The Mazda MX-5 Miata isn’t the most expensive sports car out there. And it’s far from the most powerful. But it’s widely recognized as one of the best pure driver’s cars you can buy with the classic combination of rear-wheel-drive, a manual transmission and a naturally-aspirated engine and a curb weight under 2,500 pounds, at a time when even cars like the BMW M2 are checking in at a beefy 3,800 pounds. The MX-5 Miata has been a standard-bearer for the Mazda brand, if not always a profit maker.
Unlike most modern sports cars, the MX-5 Miata has limits you can approach on real roads without getting arrested. And the starting MSRP of $28,050 makes it perhaps the most affordable sports car around. Well, sort of. An MX-5 Miata is so impractical it basically has to be your second car.
Used MX-5 Miatas are quite popular, whether it’s due to their iconic place in motoring history, robust build quality, driving simplicity or being the best path to a cheap track day car.
Here’s a quick and comprehensive breakdown of every MX-5 Miata generation.
Mazda debuted the MX-5 Miata in 1989. It combined the open-air feel of a British roadster, refined driving dynamics, Japanese build quality and reliability and an affordable price point. So, basically the best of all worlds for a sports car.
Reviewers who loved cars gushed over the MX-5 from the get-go. And there's a reason — beyond low-volume sports cars seldom being worth the R&D effort — the MX-5 has not been altered dramatically since (at least for now).
There's a cool "BRG" British Racing Green special edition with the aforementioned paint and a wooden shift knob from 1991. Also, note the shift to a larger and more powerful 1.8-liter engine after the 1993 model year.
The NB generation MX-5 Miata made some critical changes. The first was aesthetic: the Miata ditched the retractable headlights for flush-mounted units. A 2001 update added variable valve timing to the 1.8-liter powerplant and pushed it up to 155 horsepower.
The NB generation is the only MX-5 Miata that has been turbocharged, with the Mazdaspeed 5 jumping to 178 horsepower in 2004. Anti-lock brakes were added as an option. So was an upgrade 6-speed manual.
The third-generation NC model MX-5 was designed by Moray Callum, older brother of Ian Callum. It switched to a larger displacement 2.0-liter engine, providing nearly as much power as the outgoing Mazdaspeed 5.
A big change came in 2007 with Mazda debuting the Power Retractable Hardtop (PRHT), allowing buyers to have both coupe and convertible body styles. Mazda added the current mid-level Club trim in 2013.
Mazda debuted the Retractable Fastback (RF) body style debuted in 2016. It offers a more coupe-like shape with a top panel that tucks away to give a more Targa-style look. Mazda also switched the Miata from hydraulic to electric power-assisted steering.
Mazda has been offering Gear Patrol reviewers MX-5 Miatas for nearly a decade. And we seldom turn it down because it's seriously fun — even when fitted with an automatic. Another one of our favorites, Fiat’s 124 Spider roadster (2017-20), was built on the ND Miata and was at one point one of the best sleeper cars on the market.
