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

Prices are up 3.33% year-over-year — a sign of continued demand for this model year.

There are 212 listings available, which gives you a modest amount of shopping room. If you find a listing below $16,717.31, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

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 8/10. The standout strength is Look and feel at 10/10.

Owners consistently praise how fun it is to drive, its affordable ownership experience, and its easy maintenance. The overview also frames it as a great fit for spirited driving, especially as a weekend car or for a single driver who values open-air enjoyment and a playful chassis.

With 25.0% of listings marked as good or great deals, there is still some room to shop selectively in a market that rewards patience.

Is the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?

Owners rate it 4.9/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction. User feedback also highlights reliable performance, easy maintenance, and overall value, while the cost-effectiveness notes describe it as extremely reliable and cheap to own.

The performance write-up reinforces that dependability by emphasizing how composed and consistent the car feels when driven hard, even with enthusiastic use. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is less about mechanical drama and more about finding a car that has been cared for properly, since a small roadster’s condition can vary a lot from one example to the next.

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

At 65.1% 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 pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been modified or driven hard. Focus on signs of prior bodywork, tire wear, suspension condition, and whether the car has been maintained consistently. Because this is a lightweight sports car, condition matters as much as mileage.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Club adds LED running lights, Mazda Connect, 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 induction sound enhancement. The Grand Touring adds the comfort and convenience features, while the base Sport is the simplest version.
• Powertrain: The car uses a 155-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a standard 6-speed manual gearbox, and an automatic with paddle shifters is available. The lighter chassis, front-midship layout, and limited-slip rear differential help the car feel especially balanced and eager.
• 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 brings a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth with music streaming, a USB port, text messaging support, Pandora access, an additional USB port, and E911 automatic emergency notification. The system also includes a smartphone tray and head-restraint speakers for calls.
• Fuel efficiency: The car is rated at 27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, and the test drive 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, so it makes sense if you want the core roadster formula and plan to keep the budget tight.
• Club: This is the best-value trim if you want the most engaging driving setup, because it adds the sport-tuned hardware, limited-slip rear differential, and the richer cabin and audio upgrades.
• 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 included on the lower trims.

The safety package is only available on the Grand Touring trim, so if those driver-assistance features matter to you, that should guide your choice.

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

You should act selectively, because this is a seller-leaning market and the best examples can move quickly.

• Deal availability: 25.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 212 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices are up 3.33% year-over-year.
• Clean inventory: 65.1% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $16,717.31, 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 $19,202 sits slightly above last year's $18,584.

That upward move suggests the market still values this model year’s mix of fun, efficiency, and affordability. For a future seller, that kind of steady demand can help support pricing, especially if your car is clean, well maintained, and accident-free. A desirable trim and strong condition should matter more than trying to time a bigger swing in the market.

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?

It earns a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

The safety content emphasizes a more robust underlying structure, with chassis flex and cowl shake described as barely detectable. It also notes that 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.

A key caveat is that this is a very light car, so it is not the kind of vehicle that offers the same crash-energy advantage as a heavier SUV. It also does not come with LATCH anchors, so child-seat installation requires extra attention.

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:

• 25.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 65.1% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices are up 3.33% year-over-year.
• Owners rate it 4.9/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The redesign brings a lighter chassis, a front-midship layout, and a more refined, modern roadster feel.

Consider the 2017 if:

• At $21,075, the 2017 costs more than the current year's $19,202 average.
• It adds a retractable hardtop option that broadens body-style choice.

The bottom line: If you want the best mix of price, fun, and value, the 2016 is the stronger buy. If you are willing to spend more for a hardtop option and a slightly more refined-feeling alternative, the 2017 is worth a look. For price-sensitive buyers, the 2016 remains the sweet spot.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.