Used 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata for Sale near California

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

Prices are up 3.38% year-over-year — a sign of continued demand for this model year.

There are 221 listings available, which suggests you still have some room to compare prices and condition.

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

Yes — the 4.9/5 user rating points to strong owner satisfaction, and the expert rating is 8.00/10. The standout strength is Look and feel at 10/10.

Owners consistently praise its fun, affordable character, easy maintenance, and reliable performance. The overview also frames it as a weekend-friendly sports car that delivers real excitement without asking for a large budget, especially if you want open-air driving and an engaging manual experience.

With 29.4% of listings marked as good or great deals, there are still worthwhile opportunities if you shop carefully.

Is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback repeatedly calls it reliable, easy to maintain, and dependable for spirited driving. The expert evaluation also describes it as extremely reliable and cheap to own, which supports the case for confident long-term use.

The main ownership risk for used buyers is less about mechanical drama and more about finding a well-kept example that has been cared for consistently.

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

At 66.5% 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 close inspection of bodywork, alignment, and signs of prior repair. Because this is a lightweight sports car, condition matters a lot, so pay extra attention to how the car drives, how the top and cabin hold up, and whether any modifications or wear suggest hard use.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Sport is the simplest version, while the Club adds LED running lights, Mazda Connect, Bose audio, black cloth seats with red stitching, a front air dam, a rear lip spoiler, gloss black seat back bar trim, 17-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension with Bilstein shocks, a limited-slip rear differential, a shock tower brace, and induction sound enhancement. The Grand Touring adds the comfort and convenience features, and it is the trim that gets the safety technology suite.
• Powertrain: You get a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a standard 6-speed manual. An automatic with paddle shifters is available, but it gives up the Club’s upgraded rear differential and related performance hardware.
• Safety package: The Grand Touring trim gets rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Those features are not on the lower trims.
• Infotainment: Mazda Connect uses a 7-inch touchscreen and adds a second USB port, text messaging support, Pandora access, and an E911 automatic emergency-notification system. Bluetooth music streaming and a USB port are standard across the lineup.
• Fuel efficiency: The car is rated at 27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. In expert testing, it returned 28.3 mpg.

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 makes sense if you want the core roadster formula at the lowest entry point. It gives you the lightweight, manual-driving character without the added cost of the more feature-rich trims.
• Club: This is the best-value trim if you want the Miata to feel more special and more capable on a favorite road. It adds the sportier hardware and equipment that make the car more rewarding to drive, including the limited-slip rear differential and suspension upgrades.
• Grand Touring: Choose this if you want the most comfort and the most safety technology. It is the trim that adds the driver-assistance suite, so it is the one to target if those features matter most to you.

The safety package is only available on the Grand Touring trim.

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

Act selectively, because this is still a seller’s market and the best examples can move quickly.

• Deal availability: 29.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 221 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices are up 3.38% year-over-year.
• Clean inventory: 66.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,716, 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 $19,042 sits slightly above last year's $18,420.

That upward move suggests the market still values this model year’s mix of driving enjoyment and affordability. For a future seller, that kind of steady demand can help support pricing, especially if your car has clean history and strong condition.

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 a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

Mazda’s safety tech suite is reserved for the Grand Touring trim, where you get rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Lower trims miss out on that package.

The expert review also notes that the car’s lightweight design can be a disadvantage in a collision with a much larger vehicle, so you should weigh its safety strengths against its small size.

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:

• 29.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 66.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices are up 3.38% year-over-year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The redesign emphasizes value, performance, engineering, and open-air driving in a way that makes the car feel especially special.

Consider the 2017 if:

• At $21,368, the 2017 costs more than the current year's $19,042 average.
• It adds the Miata RF retractable hardtop, giving you a more refined roof option.

The bottom line: If you want the better value and the classic open-roadster experience, the 2016 is the smarter buy. If you’re willing to spend more for the retractable hardtop and a more refined feel, the 2017 is the better fit.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.