These days, purchasing your first new car is highly challenging, since cars are getting more and more expensive these days. That’s unsurprisingly the case with sports cars, too. They’re obviously not cheap, but there are sports cars out there that still cost way less than the average new car transaction price.
Case in point, the sports car for today’s subject. This sports car is perfect for first-time car buyers for various reasons, chief among which is its maneuverability, accessible power, and easy handling that lets you explore your limits as a driver safely. Oh, and as a first-time car buyer, you’d want something you’ll have to even think about when it comes to ease of ownership.
The Next Mazda MX-5 Miata Will Be The Best Ever And Here’s Why
Mazda revealed some details about the next MX-5. And it’s time to get excited.
Miata Is Always The Answer
Ever heard of the Mazda MX-5 Miata? Well, that is indeed the answer, I think, even for a first-time car buyer. The Mazda MX-5 has yet to be announced in 2026 model year guise, but for now, with current 2025 model year dealership stocks, the MX-5 is the only new sports car in the United States that you could get for under $30,000.
America’s Most Affordable Sports Car
If you’re on a strict budget, the Mazda MX-5 Miata starts at $29,830 for the soft top version. Go for the RF metal folding roof, the base price rises significantly to $37,850. Anyway, the base MX-5 Miata in Sport trim is already pretty good, though in our case, we’d recommend at least stepping up to the Club variant for $33,330.
That’s because the Club variant is the sweet spot for the MX-5 Miata, whose Asymmetric limited-slip differential (LSD) wholly improves the cornering experience of the MX-5 than it already is. Having the ability to send power to the wheel with the most grip, as opposed to sending power to the wheel that has the least grip, like in an open differential, will help you achieve higher cornering speeds, especially if you have track intentions with this car. It is also the sweet spot in terms of features, as this gets you nicer 17-inch wheels and a Bose sound system, just to name a few.
America’s Most Reliable Sports Car
Continuing the MX-5 Miata’s string of superlatives, it is also America’s most reliable sports car, and one of the most reliable cars outright. Mazda is already known for reliability, but the MX-5 is perhaps its most reliable model due to its mechanical simplicity. iSeeCars rates the MX-5 an 8.9 out of 10, making it even more reliable than cars like the Civic and Corolla. Maintenance is also dead simple, due to the Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder being extremely robust. I’ve owned two Mazda 6s in the past 7 years, and even those vehicles have proven to be extremely robust.
Even if you do need something replaced, it’s not like the Miata’s engine is complex to maintain, nor are parts rare. Due to the commonality of the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G, some parts can be shared across MX-5 iterations and even with the Mazda 3, which was previously offered with a mechanically-similar (though not exactly the same) 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Just be wary of the i-ELOOP capacitor, which is a consumable part that usually needs replacement within 8 to 10 years. It’s why your MX-5 Miata has regenerative braking, which helps fuel efficiency.
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MX-5 Miata |
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Engine |
2.0-liter four-cylinder |
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Layout |
RWD |
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Horsepower |
181 hp |
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Torque |
151 lb-ft |
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Transmission |
6-speed M/T 6-speed A/T |
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0-60 mph |
N/A |
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Top Speed |
N/A |
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Base MSRP |
$29,830 |
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It’s Great For Learning To Drive On Track
You’re a first-time car buyer, which probably also means you haven’t had the time to go on track yet. Well, the MX-5 Miata is the perfect track toy. Over my motoring career, I’ve had the privilege of driving a total of six of the current generation ND MX-5 Miata, and here’s what I can tell you about the driving feel of this accessible sports car.
It Teaches You Body Control
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a great car to learn body control, as this lets you learn sensations like understeering and oversteering. You see, the MX-5 Miata’s chassis balance means that its handling limits are approachable, but do it in the proper venue such as a track, of course. Meanwhile, you’ll probably notice that for a sports car, the MX-5 Miata has noticeable body roll, but it’s by design and not a detriment to its driving dynamics. That’s because Mazda has designed the MX-5 to communicate its intentions through its body movements as it flows along the road, thus letting you know what’s happening to the vehicle so you can easily adjust your steering and throttle inputs.
The MX-5 is the textbook definition of having more fun driving a slow car fast than driving a fast car fast. It’s the sort of driving experience that rewards the act of simply being out there in the open driving your car. It’s also a brilliantly engineered little machine, proving that a sports car doesn’t need to be powerful to be qualified as such.
– William Clavey for TopSpeed
But the best part about the MX-5 Miata’s chassis tuning is that it wasn’t designed for high handling limits. A supercar with its hunkered down stance and aggressive aero makes it so grippy that you aren’t even reaching its five-tenths on a public road. Where’s the fun in that? The MX-5 Miata, on the other hand, you can already drive it near its limits, which makes it more thrilling without landing you a speeding ticket. Speaking of which…
It Lets You Explore Your Limits Safely
That low ceiling of grip and performance makes the MX-5 a safe car to explore your limits as a driver—in the right venue, of course. Out on track, you don’t need to reach terrifyingly high speeds in order for you to explore what you’re capable of on track, and if you do make a mistake, the MX-5 isn’t unforgiving to drive.
That’s why the MX-5 Miata is popular among racing schools. It’s also one of the most-raced cars in the world, commonly used by various racing series and programs around the world—all thanks to the MX-5 Miata’s accessibility in terms of price, repairability, and, more importantly, driver skill. From where I live, the MX-5 Miata has a year-long racing series that also happens to be one of the biggest motorsports programs in the country.
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What You Can Get In An MX-5
So you’ve decided that the Mazda MX-5 Miata is perfect for you. Great! Mazda has not yet announced upcoming updates for the 2026 model year, so for now, the latest that you’ll get are 2025 MX-5s.
Timeless Design
The Mazda MX-5 Miata in now 10 years old, and yet, this car’s award-winning design still looks great in 2025. A mid-cycle facelift in 2023 introduced new LED headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights, new 17-inch alloy wheels on all but the base Sport soft top, a new 8.8-inch screen for the Mazda Connect infotainment, Amazon Alexa voice commands, along with new faces for the analog gauges. A Bose sound system is also offered on all but the base soft-top Sport.
Depending on the trim you go for, the MX-5 can feel utilitarian or luxurious. For the soft-top version, splurging for at least the Grand Touring adds swiveling LED headlights, two-tone 17-inch wheels, and leather interior upholstery. 35th Anniversary Edition models go even deeper into the luxury territory with their distinct Artisan Red paint, elegant 17-inch silver alloy wheels, and tan Nappa Leather upholstery, which can also be optioned on the soft top and RF Grand Touring.
But, Please Get It In A Manual
The Mazda MX-5 Miata, to me, should be fitted with the six-speed manual. Its transmission is one of the world’s best in terms of precision and tactile feel, so it’s a shame if you’d rather let a robot do the shifting for you. Then again, you do you, it’s your MX-5 Miata anyway.
But here’s another reason why I beg you to get the manual— its additional handling advantages. That’s because, with the exception of the base soft top Sport, all manual MX-5s come with an Asymmetric LSD, a front strut tower brace, and sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein dampers. Mazda clearly knows the intentions of those choosing the manual MX-5, based on how they spec their vehicles. When you do take the MX-5 Miata on track in both manual and automatic forms, the two models don’t feel significantly different (but it is noticeable, with the manual versions being pointier and able to carry higher speeds through corners), so even if you’d prefer an automatic slushbox, you’ll still have a great time behind the wheel.
Source: iSeeCars