The Icon · Since 1989
MX-5 Miata — Jinba Ittai
"Horse and rider as one." That was the entire design brief in 1989, and it still is today. No other sports car in history has sold more copies — or stayed truer to its brief.
When the MX-5 debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989, it was a deliberate answer to a question: what happened to the simple, joyful British roadster? Mazda's engineers studied the Lotus Elan, kept the recipe — front engine, rear drive, two seats, folding top — and rebuilt it with Japanese reliability and precision.
The secret was never raw power. The first MX-5 made just 116 hp; what made it special was a curb weight of roughly 990 kilograms and perfect 50:50 balance. Modern Miatas call this the "Gram Strategy" — engineers hunted weight one gram at a time.
In April 2016 the one-millionth MX-5 rolled off the line in Hiroshima, and Guinness World Records certified the car as the best-selling two-seater sports car ever made. It remains the beating heart of the brand.
US-market figures for the current ND generation soft top (Club equipment where noted).
| Engine | SKYACTIV-G 2.0-litre inline-4, naturally aspirated |
|---|---|
| Power | 181 hp @ 7,000 rpm |
| Torque | 151 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive, limited-slip differential available |
| 0–60 mph | ≈ 6 seconds (Club, manual) |
| Fuel economy | 29 mpg combined (US EPA) |
| Curb weight | ≈ 2,350 lb / ≈ 1,065 kg |
| Seating | 2 |
| Starting MSRP | $30,730 (2026, US; RF from $38,750) |
Figures are approximate US-market data compiled from Mazda USA and Car & Driver (2025–2026); 0–60 mph varies by source, trim and test conditions. Always confirm current data at mazdausa.com.
The original. 1.6 L engine, 116 hp, iconic pop-up headlights and about 990 kg of pure fun.
Smoother and sharper: fixed headlamps, a stiffer shell and the 1.8-litre engine up to 142 hp.
The grown-up Miata: 2.0-litre power up to 170 hp, more comfort, and an optional power hard top.
Skyactiv lightness reborn: Kodo design, near-perfect balance and 181 hp in the 2026 model year.
See how the MX-5 stacks up against the rest of the Mazda family — from the Mazda3 to the CX-90 flagship.
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