2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata

It's back for yet another season of top-down summer fun.  

The regaling, compact, pocket rocket Mazda MX-5 Miata sets the table for thrilling two-seat fun without a sky-high price tag. It's a roadster designed for the masses from Mazda and serves double duty as the Asian automakers Halo vehicle and brand ambassador.  

This small wonder combines optimal power-to-weight ratio with a lightweight design and performance preferred near perfect 50-50 front-to-back weight mix; a recipe delivering miles of smiles with its low-to-the ground stature with a mere 5.79 inches of ground clearance.  

The current two-passenger effort bases off a Generation Four platform debuting a decade ago during the 2016 model year. Aging gracefully best describes this miniature Mazda with as much relevance today as a decade ago sporting performance-minded rear-wheel drive. This 2026 edition returns virtually unchanged from 2025 with its go-kart-like street-legal appeal.  

The first-generation Miata celebrated its world debut at the February1989 Chicago Auto Show as a 1990 model year thriller. During subsequent years, Mazda utilized the consumer-oriented Chicago Auto Show platform to introduce special trims and packages available in this 'cute pursuit' and historical Windy City fan favorite.  

During a recent Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) Spring get-away to historic Road America Raceway snuggled within the gently rolling hills of Elkhart Lake Wisconsin, MX-5 Miata served as one of handful of choices permitted/earning track time within the historic serpentine four-mile 14-turn speedway and the least costly by a country mile. The closed-circuit atmosphere allowed for traction control turn off to experience wanted side sliding. Its formula proved popular among the region's most noted journalistic drivers. It's starting price lists at $30,430 in 2026.  

Three trims return including Sport, Club and top dog Grand Touring. All arrive with the quietly vanishing but oh-so-fun six-speed manual transmission standard permitting drivers maximum control of shift points and gear grinding. Grand Touring rates as the sole trim with an optional six-speed automatic transmission (about $1,000 extra) complete with steering wheel paddle shifters allowing a smidgen of manual input. A manually-folding, black soft-top comes standard in all trims with a three-piece power hard-top version in Club and Grand Touring. No matter the materials or design, the solid glass rear window includes a handy defogger.  

Our tester's soft-top easily 'Z-folded' back into place once unlatching a topside lock near the windshield's top frame with the use of just one hand. The black cloth top snuggles into place behind the seatbacks and snaps into its home effortlessly with no need of a decorative secondary snap cap. When ready to re-up, the top unlatches from its stowed home via a rear manual latch between bucket seat backrests.  

With the top up or tucked inside, the identical, very limited 4.6 cubic feet of cargo space remains. Some two-door roadsters provide smaller trunk dimensions with the top folded down, but MX-5 Miata conveniently keeps cargo space identical. 

All powers from a naturally-aspirated, in-line, double-overhead cam, 16-valve, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower recommending higher-grade 91-octane fuel to top off the 11.9-gallon tank for optimal results, although 87-octane will suffice. On the highway, MX-5 Miata travels more than 400 miles before the next fill up. Expect 26 miles per gallon city and 34 mpg highway with the manual. Add one mile more highway with the automatic version. As of now, an all-electric EV version remains in the dream stage.  

Our top-trim Deep Crystal Bluer Mica Grand Touring tester with six-speed manual transmission included a $35,730 starting price. The only option; a $300 hit for tan Nappa leather seating bringing the total to $37,265 with the $1,235 destination charge.  

Besides the available automatic transmission, Grand Touring also offers up dynamic stability control, adaptive front headlights (which turn in tune the steering wheel), rain-sensing front wipers, frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror and in-screen navigation; features not available in the lower two trims. 

The only multi-layered option, a $5,050 Brembo Recardo Package, arrives solely within the Club trim and includes heated black Recardo sport seats, Alcantara interior trim, aluminum alloy wheels with a dark gunmetal finish and Brembo front brakes with distinctive red calipers.  

Drop down into any one of the two available bucket seats and MX-5 Miata greats riders with a hug. It's a tight interior with limited storage and no room for kids or their tantrums with parents on board. Save that experience for the hum-drum Minivans. All include a black cloth material standard for the seats while Grand Touring offers Tan Nappa Leather with piano black bar trim adorning seats and doors for an extra $300, part of our tester's experience and a nice touch worthy of additional $$$.  

While Sport trim arrive with a six-speaker stereo, the top-two trims advance forward with a nine-speaker Bose variety with speakers built into driver and passenger headrests.  

Premium exterior paint colors include Soul Red, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, Aero Gray Metallic and Machine Gray Metallic all adding $595 to the bottom line. Strap-like, body-colored exterior handles adorn both doors while arched front fenders flank the long aluminum hood. Side-view mirrors also sport body-color hues. The lightweight, stout, flat trunk lid out back also sports aluminum. 

Inside, all trims sport a diminutive-by-comparison 8.8-inch full-color infotainment display utilizing a curser inside the screen to indicate selections. This flat, rectangular screen rises up from the dashboard's top with a non-touch format. The curser moves via a 'Mazda Connect' system with two different-sized dials between the seats along with a half-dozen push buttons. Both wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay interact with the screen and permit limited screen-touch functioning within the upper two trims. Two Type C plug ports in front of the transmission shifter allow Smartphone charging (no wireless version available). A long, mechanical, pull-style parking brake lever resides to the left.  

Three easy-grab, tactile, manually twisting lower central dash dials monitor all HVAC requests and air conditioning needs; the best, simplest design around. Circular air vents anchor dashboard ends with a third orb right of the steering column above the electronic push-button start. A rectangular style vent tucks under the multi-function screen, right of the red hazard button.  

Other than the semi-deep trunk, with shock-absorber-type braces outside the cargo hold, space remains at a premium with a small, hinged-in-back top cover topping a rectangular abyss between the bucket seats capable of swallowing and accommodating the key fob but not much more. Another drop-down-door style, vault-like option locates between the backrests with additional (but not much more) depth. No conventional glove box anywhere.  

We made the best of limited storage during a weekend Wisconsin getaway with the trunk accommodating a small roller bag, duffle bag, three soda bottles, three cereal boxes and a kibble container. Two humans and one canine creatively shared the upfront duo seating.  

A simplistic, fast-scan instrument panel includes three circular orbs each deep set with framing and brows. The large, mostly analog center circle includes tachometer information with a small window in the lower right indicating the current gear in digital fashion. The analog speedometer resides to the right and a left-side digital orb offers up fuel information.  

Two beverage holders remain on board, but not user friendly. These removable black-frame caddies fit into slots when desired and remove with ease, but grabbing a can of refreshment requires an intense torso turn.  

During highway travel, expect audible swirling winds and tire noise (along with audible tire feedback from nearby 18-wheelers) inside the cabin; minor qualms as around-town speeds provide more thrills.  

Rest assured, automotive Gods grant heavenly dispensation as the fun factor eclipses all minor inconveniences. The foot clutch provides easy gear engagement while a hill-holder design allows approximately five seconds of roll-free time if starting into first gear on an incline. A tight turning radius and standard kinematic posturing control suppress body roll allowing occupants to retain natural posture.  

In calendar year 2025, Mazda sold 8,727 MX-5 Miata's in the United States, a 7.7 percent increase over the preceding 12-month cycle. Certainly not Mazda's highest volume leader, but perhaps its most recognizable and valuable from a public relations stance.  

At A Glance: 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata 
Price as tested: $37,265 
Engine: 2.0-liter four cylinder 
Horsepower: 181 
Torque: 151 lb.-ft.  
Wheelbase: 90.9 inches 
Overall Length:154.1 inches 
Overall Width: 68.3 inches 
Overall Height: 48.8 inches 
Fuel Economy: 26 mpg city/ 34 mpg highway 
Curb Weight: 2,366 pounds 
Powertrain warranty: Five years/60,000 miles 
Assembly: Hiroshima, Japan