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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  Zoom Zoom Zoom - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Teddy - August 3 - 4:43 pm

  Handles like a real sports car. Has plenty of usable horsepower for the road. Steering is precise. In fact when I drive my other car or my wifes car it feels like something is wrong with the steering on those cars. Its just that the MX-5 is so precise you think where you want to go and it is there. Run Flat tires initially were a bit hard, but I either have gotten use to them after 300 miles or they are broken in. You find yourself wanting to drive this car all the time. Plenty of trunk space for a roadster and the Active Key system eliminates fumbling for your keys. Mazda has a hit. I considered the S2000, Porsche Boxter, SLK350 and the Z4. For my money the 06 MX-5 wins hands down.

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  Zoom Zoom MX-5 - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Greg F - July 22 - 8:03 am

  This is a real sports car -- no leather, no wood, no fancy gizmos, no navigation system, and no ashtray. Its quick but not fast, and it handles like its on rails. You feel like youre going much faster than you really are because youre sitting low and because of the exhaust note. It also gets great gas mileage. Theres enough room in the trunk for a weekend getaway for two -- but thats about it. The top does work with one hand (though I have long arms) and makes one wonder about car companies bragging about how quickly their power tops fold up. If the journey is more important than the destination, this is the car for you.

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  Special Edition - Near Perfect - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Matthew - July 21 - 12:46 pm

  I had a hard time finding the special edition here in SoCal. When I found one for sale, I went to see it, and it was beautiful. The light blue doesnt seem too feminine for me. I love the contrast of the brown leather against the blue exterior. The car handles beautifully, and is always a blast to drive. It has rained 4 days since I bought it, and those days are the only time that the top has been up. The manual top is just perfect, easy up and easy down from a seating position. Throttle response is great especially when merging onto a highway. But the real treat this car delivers is the steering. Near perfect! Lotus Elise is the only car with better steering than Miata.

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  Very good car indeed. - 2000 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Jimmymodelman - July 20 - 10:00 am

  I like this car very much. Great condition, drive much nicer than my reliable 94 Miata. This newer cars audio system has this occasional annoying static coming from the left tweeter . Howerver, the Bose audio is wonderful. My 5 speed midnite blue Miata drives very well. I havent pushed it to the limit, but I probably wont try that any time soon. The car seems to be passing faster on the top gear. Much smoother engine than my 94. Gas mileage drops a little bit, though. I will BUY another Miata AGAIN, no REGRETS. PROUD OWNER OF 2 MIATAS.

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  My 3rd and best Miata, um...MX-5 - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Bran - July 15 - 12:23 pm

  This car is simply amazing. I have owned two Miatas (a 95 M and the 99 10AE) making this my third. It is great! The ride is better, the performance is better, the steering wheel even tilts now! I look forward to every morning so I can get up and drive.

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  Mazda MX-5 - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Tom - July 14 - 5:10 pm

  Great little car for the money.

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  Glad Im on Earth - only place with MX5 - 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By SCAREY - July 10 - 8:23 pm

  We have had our MX5 2000 (silver) for three days. (39,700 kms) I have run out of excuses to drive it - now I drive it in my sleep. Well almost. We were thinking buying a motorbike, and I am beginning to think this is more fun than a bike: as a past BMW bike owner I can throw this car into a corner just as fast and not worry about falling over. I was worried driving with the top up with restrict visibility a lot, but this is less of a worry than I expected. Today I drove in the rain for the first time on the freeway and there were no leaks. I am slowly getting used to the car, and the more I drive it, the more I like it.

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  MX5 Great Value - 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Jazzycat - July 8 - 10:26 am

  The MX5 is a feature packed well engineered roadster. Probably one of the best values on the market. The engine and suspension of the new Miata are more sophisticated, but leave you wanting a more sports car like feel. The engine while strong feels and sounds like a boring sedan. Suspension is incredibly supple, but is too soft and leads to ridiculous levels of body roll in corners. The MX5 has great options and features for a car that sells under $25K. My car with dynamic stability control, LSD, traction control, Bilstein suspension, Bose stereo, side airbags, leather interior, 17" wheels -- was $24K. The MX5 also has one of the easiest to use convertible tops ever!

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  TALL PEOPLE BEWARE!!! - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By wkiernan - July 3 - 9:40 pm

  Look, Ive had three Miatas. My first, a 93 that I bought used, got rear-ended by a whisky-drinker in a pickup truck. I rushed out and bought a nearly-identical second one. When it passed 200,000 miles (going strong I might add) I started shopping for a third, which I bought today - now I own _two_ of these things. My last twelve years of car buying expresses how very, very much I like this car better than any rodomontade I might compose. But. Im 511" tall, and this car fits me like a comfortable shoe. What that means if youre 61" or taller, or a likely regular passenger is, Im sorry but you really need to consider cars with a couple of inches more headroom.

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  "Instant vacation!" - 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By mimazdaman - July 2 - 4:45 am

  Get off work; throw the top down; let the sunshine; find a winding road and say "aaahhh". Having owned a Miata/MX-5 continuously since 1992 I can honestly say there is no better stress reliever. Although my new one cost twice as much as my 92 it is still an incredible bargain. The new Vette was tempting, but glad I waited. The new Miata/MX-5 gets back to its gen 1 roots (smaller, lighter, better looking) just beautifully updated for 2016.