Used 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata for Sale near California

How much does the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata cost?

Prices are up 3.35% year-over-year — a sign of continued demand for this model year.

There are 238 listings available, which suggests a modest amount of inventory for shoppers to compare.

Is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata a good car?

Yes — the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata earns a 4.9/5 user rating and an 8/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Look and feel at 10/10. Owners consistently praise its fun, affordable sports-car character, easy maintenance, reliable performance, and overall value. It also fits especially well if you want a weekend car or a single-driver roadster that prioritizes spirited driving over everyday practicality. With 32.8% of listings marked as good or great deals, there is still some room to shop carefully.

Is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. Owners also describe it as reliable, and the review summary highlights easy maintenance, dependable performance, and overall value. The expert evaluation reinforces that theme by calling it extremely reliable and cheap to own. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is less about durability and more about whether the car’s condition and maintenance history match its enthusiast use.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

At 64.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been driven hard or modified. Focus on signs of accident repair, tire wear, brake condition, and whether the top, cabin, and suspension show the kind of wear you would expect from a sports car. Because this model is small and lightweight, condition matters more than mileage alone.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Club adds LED running lights, a Mazda Connect infotainment system, a Bose premium audio system with headrest speakers, black cloth seats with red accent stitching, a front air dam, a rear lip spoiler, gloss black seat back bar trim, 17-inch aluminum wheels, a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shocks, a limited-slip rear differential, a shock tower brace, and an induction sound enhancement system. The Grand Touring adds the safety technology suite, while the base Sport is the simplest version.
• Powertrain: The car uses a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual, and an automatic with paddle shifters is available. The lighter chassis and front-midship layout help the car feel lively and balanced, and the manual keeps the car’s character most intact.
• Safety package: The Grand Touring trim gets rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, a lane-departure warning system, a blind-spot warning system, and a rear cross-traffic alert system. Those features are not on the lower trims.
• Infotainment: Mazda Connect brings a 7-inch touchscreen display, a center-console control setup, Bluetooth with music streaming, a USB port, text messaging support, Pandora access, and an additional USB port. The Club and Grand Touring trims also get the Bose audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: The car is rated at 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, with an estimate of 30 mpg combined. The expert drive returned 28.3 mpg during enthusiastic testing.

Which 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata trim should I buy?

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata is offered in 3 trim levels: Sport, Club, Grand Touring.

Here's the short version:

• Sport: This is the simplest way into the Miata experience, and it suits you if you want the core roadster formula without paying for extras.
• Club: This is the best-value trim if you want the Miata’s character at its sharpest, because it adds the sportier equipment, upgraded suspension, limited-slip rear differential, and the infotainment and audio upgrades.
• Grand Touring: Choose this if you want the most comfort and the added driver-assistance technology, since it brings the safety suite that the lower trims do not get.

The safety technology suite is reserved for the Grand Touring trim.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you should shop carefully and move quickly on the right car.

• Deal availability: 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 238 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices are up 3.35% year-over-year.
• Clean inventory: 64.7% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,714, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata's resale value?

The current average of $19,004 sits slightly above last year's $18,387.

That upward move suggests the market has remained supportive of this model year, which is a positive sign if you plan to sell later. The year-over-year increase also points to steady buyer interest rather than a softening market. For a future seller, that means a clean, well-kept example should still attract attention, especially if it has the right trim and a strong history.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.9/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata safe?

The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata earns an 8/10 expert rating overall, with a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

Mazda’s safety tech suite is limited to the Grand Touring trim, where you get rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, a lane-departure warning system, a blind-spot warning system, and a rear cross-traffic alert system. Lower trims miss that package. The expert review also notes that the car’s lightweight design means it would be at a disadvantage in a collision with a much larger vehicle, so you should weigh its safety equipment against its small-roadster footprint.

Should I buy a 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 32.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 64.7% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices are up 3.35% year-over-year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The redesigned model emphasizes value, performance, engineering, and design while keeping the driving experience central.

Consider the 2017 if:

• At $20,727, the 2017 costs more than the current year's $19,004 average.
• It adds the Miata RF retractable hardtop for more versatility.

The bottom line: If you want the better value and the classic open-roadster feel, the 2016 is the stronger pick. If you are willing to pay more for added roof versatility, the 2017 is the better fit.

How does the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata compare to the 2016 Ford Mustang?

Our experts score the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata 8/10 and the 2016 Ford Mustang 7.5/10. The Miata is the lighter, more focused driver’s car, while the Mustang brings much more power and a broader muscle-car feel. You should choose the Miata if you value balance, efficiency, and pure roadster fun; choose the Mustang if straight-line performance and a stronger engine matter more.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.