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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  Grand touring power top - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By adcourt - September 22 - 3:10 pm

  Fun car to drive. Great looking. Everyone who drives it is amazed. Plenty of power. Hard top is well worth it. Everything is excellent except on a trip over 2 hours, the seats are uncomfortable and you need to get out and stretch. Well worth it.

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  Very Impressed - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Johnb - September 22 - 11:07 am

  As a client advisor for a European car company Im surrounded by performance based and elegant roadster vehicles. The Miata fits in right with all of them. While its not as power as some of its main competitors, the handling, the drive, and price of this vehicle are phenomenal. The vehicle is very user friendly, technologically advanced, and fun to handle. Very appealing while also providing and entertaining drive.

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  owner - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Ava - September 22 - 12:43 am

  Love my car. Continuous problems with the roof leaking and flooding inside the car behind the seats. The vents keep clogging where water runs off. Problem every rain season. Any suggestions?

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  great roadster - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By giain - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Its been a blast! Value is the bottom line and this is it.

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  Convertible heaven without convenience - 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By oldish - September 18 - 1:37 am

  I bought this car this spring & have had the summer to drive it. I just love the way it drives and riding with the top down. Despite that, I probably wont buy another. The interior is very badly designed. The drink holders are directly in the line that your arm must move to shift, and so are unuseable unless you want to risk dumping coffee all over the interior. The door pocket holders will hold nothing but a plastic water bottle. The interior material stains easily and may not come clean. The carpet is very cheezy. I live in a rural area and limit how far I take it from home due to the lack of a spare tire. There is no way that Id find a replacement tire in rural Michigan.

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  What a great car! - 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Sunny - September 17 - 1:13 pm

  My Mazda Miata MX-5 fulfilled everything I wanted in a convertible - sleek, sexy and sporty. Its a blast to drive. I cant wait to until 5pm when I can leave work and have some real fun. Handles wonderfully, stops on a dime and Im usually the first off the line from a red light.

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  Exactly what I expected - 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By jim dean smith - September 7 - 7:57 am

  I bought this car (2015 MX-5, 5 speed soft top) as a toy, to balance with my Tundra. It is an absolute joy to drive, I look for excuses to go somewhere in it. It is very quick both in handling and acceleration (not fast in straight line acceleration, but fast enough and then some), and corners better than my Lexus IS or any other normal car I have ever driven. I now have a little over 10K miles, absolutely no problem. This is a sports car, not particularly practical, but it is lots of fun, so if you can need a reason to buy one, hopefully I just gave you one. Update, after a year and 20k miles, no problems, although on 100 degree days the ac struggles. But not many 100 + days where I live, so no big deal. Still really like this little car. Update after 2 years, 36,000 I still try to find errands to run just so I can drive this little toy.

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  Can you say Zoom Zoom? I can - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By MX-5 zoom - September 2 - 11:03 pm

  Can you say Zoom Zoom? And I did not have to break the bank to get into one. I forgot how to drive being stuck inside a minivan for for years. Gave up my Trans Am for family. Well now I have a toy to play with. It just flat out goes. I was never one for the "chick" car and the pictures on the net do not do it any justice. Go to a dealership and look at one yourself. ZOOM ZOOM. Need to purchase a fuzz buster for it.

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  Best modern sports car - 1995 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By hiaxi - August 10 - 7:13 am

  If you want a fun, reliable, inexpensive convertible sports car, you cant beat the Miata. I have 112000 trouble-free miles. The aftermarket for this car is huge and remarkably free of snake oil.

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  My Miata - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By martin redmond - August 9 - 10:00 am

  This is my second miata. I had a 2001 for a short time. I love the body style and the size of the car. It also handles very well.Its a lot of top down fun for a reasonable price.Gas mileage is good and I believe the repair costs will also be reasonable.I was also treated very well at the dealership. Things that I have not liked about the car include:cramped interior ( Im 510"),I would have liked more acceleration ( maybe the turbo) and the clutch shatters if you dont give it enough gas on take off from a standing start.