The original Miata was supposed to be a cheap sports car, but demand was so strong that buyers crossed state lines chasing dealers who actually had one in stock.
Median 171 hp across 28 similar cars
Lead trim: Base · 4-spd auto · 1.6L · up to 133 hp
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FactThe original Miata was supposed to be a cheap sports car, but demand was so strong that buyers crossed state lines chasing dealers who actually had one in stock.
The first-generation MX-5, sold in Japan as the Eunos Roadster and in North America as the Mazda MX-5 Miata, unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show on 10 February 1989 at US$14,000 and built at Hiroshima from April 1989 to 1997 (431,506 units). Designed by Tom Matano, it was inspired by post-war British sports cars and revived interest in roadsters after the MG B, Triumph Spitfire and Fiat 124 Spider had gone. A steel unitary body with an aluminium bonnet and retractable headlamps, double-wishbone suspension all round, four-wheel discs and a five-speed manual derived from the Mazda 929/Luce, with a four-speed automatic offered in the American and Japanese markets. The 1.6 L B6ZE(RS) four was specifically designed for the car; the 1.8 L BP arrived for 1994 alongside dual airbags and extra chassis bracing. Special editions included the 1993 Limited Edition (1,500 in black) and, in the UK, 400 Berkeley models in 1998 marking the end of the NA. The page also quotes a detuned 1.6 (88–89 hp, Europe) and a 105 bhp automatic-transmission tune; those are not listed as trims here.
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VerifiedFIRST · WORLDWIDEFIRST PRINTONLY ONE IN VANCOUVERThe original Miata was supposed to be a cheap sports car, but demand was so strong that buyers crossed state lines chasing dealers who actually had one in stock.
7 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 B6ZE(RS) (114 hp, 1990–93) | 1990–1993 | 1.6 L Inline-4 | 114 hp | 100 lb-ft | 8.6 s | RWD | manual | — |
| 1.8 BP-ZE (128 hp, 1994–95) | 1994–1995 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | 128 hp | 110 lb-ft | — | RWD | manual | — |
| 1.8 BP-ZE (133 hp, 1996–97) | 1996–1997 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | 133 hp | 114 lb-ft | 8.2 s | RWD | M526 5-speed manual | — |
| Base · 4-spd auto · 1.6L | 1990–1993 | 1.6 L Inline-4 | 105 hp | 100 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 4-spd | — |
| Base · 4-spd auto · 1.8L | 1994–1997 | 1.8 L 4-cyl | 133 hp | 114 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 4-spd | — |
| Base · 5-spd manual · 1.6L | 1990–1993 | 1.6 L Inline-4 | 115 hp | 100 lb-ft | — | RWD | Manual 5-spd | — |
| Base · 5-spd manual · 1.8L | 1994–1997 | 1.8 L 4-cyl | 133 hp | 114 lb-ft | — | RWD | Manual 5-spd | — |
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Nobody has claimed one yet.
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The original Miata was supposed to be a cheap sports car, but demand was so strong that buyers crossed state lines chasing dealers who actually had one in stock.
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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