Thirty-five years, one recipe
The fourth-generation MX-5 continues into 2026 essentially unchallenged: a roughly 2,350-lb, rear-drive two-seater whose steering, balance and gearshift remain the reference points every affordable performance car is measured against. In the US, the soft top runs $31,665 (Sport) to $36,965 (Grand Touring) before destination, with the power-targa RF spanning $39,685 to $43,135. In the UK, the range opens at £28,585 on-the-road and tops out around £38,015 for the RF Homura.
US vs UK: the engine split
American cars are all 2.0-liter, 181 hp, six-speed manual standard, with a six-speed automatic optional on Grand Touring for under $1,000. Britain keeps something America doesn't get: the 1.5-liter entry engine — revvier, less muscular, beloved by purists — alongside the 184 PS 2.0 in upper trims. Either way the manual is the point; the automatic exists for a small audience and dilutes the car's reason for being.
Economy is a quiet virtue: around 29 mpg combined (US), and the 2024-onward updates brought a better asymmetric limited-slip differential and improved infotainment.
The honest assessment
The Miata's compromises have never been secrets. The cabin is snug for anyone tall, highway noise is constant company, the trunk holds 4.6 cubic feet — a weekend, packed carefully — and the RF's charm costs real money over the soft top, whose simple manual roof drops in one arm-swing from the driver's seat.
Against that: reliability at the very top of the industry, resale values that barely dip, and running costs closer to an economy car than a sports car. There is no cheaper way to own something this good to drive, and no more dependable one.
The questions buyers actually ask
Soft top or RF? The soft top is lighter, cheaper and quicker to open; the RF is quieter sealed and prettier to some eyes. Purists take cloth; commuters take the targa.
Miata or GR86/BRZ? The Toyota/Subaru twins offer rear seats (nominally), more grip and a fixed roof for similar money. The Mazda counters with the roof-down experience and even better long-term dependability. Different joys — drive both.
Which used ND should I buy? 2019-on cars got the 181-hp engine revision (US); 2024-on the better differential. Any honest, unmodified example with history is a safe buy — this platform's record is exceptional.
- US: $31,665–$36,965 soft top, $39,685–$43,135 RF; UK: £28,585–£38,015 OTR
- 181 hp/2.0 in the US; the UK keeps the purist 1.5 entry engine
- Manual is the point; ~2,350 lb keeps it among the lightest sports cars sold
- Tight cabin, tiny trunk, highway noise — known prices of admission
- Benchmark reliability and resale; rivals are GR86/BRZ and used Boxsters
Key takeaways
- US: $31,665–$36,965 soft top, $39,685–$43,135 RF; UK: £28,585–£38,015 OTR
- 181 hp/2.0 in the US; the UK keeps the purist 1.5 entry engine
- Manual is the point; ~2,350 lb keeps it among the lightest sports cars sold
- Tight cabin, tiny trunk, highway noise — known prices of admission
- Benchmark reliability and resale; rivals are GR86/BRZ and used Boxsters
Sources & further reading
- Mazda USA and Mazda UK 2026 price lists
- EPA figures
- long-term road-test consensus, 2026
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
