Best Mazda MX-5 Miata Years to Buy Used

Used Mazda MX-5 Miata Quick Facts

• The best years for buying a used Mazda MX-5 Miata are 2020-2025, followed by 2012-2015 for those looking to save a little cash.
• The Miata remains one of the few cars available with a manual transmission.
• The Miata reigns as the most affordable 2-seat soft-top roadster in the United States.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a car from a lost generation, when small, two-seat cars were far more common than they are today. It offers a simple formula: Rear-wheel drive and an available manual transmission in a small, agile package. While it has been on sale for more than three decades, the car is only in its fourth generation, as Mazda takes its time with generational updates.

What Is the Best Model-Year Used Mazda MX-5 Miata? 

The good news about buying a used Miata is that any of the available model years makes a great choice for a budget sports car. We like the 2020 and newer cars for their technology features and interior quality. Newer models are also generally more reliable, making them better suited as daily drivers. The older models are certainly worth considering, but keep in mind that you’ll have to do without modern amenities like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Mazda MX-5 Miata by Generation: Which Should You Buy?

There are four generations of Mazda’s iconic roadster. From the original, which features pop-up headlights, to the turbocharged ‘Mazdaspeed’ trim offered on the second-generation, to the third-generation model with its flared wheel arches and available power hardtop, to the fourth-generation, which is the first actually to weigh less than its predecessor, there’s a Miata out there for just about anyone. Let’s take a closer look.

First-Generation Mazda Miata (NA Miata)

Second-Generation Mazda Miata (NB Miata)

Third-Generation Mazda Miata (NC Miata)

Fourth-Generation Mazda Miata (ND Miata)

Should You Buy a Used Mazda MX-5 Miata? 

At its core, the Miata is a small, spunky RWD convertible engineered to be fun at any speed. It doesn’t fulfill aspirations for a family hauler or even an errand-runner. For example, there will be no trips to the wholesale store for a flat-screen TV or the garden supply for bags of peat moss for landscaping. Even getting Junior to his tuba lesson presents a challenge. The idea is one or two people in the cabin and a soft overnight bag or two in the suitcase-size trunk. Despite its popularity on race tracks, the Miata is all about balance and handling excellence rather than speed. Those seeking neck-snapping acceleration need not apply. All of this has been true since its inception.

See used Mazda MX-5 Miata coupes near you.

 Is the Mazda MX-5 Miata Reliable? 

Generally, the Miata is dependable, delivering 200,000 miles or more of service when properly treated and maintained.

Does the Mazda MX-5 Miata Hold Its Value?

The MX-5 Miata holds above-average resale values, far better than most sports cars and convertibles. This means newer models won’t come cheap, but you can probably drive a good deal on a well-maintained older version.

See Mazda MX-5 Miata coupes near you.

Editor’s Note: We have updated this article since its initial publication. Russ Heaps contributed to the report.