vehicle is really lacking. I really wish that it had tilt steering. Dont know if it is true but I was told that this particular year only came in manual and that an automatic transmission was not an option. I would have preferred an automatic. My Shinsen is a third vehicle and stays mostly protected in the garage. I would have to say that I am pretty satisfied to own such a one of a kind (once again was told by my dealership that only 1500 of them were made).

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  Significantly better than my 91 - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By warrendt - August 30 - 5:16 am

  This is a fantastically fun car to drive. The power in the 06 is felt immediately upon pressing down on the accelerator. I took it to about 10 autocross events and it performed very well on the OEM street tires. The six speed transmission, however, required frequent shifting between second and third on faster courses. This is not a problem on the road as you can easily skip a gear without notice.

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  MX5 - theres no substitute - 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By dklein - August 26 - 7:53 pm

  For the money this sports car is a 10. But if you want the top of the line best it cost over 50k easily. It is so fun to drive you look forward to doing it. When I bought it I was not fully aware of its past but I am happy I am in its present and future. It is a sports car so it is not the most comfortable ride but again complete fun. With the top down "forget about it"

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  2500 miles in....what a great car - 2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By geoffb1 - August 24 - 1:25 am

  Ive been thinking at some point I am going to come to my senses and realize Ive made a huge mistake buying a tiny 2 seat convertible. But then I find myself taking the long way home (again) so I can carve a few more turns with the fall foliage flashing by and the top down. And everything is right with the world. This car actually puts a smile on my face. It is an honest car that does what it is supposed to do. If your idea of a great car is one that does everything possible to insulate you from the job of driving walk away now. But if you truly enjoy feeling connected to the road and the machine....give one of these a test drive. On a sunny day. With the top down.

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  Great, except... - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By frank - August 16 - 12:51 pm

  Driving everyday for 4 months now, there is a lot to love about the car, provided that you understand what you are buying--a sports car. Grading its comfortable ride, storage area, etc, makes no sense--buy an Escalade if thats what you want. I love this car, just like I did my first Miata 15 years ago before I moved to a Mustang GT. This time around, I was torn about getting a new Mustang or going back to the MIata--really different cars, so no way to compare exactly. My only gripe (which I have found from others on Miata forums) is that the left drivers seat headrest speaker buzzes, apparently due to vibration of foam in the headrest rather than the speaker itself. My dealer brushed off the complaint, stating that speakers just do that with a lot of bass (we were talking about the spoken voice on talk radio!), so I have just adjusted the fade toward the front speakers. So, I love the car, except.....

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  Super slick - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By MCP - August 11 - 4:30 am

  My Mazda Miata MX-5 answers the call for fun, speed and reliability. There are quite a few on the roads because it is mechanically sound, beautiful to just watch travel and has consistency in braking, shifting and driver expectations. The top is easy to fling done and pull back up. It has no leaks in the rain, the leather interior has been well protected and looks/drives like a much younger car even though it has 92,000 real miles. It is legal to roll the odometer back so beware of those asking a high price for low mileage-nobody has a top if the line roadster from 2007 with 60,000 miles or less. Its too much fun to let it set and decay. Id rather not drive it on the interstate but I do if Im only going a few exits.