Used 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata for Sale nearLos Angeles, CA

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

Prices are up 5.10% year-over-year — a sign of continued demand for this model year.

There are 220 listings available, which gives you a modest amount of inventory 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 character, easy maintenance, reliable performance, and overall value. The overview also frames it as a great fit if you want spirited driving, top-down enjoyment, and a car that feels special without a large purchase price.

With 31.8% of listings marked as good or great deals, you still have some room to shop carefully while targeting value.

Is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?

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

User feedback repeatedly points to reliable performance, easy maintenance, and overall value, while the expert notes also describe it as cheap to own and extremely reliable. The cost-effectiveness commentary adds that it is rated as cheap to own, which supports the case for low-stress ownership.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is less about mechanical complexity and more about finding a well-kept example that has been maintained consistently.

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

At 61.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should run a vehicle history report before you commit, then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that checks for prior collision repairs, wear from spirited driving, and any signs of neglected maintenance. Because this is a small sports car, condition matters a lot: focus on the top mechanism, tires, brakes, and signs of 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, larger 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 most comfort and convenience equipment, plus the safety tech that is not offered on lower trims.
• Powertrain: The car uses a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual or an automatic with paddle shifters. The manual keeps the upgraded rear differential on Club models, while the automatic gives up some of those performance-focused hardware upgrades.
• 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 included on the lower trims.
• Infotainment: Mazda Connect brings a 7-inch touchscreen, a center-console control setup, Bluetooth with music streaming, USB connectivity, text messaging support, Pandora access, and an E911 automatic emergency-notification system. Club and Grand Touring models also get the Bose premium audio system with headrest speakers.
• Fuel efficiency: The car is rated at 27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. The expert also recorded 28.3 mpg during enthusiastic driving.

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 and least expensive way into the Miata, so it makes sense if you want the pure roadster experience and plan to keep costs down.
• Club: This is the best-value trim if you want the strongest mix of performance hardware and everyday equipment, including the sport suspension, limited-slip rear differential, Mazda Connect, and Bose audio.
• Grand Touring: Choose this if you want the most comfort and the full safety-tech package, since it adds the driver-assistance features that are not available on the lower trims.

The safety package is only offered on 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 can shop patiently and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 31.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 220 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices are up 5.10% year-over-year.
• Clean inventory: 61.4% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,713, 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 $19,180 sits slightly above last year's $18,249.

That upward move suggests the market still values this model year’s mix of driving enjoyment and affordability. For a future seller, that’s a helpful sign: demand appears steady enough that a well-kept example should remain attractive to shoppers.

The year-round range also shows that pricing has room to move depending on condition, mileage, and trim. If you own a cleaner, better-equipped example, you may be able to hold value better than average.

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 is concentrated on the Grand Touring trim, which gets 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 driver-assistance bundle.

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. It also lacks LATCH anchors, which is worth knowing if you plan to install child seats.

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:

• 31.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 61.4% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices are up 5.10% year-over-year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The redesigned model brings a lighter chassis, stronger structure, and a more refined driver-focused feel.

Consider the 2017 if:

• At $20,786, the 2017 costs more than the current year's $19,180 average.
• It adds the Miata RF retractable fastback, giving you a hardtop option with more versatility.

The bottom line: If you want the better value play, the 2016 is the smarter buy because it delivers the core Miata experience at a lower average price. If you’re willing to pay more for added versatility and a hardtop option, the 2017 is the better path.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 6, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.