2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review

Name: 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Brand: Mazda

Price Range: $22,590 - $29,990

Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Convertible Exterior Shown

In a world of ever more complex performance cars, the refreshingly pure and elemental 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is proof that you don't need go-faster tech to have a great time. It isn't perfect and presents a number of glaring compromises when it comes to day-to-day usability, but that's not why you buy a Miata. In the pantheon of sports cars, the Miata delivers the thrills and joys every keen driver is looking for, and that's what makes it so beloved.

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Average price: $23,272

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Mazda MX-5 Miata model years

Mazda MX-5 Miata for Sale

Pros

Fun and engaging to drive, even at low speeds
One of the most fuel-efficient sports cars you can buy
Manual soft top is easy to raise or lower quickly
Respectably smooth ride

Cons

Not much room to stretch out inside
Can't fit much stuff in the trunk
Cabin gets loud at highway speeds even with the top up

What's new

There are no significant changes for 2023
Part of the fourth MX-5 Miata generation introduced for 2016

Overview

Written by automotive expert Michael Cantu

1/27/2023

Unlike most vehicles in today's new car market, the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata isn't built for practicality or utility. It doesn't offer the latest in tech or much comfort, and it only has two seats. Instead, the tiny convertible is built for one thing: driving pleasure. Its precise steering, athletic handling and rear-wheel-drive layout will have you cruising along curvy roads with a big smile on your face. The Miata's modest 181 horsepower won't win any drag races, but this sports car isn't about straight-line speed.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

195 listings

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2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Grand Touring Convertible
$25,998
good price
$1,625 below market
- 13,652 miles
- No accidents, 2 owners, personal use only
- 4cyl manual
- Passport Mazda (33 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Suitland, MD
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring Jet Black Mica RWD 6-Speed Manual 2.0L 4-Cylinder DOHC 16VMaryland State Inspected, Usb / Aux, Still Under Factory...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/34 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM1NDAD74P0554420
Stock: Z554420P
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 07-23-2025
Price Drop
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Grand Touring Convertible
$26,500
fair price
$146 above market
- 26,540 miles
- 1 accident, 1 owner, personal use
- 4cyl manual
- Heritage Mazda Towson (54 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Lutherville, MD
Recent Arrival! **HEATED LEATHER SEATS**, **NAVIGATION SYSTEM**, **APPLE CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO**, **SIRIUS COMPATIBLE**, **PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM**, **BL...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/34 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM1NDAD77P0551608
Stock: ZP551608
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 01-12-2026

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Engaging driving dynamics and open-top fun sound enticing, but the Miata isn't for everyone. Its very small interior will force tall people to shoehorn themselves in — or not fit at all. The trunk is so small a weekend trip for two might be out of the question unless you pack very lightly. The Mazda also doesn't offer as much tech or as many advanced driver aids as some of its rivals do. If those drawbacks have you reconsidering, the larger Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ are the Miata's closest rivals in terms of price, size and fun factor. But if you want something larger and more powerful, there's the Ford Mustang, which is offered as a coupe or convertible. If you don't mind front-wheel-drive fun, consider the more practical Volkswagen Golf GTI. Be sure to check out the Edmunds Expert Rating below for our test team's in-depth review of the Miata's performance, comfort, tech and more.

What's it like to live with?

We know exactly what it's like to live with a fourth-generation MX-5 Miata because it has been in our long-term test fleet not once, but twice. That already gives you an idea of how much we like the roadster. We drove a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, the first model year of the current generation, over 20,000 miles. Then we got our hands on the updated 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata to see if the upgrades, which include a more powerful engine, made this little fun machine any better. Our long-term reviews cover just about everything including maintenance costs, real-world fuel economy, comfort, performance and more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Nick Yekikian

Good

7.9

out of 10

We drove the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

9/10

How does the MX-5 Miata drive? Mazda's latest upgrade to the Miata is what it calls Kinematic Posture Control. It's a brake-based torque vectoring system that Mazda says should help the car turn in during harder driving, but the new system didn't make much of an impression during our time with the venerable roadster. We could feel the system working (and we could smell the brakes after a hard session on our test track), but it didn't make too much of a difference.

Even so, the Miata is a light, nimble, precise and easy-to-drive sports car even when you're pushing its limits. At our test track, our manual-equipped Miata accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. That's respectable but a bit off the pace of the Subaru BRZ (6.1 seconds) or a hot hatch such as the VW Golf GTI. Braking performance is solid, and we measured a stop from 60 mph in just 113 feet.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the MX-5 Miata? Small two-seat roadsters aren't known for comfort, but the Miata is surprisingly livable in the day-to-day grind. You'll notice big lumps and bumps in the road as the Miata tends to crash over pavement that's in poor shape, but smaller imperfections are much more muted. For many on our staff, the Miata seats are one of the high points of the interior — they're supportive and comfortable — and the seat heaters do a great job of warming you up during chilly excursions. That said, a few editors found the seats to be a bit oddly padded and bolstered in odd places.

One unfortunate reality of the Miata — you'll be shocked to read this, we know! — is its exceptional amount of wind noise. The cabin can be a truly uncomfortable place to be with the top up on the highway. Shouting is occasionally required to speak with passengers. An alternate solution is to drive with the top down and the windows up while you enjoy the Miata's unlimited headroom. It's going to be a bit noisy anyway.

Interior

7/10

How’s the interior? The cabin's elegant design makes the most of the tidy space and prioritizes the fun of driving. Most of the controls are easy to reach given the small cabin. The infotainment system's control knob is awkwardly placed, but redundant touchscreen controls make it less of an issue. The cupholders, too, are awkwardly placed and make getting drinks extremely cumbersome.

Drivers over 6 feet tall will notice the lack of head- and legroom. Also, the passenger footwell is shorter than the driver's and taller co-pilots won't be able to fully extend their legs regardless of how far back they push the seats. The lack of space is this interior's only real downfall, though not a particularly surprising one.

One of the very best things about a soft-top Miata is just how quickly you can retract and extend the top. It's a manual top, so there's no power operation, but it's quite easy to do.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? A Miata must balance driving purity with a driver's desire for modern connectivity and safety tech. Two USB ports are standard, as is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. There's also an impressive list of driver assist features — the blind-spot warning system is particularly useful should you opt to have the top up.

The nine-speaker Bose audio system does a good job both filling the cabin with sound and competing with ambient noise. Voice controls are limited and stick to a menu of on-screen prompts, but the system recognizes speech well. The available navigation works fine enough but is fairly basic in scope and design.

Storage

5.5/10

How’s the storage? No one should expect a two-seat convertible to be a utilitarian machine, so the Miata's lack of carrying capacity shouldn't come as a surprise. The Miata's trunk measures just 4.6 cubic feet, which means it won't be suitable for longer trips that require more than one piece of luggage per passenger. The space is tall enough for carry-on luggage or a few tall grocery bags. But unlike larger convertibles, there's no back seat to use as a cargo shelf. There's not even a glovebox. Instead, the Miata just has a small bin between the seats that serves as the main storage area for things such as smartphones, wallets or small handbags.

There is sufficient room for one child or toddler in a forward-facing seat or booster only. There are no car seat anchors or top-tether attachment points.

Fuel Economy

9.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? EPA-estimated fuel economy for the Miata with the six-speed manual is 29 mpg combined (26 city/34 highway). During our two weeks with the Miata, we regularly saw 27 mpg on a mix of both city streets and highways, but we may have been a little overzealous with the go pedal. In other tests, Miatas have regularly exceeded their fuel economy estimates.

Value

8.5/10

Is the MX-5 Miata a good value? Despite being small, the Miata isn't flimsy. It's built well and every thing has a solid feel to it, though the gear lever in our test vehicle constantly rattled around inside the gate. Typical of Mazdas these days, an abundance of soft plastics and faux leather coverings give the interior an upscale feel. While the price can creep in upper trims and with option packages, the Miata is a good value overall.

Mazda's bumper-to-bumper warranty is good for three years/36,000 miles, while the powertrain is covered for five years/60,000 miles. These are average for the segment. Roadside assistance is offered for three years/36,000 miles, which is below average among non-luxury convertibles.

Wildcard

9.5/10

The Miata is truly in a class of its own. There is not another rear-wheel-drive convertible that delivers the same thrills at the same price. It's both entertaining and compliant, and it does this with a certain purity missing from more modern, tech-advanced cars. After so long, the Miata, for many, is still the answer. And it's the right one.

2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata trim level differences

The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a small two-seat convertible available in three trim levels: Sport, Club and Grand Touring. Each one is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (181 horsepower, 151 lb-ft of torque) driving the rear wheels through a standard six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is optional with the Grand Touring trim. Note that there's also the Miata RF, which has a retractable hardtop. It's reviewed separately on Edmunds. Standard feature highlights for the 2023 Miata include: Compare the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata trim levels in-depth.

Which MX-5 Miata trim does Edmunds recommend?

Any trim will deliver plenty of open-top fun, but to get the most out of the MX-5 Miata without having to pay more for the extra features in the Grand Touring trim, we recommend opting for the Club trim. You get added performance with sport-tuned Bilstein suspension and a limited-slip differential, and more luxury with heated seats and a Bose audio system. Also, the Club is the only trim that offers the Brembo/BBS Recaro package, which includes BBS forged wheels, heated Recaro seats and Brembo front brakes. Just keep in mind that the Club is a build-to-order model.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$157/mo

$156/mo

Avg. Compact Car

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Reliability

The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #9 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent

#9 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$349/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Frequency

0.81x/yr

vs. 1.22x/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Severity

12.4%

vs. 10.1%
for Average Subcompact Car

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 24V695000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 6924I
Number of vehicles affected:: 77670
Defect Description:: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2023 MX-5 Miata vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Defect Consequence:: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will update the Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 7, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 6924I.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Mazda MX-5 Miata Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.7

34 reviews

5(76%)

4(21%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(3%)

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2023 MX-5 Miata Highlights

Trim:

Sport

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$28,050
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$157/month
Seating	2 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	4.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the MX-5 Miata models:

Blind-Spot Warning: Alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: Alerts you of cars approaching from either side of the Miata's rear bumper when you're in reverse.
Lane Departure Warning System: Warns you when you unintentionally drift out of your lane without activating a turn signal.

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2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review

Price & Payment

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata trim level differences

Which MX-5 Miata trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Recalls

Warranty

Mazda MX-5 Miata Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2023 MX-5 Miata Highlights

Safety

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