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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  2008 Touring Hardtop 6 speed - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By rabbit - June 16 - 8:50 am

  I wanted a convertible & found MX5 has the package deal. Discount off MSRP was very attractive too. Fit me well (54"). There are after markets that sell for faster speed & other accessories...

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  tomsmiata - 2004 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By coskey - June 12 - 2:00 am

  The Mazada Miata is an excellent sports car. It is fun to drive very inexpensive to operate and maintain. Retains a high resale value. Excellent curb appeat and attention grabber on the road. The ride comfort is excellent. fit and finish EXCELLENT. Overall great car.......

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  Best Roadster on the road - 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By aneel - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I have never had a car that was so well made. Everything that needed to be thought about to put in a sports car was done on this one. Nothing is poorly done... everything is first class

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  Worlds best car EVER made - 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Lidia - June 7 - 6:56 am

  I needed something that would take me 40 miles to school and back 3 times out of the week. I fill up once a week. Gas is amazing! The driving never gets old or tire some. I love all four cup holders I can put stuff everywhere. I has a bigger trunk space than you would think. Its also very roomy on the inside... lets just say my 90 pound lab can fit in it Im sure anyone can. The car speeds up quickly when shifting. Zoom zoom this is the perfect car ever made

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  Mazda has no air cond*** - 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Gigi Hernandez - May 25 - 2:12 am

  if you are tempted to buy a cute little Miata like I did ... its adorable ... faster than you can dream... everyone loves it ... but there are 3 problems with this car the air conditioning is weak .... it never gets cold !!! Its hot in Oklahoma right now , so I left the convertible top on , turned my air up all the way , kept waiting for it to get cool ... just barely cool... this is a brand new car !! obviously they assumed if you are going to have the top down you wont notice the air conditioner anyway... but its hotter than #%@$$ ...and the paint job is cheap ... it looks like I drive it thru the brush every day ... I live in the city ... there are tiny scratches all over it ... and we when we had ice in Feb the ice actually left a scrape around the bottom of the car... and the last thing is the radio ... it doesnt search out all the stations like my old car did ... and the speakers are not powerful ... I would get the Sirius option for the radio but I have been trying to read the 300 page instruction manual that was obviously written by a 21 year old genius and not meant for anyone else to understand

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  No snow bunny - 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By bluemx5 - May 11 - 2:43 am

  Love this car, but have to give it up. Do not, DO NOT take your Miata out in the snow! Slides on straight-aways, even with concrete blocks in the trunck! If this will be your only car and you live North of the Mason-Dixon, buy something else. Ill miss it in the summer.

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  Porsche or Mazda + Diamond? - 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Lady Driver - May 2 - 10:56 am

  The last time I owned a mazda miata was when I was in college. After college I drove Porsche. Now Im back to the Mazda miata and I love it! Performance has improved tremendously. It is a super fun car to drive. A car with this type of handling for 30k is a value. I could have purchased a USED Porsche 911 for over 60k. Instead, I got this brand new cute fast little car plus a bigger diamond ring AND I never have to worry about maintenance issues all for under 60k. A smarter and more fun decision by far! My husband ended up getting a porsche so we would have one in the family. It is a better drive no doubt. But I am thrilled with my decision to go with Mazda.

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  Outstanding machine - 2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Diego - May 1 - 9:53 pm

  This is a car that makes you smile when you drive it. I am extremely satisfied with my Miata, I think the only thing I would improve in this car is the little trunk space.

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  07 grand touring mx 5 - 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By wiseman - May 1 - 8:26 am

  i bought a 07 grand touring hard top conv. it had 10,00 miles is all. i love it. a blast to drive.a real attention getter. seats could use a better lumbar support. otherwise its great. mine is silver with black leather. its all that and a bag of chips. good job mazda. and bose sound system is just another bonus. my recommendation is check out other two seaters and compare prices. mazda is the best bargain for the buck.

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  Saved my life... best little car - 2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Sherylm - April 25 - 1:16 pm

  I have driven this sweet little car for the last few summers, and enjoyed every minute. Today, I got t-boned on the drivers side by someone running a stop sign, and Im alive. Really sore, but alive. The outside of the car was really damaged, but the frame protected me well enough, that I can write this review. Not only was she beautiful and fun, but she turned out to be the best car in the most important sense. Thank you.